R
RRoll
New member
I was looking into buying this unit,$250.00 US, I am thinking of using it for my Acoustic Duo to brighten up the Vocals. Any comments.
Farview
Well-known member
If you want your stuff to sound like an old Boston record, that is your piece of gear.
R
RRoll
New member
Thanks, ya that sounds good to me.
Farview
Well-known member
It will brighten things up, but a little goes a long way. The unfortunate thing about these types of devices is that your ears get used to the brightness pretty quickly, so you have a tendancy to use more than you need. After about an hour, you could have blood streaming from your ears and not even notice.
You might be better served with a different mic choice or a better EQ (one that doesn't get screechy when you boost the highs a lot)
You might be better served with a different mic choice or a better EQ (one that doesn't get screechy when you boost the highs a lot)
Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
I don't think he saw the [SARCASM] [/SARCASM] tags...
iqi616
Yet another Mike
I agree, try a different mic or EQ first. Exciters must be used with extreme care. I only use my Aphex to fake "air" when it's missing in the source or to fake HF when it's missing in the source.
R
RRoll
New member
I have read reviews on this product and they all sound good, have any of you guys played with this one?
Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
Yes - And I think it's pretty unanimous to not get one.
Farview
Well-known member
Yes. It's not that the Aphex is a poor quality unit, it's just that with proper mic and recording technique it is unnecessary. Exciters and BBE sonic maximizers were originally designed to add some life back into worn out, poorly stored analog tapes during transfer.
That market has been getting smaller and smaller over the last two decades so they have just tried to come up with other ways to market it. Some of the sales pitches for the BBE are just ridiculous.
R
RRoll
New member
Like I stated earlier, I have an Acoustic Duo, two Guitars and two vocals,I want to use this Aural Exciter for Live performances to punch up my sound, I am currently using a Yamaha EX660 as a mixer, it needs some kind of enhancement to brighten up the sound. Any suggestions?
M
muzaco
New member
In response to massive master:
why do you say that? do you own one or have you used one? what did you use it for (single instrument, mixdown, mastering, restoration, etc)? and what is the genre of music you used it for if so? the reason I am asking is that I read so many reviews "hey, don't get this thing, it will destroy your sound." and then come to find out, the comment is from someone who read that somewhere and has had no personal experience with it, or perhaps even used it for something it was never meant to be used for.
here's another scenario: if I use a $5,000 mic and a $150 preamp and do a vocal track and it come out crappy. do we just assume its a crappy preamp? what if its a crappy singer? perhaps the mic and the preamp are just not very compatible.....etc, etc, etc. I guess it makes more sense to me when someone speaks to something specific about a piece of gear, such as, "I used this to master a heavy alternative rock song that was just sounding a little flat and lifeless." as opposed to: "this piece of gear has no place in the studio so don't ever buy one."
with that said, there have been some very specific reviews of this piece of gear that have been constructively critical. from these I can get a good understanding as to what not to use a piece of gear for. and too be sure, some gear does just flat out suck. but it is of more use to state why, from personal experience with the gear.
why do you say that? do you own one or have you used one? what did you use it for (single instrument, mixdown, mastering, restoration, etc)? and what is the genre of music you used it for if so? the reason I am asking is that I read so many reviews "hey, don't get this thing, it will destroy your sound." and then come to find out, the comment is from someone who read that somewhere and has had no personal experience with it, or perhaps even used it for something it was never meant to be used for.
here's another scenario: if I use a $5,000 mic and a $150 preamp and do a vocal track and it come out crappy. do we just assume its a crappy preamp? what if its a crappy singer? perhaps the mic and the preamp are just not very compatible.....etc, etc, etc. I guess it makes more sense to me when someone speaks to something specific about a piece of gear, such as, "I used this to master a heavy alternative rock song that was just sounding a little flat and lifeless." as opposed to: "this piece of gear has no place in the studio so don't ever buy one."
with that said, there have been some very specific reviews of this piece of gear that have been constructively critical. from these I can get a good understanding as to what not to use a piece of gear for. and too be sure, some gear does just flat out suck. but it is of more use to state why, from personal experience with the gear.
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Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
Why did I say what?
I've used and owned most Aphex exciters (even the good ones) BBE exciters (even the "good" ones) and I haven't found an actual reason to use one in 20 years. I've had bands come in that asked for them specifically - So I'd go get another, set it just the way the band wanted - and then they'd actually hear what it sounded like and want it gone.
For occasional live use - Old, anemic PA systems, lazy bass players (who don't want to change their strings), maybe. For recording, they tend to create exactly the sound that people have been trying to avoid for the last twenty years.
I've used and owned most Aphex exciters (even the good ones) BBE exciters (even the "good" ones) and I haven't found an actual reason to use one in 20 years. I've had bands come in that asked for them specifically - So I'd go get another, set it just the way the band wanted - and then they'd actually hear what it sounded like and want it gone.
For occasional live use - Old, anemic PA systems, lazy bass players (who don't want to change their strings), maybe. For recording, they tend to create exactly the sound that people have been trying to avoid for the last twenty years.