BBE Sonic Maximizer for remastering

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jgreen

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Hi, I have a mastered CD but I'm not happy with the volume levels from song to song. I'm thinking of running the CD from a player to a CD recorder so I can set the volumes myself. I'm also considering putting a BBE Sonic Maximizer in between so I can tweek the sound a little. Do you think this would be effective? I've read glowing reviews about the unit, that it is more than an EQ and even reduces noise which would be good as I'm creating noise by this prosses. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
I've heard nothing but bad things about that unit on this and other sites. Low quality I guess. Not well liked at all. Use with caution.
 
How are you recording your songs?

If you are using a computer-based system, then one way do get consistency of levels is too load all the tracks into a DAW, then fiddle with each until they make sense together.

As for the BBE . . . as ido says, treat with caution.
 
Thanks. Would an Aphex Exciter be a better choice to bring life to an overly ping ponged casstte recording?
 
Then is there anything you'd recomend to liven up a rather flat sounding CD?
 
jgreen said:
Hi, I have a mastered CD but I'm not happy with the volume levels from song to song.
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Who mastered it? this is exactly what you fix in the mastering.

jgreen said:
I'm also considering putting a BBE Sonic Maximizer in between so I can tweek the sound a little
Click to expand...

This is also what you do in the mastering?

jgreen said:
I'm thinking of running the CD from a player to a CD recorder so I can set the volumes myself.
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This makes me think that the CD has never been mastered in the first place.

Alan.
 
jgreen said:
Hi, I have a mastered CD but I'm not happy with the volume levels from song to song. I'm thinking of running the CD from a player to a CD recorder so I can set the volumes myself. I'm also considering putting a BBE Sonic Maximizer in between so I can tweek the sound a little. Do you think this would be effective? I've read glowing reviews about the unit, that it is more than an EQ and even reduces noise which would be good as I'm creating noise by this prosses. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I agree with the comments about the Maximizer. I have the plug-in and it was the worst money ever spent. I don't think it will reduce noise as you might have been led to believe.

To get your levels up on your master, you might consider running it through a limiter. This will reduce the dynamic range of the music, but will raise the overall volume.

I don't think the CD to CD transfer is going to yield good results; gut feel. If your songs are indeed on a cd, you should rip them to wav files and run them through an audio editor like Wavelab Essential so you can massage them as needed. Come to think of it, WLE has the capability to extract the songs from the CD. Then you can apply EQ, Limiters or whatever, as needed to each song to get them to gel better. Then reburn them to another CD.
 
Chili said:
I agree with the comments about the Maximizer. I have the plug-in and it was the worst money ever spent. I don't think it will reduce noise as you might have been led to believe.
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All the BBE does is ADDS noise to a digital recording!

But I won't lie, I have used it on something too dull before, VERY sparingly. Probably best for restoring analog stuff, not stuff that was already converted to digital and put on a cd.
 
All work that I've done with a BBE is on the front end of the recordings never as an end processor.
 
I've found the early hardware BBE Sonic Maximizers were great for narrow-track analog, but I have my doubts about using it with CD or any digital format for that matter. I've had the BBE 422, which is a second generation Maximizer, since about 1989. It's always worked as advertised in a limited role. I don't generally believe in magic black boxes, but the Maximizer was a great mastering device for tracks that were recorded on narrow-track tape with dbx noise reduction. It really opened things up.
 
jgreen said:
Thanks. Would an Aphex Exciter be a better choice to bring life to an overly ping ponged casstte recording?
Click to expand...

That's about the only scenario where I would think about using an exciter. The Aphex is actually fairly good at re-creating some of the lost high end although it will bring up the noise as well. Personally, I would do this on a computer using the Stillwell Exciter plug-in that comes with Reaper.

James.
 
Beck said:
I've found the early hardware BBE Sonic Maximizers were great for narrow-track analog, but I have my doubts about using it with CD or any digital format for that matter. I've had the BBE 422, which is a second generation Maximizer, since about 1989. It's always worked as advertised in a limited role. I don't generally believe in magic black boxes, but the Maximizer was a great mastering device for tracks that were recorded on narrow-track tape with dbx noise reduction. It really opened things up.
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I never thought of using a BBE in the recording but wow it used to straighten out the gain stages,bad EQ,bad harmonics and so on in a PA thats for dam sure!! I played in a rocking blues band and we didnt even have to use a graphic EQ with our PA and man I couldnt have ever lived (gigged) without again!! But shit now i wanna go get me one and try running it thru some om my mixes...:eatpopcorn:
 
moresound said:
All work that I've done with a BBE is on the front end of the recordings never as an end processor.
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Sounds right but,wouldnt it be worth trying? The hardware version (magic box) haha I mean it was made to straighten out bad harmonics originally correct? and I know how much easier it is to "scroll" (one knob) thru frequencies than a graphic EQ so it should be nice in a studio setting and just run a stereo mix thru it and A/B it to the original mix ?? Anyways....another cup of coffee:eatpopcorn:
 
didn't have very good experience w/ it, only added noise
 
It's a dangerous thing. Sound brilliant on a mix today & when listening back the next it's awful.
It definitely has its uses and can be very good on guitar tracks (the stomp box was fairly popular for live stuff) and very messy on most vocals.
I still use the plug in occasionally when dealing with really thin vocals where there's no retracking options. It can sound excellent on pre 80's vinyl & cassettes.
 
I use a Sonic Maximizer (the appliance) on my PA rig when we play out. I don't think I would use it for recording though.
 
I have an older hardware BBE 882 sonic maximizer that I used in my guitar chain - it did add life back to the guitar tone at the tail end. You can use too much, but it can help if not used too much. Not sure about using it on an entire mix though.
 
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