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shortyc
New member
in what situations is this best used and what is an result example of what it does?
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shortyc
New member
i was particularly interested in....
the aphex aural exciter with optical big boom...
does anyone know if this piece of gear makes a significant difference? Is it better to get a plug in? blahzay blah.
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=9519&Category=Audio_Processors
the aphex aural exciter with optical big boom...
does anyone know if this piece of gear makes a significant difference? Is it better to get a plug in? blahzay blah.
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=9519&Category=Audio_Processors
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
Exciters are great if you record with crappy mics and want to add even more noise to your tracks 
They might be handy to have for every once in awhile if you needed to add a little zing to a dull track but in general they are pretty worthless. The noise and artificial sound they create is usually worse than the dull track in the first place. The only reason I would buy one is if I was mixing stuff that other people tracked and I had no other way of improving a dull track.
They might be handy to have for every once in awhile if you needed to add a little zing to a dull track but in general they are pretty worthless. The noise and artificial sound they create is usually worse than the dull track in the first place. The only reason I would buy one is if I was mixing stuff that other people tracked and I had no other way of improving a dull track.
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littledog
New member
In general i agree with Tex... the less you use exciters the better. When forced to use them, I've had better luck with the Barcus Berry/BBE models.
Here is one possible application where they are sometimes fairly useful: applying them to lifeless synth tracks. Sometimes they provide the missing harmonics that should have been supplied by the synth programmer.
Here is one possible application where they are sometimes fairly useful: applying them to lifeless synth tracks. Sometimes they provide the missing harmonics that should have been supplied by the synth programmer.
Seanmorse79
New member
I HATE those things!! 
I'd consider them a special effect, and that's about it. It screws up your ears when you're trying to mix, and forget listening to a solo'd track with it. It sounds great until you bring everything else in.
For recording, I think their most useful function is to make mixing a bit more challenging (you know, like putting the puzzle pieces through a blender on 'frape' before trying to put them together)
Live sound, it's a different story. I used one onstage for a while and it did help a crappy amp sound a bit less crappy.
I'd consider them a special effect, and that's about it. It screws up your ears when you're trying to mix, and forget listening to a solo'd track with it. It sounds great until you bring everything else in.
For recording, I think their most useful function is to make mixing a bit more challenging (you know, like putting the puzzle pieces through a blender on 'frape' before trying to put them together)
Live sound, it's a different story. I used one onstage for a while and it did help a crappy amp sound a bit less crappy.
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shortyc
New member
cool
thanks for the advice! "boo" at exciters!
thanks for the advice! "boo" at exciters!
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VotaIdiota
New member
Re: cool
The Force is strong in this one.
shortyc said:
The Force is strong in this one.
octoruss
New member
What about the "aural exciter" with "Big Bottom"?
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
I'd prefer an "Oral Exciter" with a "Tight Bottom" but I think littledog would be happy to be your wingman
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littledog
New member
Sign me up! When do we leave?
Downside Studio
New member
Big bottoms never got me excited.
A1A2
New member
"Oral Exciter" with a "Tight Bottom"
that's the smartest smart-ass comment i have heard all day! pretty slick
AL
that's the smartest smart-ass comment i have heard all day! pretty slick
AL
octoruss
New member
I shit you not--those were actual dial settings on one of the old BBE Sonic Maximizers.
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littledog
New member
octoruss said:
"Aural exciter" and "big bottom" were (and are) solely owned trademarks of Aphex Corp. BBE/Barcus Berry's labels are a bit more prosaic, I'm afraid: things like "lo contour" and "process". But despite the imaginative imagery, I like the BBE better if forced to chose.