KVR Audio

dalor · Post by **dalor** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:16 pm

hi,

i'm wondering if BBE Sonic Maximizer is still the _best_ exciter/maximizer around? it seemed to be highly praised around 2001 and i'm wondering if there are any 'better' ones out there?!

your comments are welcome and appreciated!

Kriminal · Post by **Kriminal** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:21 pm

cant live without it myself, others dont rate it, but for me it just adds that ....little bit that makes my final master mixes shine.

Shane Sanders · Post by **Shane Sanders** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:35 pm

It can certainly make a real bass come into focus. And it can add a pleasant sheen to pads, too.

edit: I sold my hardware version to Jens, but I still use the software a lot.

Patrick9 · Post by **Patrick9** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:08 pm

My software version stopped working for some reason, and none of my hosts will load it now.

Shame, because used subtly it seemed to bring a mix into focus.

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:16 pm

dalor wrote:hi,

i'm wondering if BBE Sonic Maximizer is still the _best_ exciter/maximizer around? it seemed to be highly praised around 2001 and i'm wondering if there are any 'better' ones out there?!

your comments are welcome and appreciated!

Make sure you check out Spectralive. Excellent, versatile exciter.

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:22 pm

Spectralive sounds several magnitudes better.

JMH

Josmoker · Post by **Josmoker** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:31 pm

You could also check out one of the SPL Vitalizer series. I can't compare to a BBE Maximizer but I have the lowest end version and like it a lot. It's a very subtle effect (or rather best used subtly

), makes everything sound that little bit smoother and nicer...

Cheers, Jo

AD80 · Post by **AD80** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:36 pm

Anybody have both Spectralive and BBE? I've heard Spectralive 2 and REALLY like it. How does it compare to the BBE?

Sequent · Post by **Sequent** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:23 pm

I'd like to know the comparisons too. I see Spectralive is currently on Christmas special. I've been a user of the bbe hardware for a very very long time and it's a standard thing in my setup. My 'secret weapon' for sure.

How does the process for Spectralive work?

I like how BBE approaches it but do not at all like how Aphex Aural Exciter used to do it.

Lunatique · Post by **Lunatique** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:27 pm

I use BBE and I find that it tends to push the mids down a bit too much--especially if you have orchestral strings in your mix (or you could see it as emphasizing the highs and bass too much). However, for more electronic type music, it can tighten your stuff up a bit.

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:35 pm

Sequent wrote:I'd like to know the comparisons too. I see Spectralive is currently on Christmas special. I've been a user of the bbe hardware for a very very long time and it's a standard thing in my setup. My 'secret weapon' for sure.

How does the process for Spectralive work?

I like how BBE approaches it but do not at all like how Aphex Aural Exciter used to do it.

You'll really have to go their website and check out the literature and the plug-in; there's a big explanation there about their techniques that I fully don't (want to) understand. But I know I like the sound and flexability of Spectralive better than BBE (software).

Sequent · Post by **Sequent** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:38 pm

I've been using bbe since something like 1984.

The thing to bear in mind too is not to overdo it. You only need a little bit, like adding spices. If you start pushing your frequencies around too much then you wind up playing the eq game and everything becomes one big mess. You can use it to add just that little bit of sheen.

And you should probably only use it once... that is, you wouldn't want to process something and then process it again further down the production path. I generally only use it at the very end of the process.

And as Robert indicates, it is more useful for some sounds as opposed to others.

Looking at the spectralive information, it does look very intriguing. And it's a lot cheaper than the bbe soft. I've downloaded the demo to check it out.

Sequent · Post by **Sequent** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:41 pm

I've just done that.

Looks like Spectralive takes a similar approach to bbe... to my limited technical knowledge... at least it looks like it's in the ballpark of similarity.

As opposed to the aural exciter stuff which tries to add in missing harmonics, etc.

What's nice about Spectralive is that it offers more control than bbe.

bduffy wrote:
Sequent wrote:I'd like to know the comparisons too. I see Spectralive is currently on Christmas special. I've been a user of the bbe hardware for a very very long time and it's a standard thing in my setup. My 'secret weapon' for sure.

How does the process for Spectralive work?

I like how BBE approaches it but do not at all like how Aphex Aural Exciter used to do it.
You'll really have to go their website and check out the literature and the plug-in; there's a big explanation there about their techniques that I fully don't (want to) understand. But I know I like the sound and flexability of Spectralive better than BBE (software).

liars&ashes · Post by **liars&ashes** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:44 pm

----I've tried both the BBE plug, and Spectralive, and as far as using them for mastering, or on a full mix, no way for me. EQ = your friend.

Jeff

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:03 am

I dunno, these things can be real life-savers, when you know your instrument is just a little flat for whatever reason, you slap on a little bit of exciter; brighten the hats or the guitar strings, scoop out a little mid. Just something to reach for and try out. Like Sequent said, it's best used in moderation, like EQ.

BBE Sonic Maximizer: Still the best exciter?