J
joedirt
New member
Do any of the "pros" use exciters like BBE Sonic Maximizer. I mean it definetly adds some punch and shine but is it just the lazy way of adding some top and bottom while scooping the mids?
O
Oysterman
New member
Pretty much, yes.joedirt said:
moskus
The Creator of Æ, Ø and Å
Basically yes, but god d*amn it works!!
Shailat
New member
Sometimes I'll use a tiny tiny bit on vocals to bring them out of for a certain color as well as Snare when I feel its missing some top end. Sometimes a touch on piano when I think it will give me a cleaner sound then EQ. But most of the time is collects dust.
Buffalo Bob
New member
I use a BBE 462 to make cassette copies. It adds a bit of punch if used sparingly.
Bob
Bob
F
fenix
New member
No, pros will not be caught dead using these pieces of sh*t.
Buffalo Bob
New member
That's what's good about not being a "pro"! 
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
The Sonic maximizer is different than an exciter but they are both equally offensive.
Blue Bear Sound
New member
That's not quite true -- they are useful tools for rescue operations when tracks weren't recorded properly.fenix said:
Like Shailat, I have used them at times when I have to mix a project that I haven't tracked and certain tracks need "help" -- sometimes EQ does it, sometimes an exciter does it...
A "pro" uses the right tool for the job - and pros generally understand the appropriate use of their tools. The novice will reach for the exciter for ANY reason, including as an excuse for not tracking properly.
Bruce
I
Igormeister
New member
BBE Sonic Maximizer is not a exciter, it is a pre-equalized limiter.
Exciter takes a targeted freq range ( mid ), and create upper harmonics by distortion of this freqs. Mixed with original signal it gives open, airy high end. Aphex Aural Exciter is classic, SPL Vitalizer is modern classic. EQ+Deesser+Exciter+Compressor=highly polished standard vocal track which jumps out from speakers, in your face.
I dont like this, but this way you can have killer groove and defined vocal, a mix which translates well.
Exciter takes a targeted freq range ( mid ), and create upper harmonics by distortion of this freqs. Mixed with original signal it gives open, airy high end. Aphex Aural Exciter is classic, SPL Vitalizer is modern classic. EQ+Deesser+Exciter+Compressor=highly polished standard vocal track which jumps out from speakers, in your face.
I dont like this, but this way you can have killer groove and defined vocal, a mix which translates well.
J
joedirt
New member
So is this one way to get that really polished "pro" vocal sound?
I
Igormeister
New member
Yes, generally. If you use bright condenser mic line Neumann U87, you can go without exciter. Good exciter creates presence and open high end, comparable to good designed valve preamp - that subjective "warm" sound from added high harmonics caused by harmonic distortion.
L
LongWaveStudio
New member
i have an SPL Vitaliser which like Blue Bear said, only gets used if something bad has happened in the tracking stage (such as i didin't track it!). lol
i have used it on snares and it sounds nice SOMETIMES...
out of interest, i strapped it onto a whole mix, and it killed it.
the bottom line with these things is, get it right when you track it first. adding lots of this exciter stuff can do more harm more than good.
i have used it on snares and it sounds nice SOMETIMES...
out of interest, i strapped it onto a whole mix, and it killed it.
the bottom line with these things is, get it right when you track it first. adding lots of this exciter stuff can do more harm more than good.