overall 'best' software Exciter/Enhancer?
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- KVRAF
- 6478 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Well CLAS is a BBE clone, but a bit better than the original... and free.Kiwburger wrote:OK - whats the free one? Elegoxa or somebody had a BBE clone, but I guess the BBE lawyers roughed them up.
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- KVRAF
- 19156 posts since 13 Feb, 2003 from Vancouver, Canada
Is that the one you voted for?Kingston wrote:Well CLAS is a BBE clone, but a bit better than the original... and free.Kiwburger wrote:OK - whats the free one? Elegoxa or somebody had a BBE clone, but I guess the BBE lawyers roughed them up.
Whoa, SPECTRALIVE really punched out into the lead!
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- KVRAF
- 6478 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Nearly, but I settled for the fire knob of hydratone. It seems to get plenty of mileage here, generally set at 2-5, because otherwise things will protrude from mixes like sore thumbs. It's not good enough to be ran at high settings, but it does subtle magic if used right.bduffy wrote:Is that the one you voted for?
Whoa, SPECTRALIVE really punched out into the lead!
CLAS is my clear second choice.
Actually my absolute top choice is RetroBand http://www.michaelkingston.fi/images/retroband.png
but it's obviously not qualified for this shootout yet, since it's still unreleased, and I would be disqualified with that vote anyway.
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- KVRAF
- 19156 posts since 13 Feb, 2003 from Vancouver, Canada
You know, I didn't realise the fire knob was an exciter! I thought it just added some vintage-y impulse or something...(very scientific, that)Kingston wrote:Nearly, but I settled for the fire knob of hydratone. It seems to get plenty of mileage here, generally set at 2-5, because otherwise things will protrude from mixes like sore thumbs. It's not good enough to be ran at high settings, but it does subtle magic if used right.bduffy wrote:Is that the one you voted for?
Whoa, SPECTRALIVE really punched out into the lead!
CLAS is my clear second choice.
Actually my absolute top choice is RetroBand http://www.michaelkingston.fi/images/retroband.png
but it's obviously not qualified for this shootout yet, since it's still unreleased, and I would be disqualified with that vote anyway.
RetroBand! Once again, I salivate!
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- KVRist
- 118 posts since 27 Mar, 2005 from Australia
Psycho Toolkit's Excitable Boy?
Probably doesn't belong in the transparent hi-fi list, and may not get as down-and-dirty as some of the hardcore glitch crowd. But maybe worth a look...
Probably doesn't belong in the transparent hi-fi list, and may not get as down-and-dirty as some of the hardcore glitch crowd. But maybe worth a look...
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- KVRAF
- 19156 posts since 13 Feb, 2003 from Vancouver, Canada
I don't think I ever heard of that one. Clone Ensemble, BassChorus (use it all the time, love!), Steroid Bouncer...but I never knew about these plugs...I'll have to check 'em out!TrevorMag wrote:Psycho Toolkit's Excitable Boy?
Probably doesn't belong in the transparent hi-fi list, and may not get as down-and-dirty as some of the hardcore glitch crowd. But maybe worth a look...
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- KVRAF
- 6478 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Some historical background,bduffy wrote:You know, I didn't realise the fire knob was an exciter! I thought it just added some vintage-y impulse or something...(very scientific, that)
exciter, first sold and developed by aphex pretty much refers to distorting high frequency content, for more sparkle. It's basically a stompbox distortion that only effects the very high freq, and gets summed to the original signal. Same with the "big bottom", but that involves only filtering and rectifying.
enhancers happened when BBE and SPL entered the game, as exciter can be thought of as a trademark of Aphex in a way. They were/are competing products doing the same thing with a different approach.
Nowadays the concept refers to anything that enhances, or excites, unihindered by the tech of the original units that used those buzzwords.
In that sense, yes, hydratone fire knob is an enhancer of sorts. Can't say what it does exactly. It's sounds like a distortion of sorts, and probably as far from vintage as a tamagotchi.
IMO warmifier, vintage warmer and the likes could've just as well been part of this poll.
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- KVRAF
- 1616 posts since 26 Jun, 2005
I don't get it! Where / how can get the freeversion of Clas? I just find the money on! Really would like to try that out but can't get it 
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- KVRAF
- 2446 posts since 5 Jan, 2006
From CLAS webpage: "Send us a note for your copy of this Windows/VST plugin."
http://refinedaudiometrics.com/products-clas.shtml
http://refinedaudiometrics.com/products-clas.shtml
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- KVRAF
- 1616 posts since 26 Jun, 2005
Ah! I was looking for "free download"! Thanx PTV, will try that out.
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- KVRAF
- 2208 posts since 13 May, 2005
Damn you Kingston for all that tease! 
Kingston wrote:Nearly, but I settled for the fire knob of hydratone. It seems to get plenty of mileage here, generally set at 2-5, because otherwise things will protrude from mixes like sore thumbs. It's not good enough to be ran at high settings, but it does subtle magic if used right.bduffy wrote:Is that the one you voted for?
Whoa, SPECTRALIVE really punched out into the lead!
CLAS is my clear second choice.
Actually my absolute top choice is RetroBand http://www.michaelkingston.fi/images/retroband.png
but it's obviously not qualified for this shootout yet, since it's still unreleased, and I would be disqualified with that vote anyway.
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- KVRAF
- 2208 posts since 13 May, 2005
Exactly. A great EQ is all that is needed to get a great sound. But I haven't heard one exciter that actually improved the sound. Using that to get brightness comes with a cost, so it's better to mix without it.
fred2112 wrote:The UAD-1 Neve 1073.........just a EQ........... a good one but not a exciter
