BBE vs. Aphex

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Westinbrad

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Hello everybody...I'm looking to give my recording a little more presence, clarity, and crispness and have been trying to decide between these two--- What do you think is better in general for all types of music---

BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer?
or
Aphex Model 204 Aural Exciter?
Thanks
 
fresh digital recording are so clear as is these things make it to shrill with to much highs. They are made for recordings that were not done right like my grandpas swing tape.
I have an 862 and all id did was get my in trouble.
Its great for playback .
I also was using the bbe plug in and it stil just gets me in trouble......its ment to be use very lightly. on a 1-10 knob i would put it on about 2 for the highs and 3 or 4 for the bass.........It did add a lil definition but still added to much highs to a recording that allready had clear highs and I never boost eq and nomally cut back on it.
The best result I had with it is to pull the highs down on my eq before it goes in then replace the highs with the bbe effect.
I think you kind of lose the clarity/definition when you record back into the computer through the external piece
I never tried the aural exciter,
I would like to hear it
supposedly they do the same things just in different ways
 
I'd try both but i've used the BBE before and it's not my cup of tea, I think the aphex is more flexible so I'd go for that one...
 
I've owned and used a few from each series over the years.
They are both good pieces when used in moderation--and definitely not on full mixes.
Personally, though, I have always preferred the sound of the BBE exciters over that of the Aphex ones.
And, of course, I'm speaking strictly of the hardware units.
I don't even know it Aphex has a software version. And while I've never used the BBE plugin, everyone I know who has says that it doesn't even come close to the real thing.
 
Westinbrad said:
Hello everybody...I'm looking to give my recording a little more presence, clarity, and crispness and have been trying to decide between these two--- What do you think is better in general for all types of music---

BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer?
or
Aphex Model 204 Aural Exciter?
Thanks
Click to expand...

add to the list ;thrillseeker xtc
and zo3
 
Both have good reputations for/from those in-the-know.

I am more familiar with BBE; I have a hardware unit in the studio, and the BBE app for iPod/iPhone. I like them both, but the key is: >>>>its ment to be use very lightly<<<< as mentioned above.

These units, especially the BBE stuff, get slagged a lot as being "ice-pick high-end machines" or "only for badly recorded analog tape." Not true. But, they have to be used in moderation (just like EQ or any other processing). VERY gentle on the high end; also, pretty light use on the low end can give a lot more presence. But it's not for "slathering," and there's not really a "set it and forget it/one size fits all" setting.

GJ
 
wonderful necro posting guys (last post before today was in november 2003)

In Australia we knew more about the aphex aural exciters - I have a type C myself and worked with both the original and type B models as well.

Most of these type of devices work on the principle of adding 2nd harmonic distortion (even harmonic distortion) and phase inverting that (delayed 180[sup]o[/sup]) then mixing it back in with the original signal to add some "brightness" to the sound/mix
 
I don't have the Aphex specifically but I will use LPX's exciter for vocal tracks that come my way that may have been recorded and sound a little dull, adds some "shine and sparkle." I use it very sparingly tho and will always come back after a bit to be sure I didn't mess a mix up with it because you can possibly get strange results with it.

Only used the BBE for a live guitar rig so I can't say much about post processing with that but I feel it just scoops mids what I have heard

Pretty cool video kinda explaining the Aphex history, just for shits n gigs:
Val Garay Talks Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter® - YouTube
 
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