Ableton Forum

hi all- so i can get a great deal on a new BBE sonic maximizer 882i hardware unit ($170) and thinking about taking the plunge. why? cuz i think it could be useful. for what? well, i'm thinking for 1) adding some upper harmonics to sub-bass parts so you can hear them on ipod earbuds (like a Bose wave radio sorta thing) and 2) as a mixdown tool to add some 'sparkle' to the top end (i usually have a distortion send on my mixdowns to hype the high end and add sparkle, so i'm wondering if this would be a suitable alternative to that).

anyone have experience with these units? howsabout for either application listed above. i know these things get mixed reviews and can be overused very easily, but it seems like a useful tool with a little more longevity/resale value than the plugin offerings (still curious about the vintage plugin by waves, though!)

lay it on me shitnecks!

afaik the BBE sonic maximizer doesnt add harmonics, it separates highs and lows to delay the high in a way that makes the bass seem tighter.

well, then i stand corrected! i've always thought that they added harmonics to the low end

I think that's the aphex

http://www.aphex.com/uncategorized/204-aural-exciter/

and I stand corrected on the BBE, here's a review of the plugin (should work on the same principles)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar03/a ... in0303.asp

I have the aphex http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Exciter/, and a bbe 462 as well as the art mdc2001, I just got the aphex about a month ago to put in my sound system processor rack to kinda add a little more bottom end. It will live in the studio most of the time though.
I will say that the bbe stuff is cool, but i dont think that it will really fix problems. it is more to make good things sound better imho. I will say that if you like gear the 882 is nice, i would not expect too much from it. I am surprised how bright they can make things sound. I had an 882 in my sound rack for awhile, but the left channel leds failed so i got rid of it, it worked fine other than that, it just annoyed me. it sounded clean and gave me a little more sound without needing to add more power.
Having said that the sonic maximizers sound good and like all things can be overdone. I think that if you like hardware and from what you are saying you want to do you cant go wrong with the bbe I like the aphex a little better because it has a little more control, but i think that both are nice for sure

kinda ranting
shane

You know you could buy the BBE plugin suite for $149?

I have these, I use the D82 Sonic Maximizer the most. I like it as a go-to brightener when EQ'ing doesn't to the job I want. I find it very useful for adding "air" to grouped vocals or grouped instruments such as brass or guitars. When you have a lot of similar harmonics that tend to cancel each other out and sound mushy, a dose of BBE can really add clarity.

In measured doses, it is really useful as a tool for resuscitating old mixes, and handy to have in a mastering chain.

But don't take my word for it, you could download the demo plugs and try for yourself. I imagine the software will sound pretty much like the hardware - even if you end up springing for the hw version.

http://www.bbesound.com/products/sonic- ... 82.aspx?s1

HTH

the sonic maximizer is great! i dont really like what it does to low end but what it does to the high end is like magic.
its really like having a "good" knob.

i have the software BBE Sonic Maximizer... no additional numerals etc. it's cool. kinda like what nathann says.. a "good" knob.

it was my first plugin and my only one for years, it boosts things in a clean kind of way not just raising the volume, but accentuating. it's weird though... you kinda look for the "sweet spot" which tends to be between about 5 and 6 on the knob. the interface is so damn simple that you don't think you just turn and listen.

i doubt you'll be too bummed about owning the hardware version but the software plug is pretty IMHO.




edit: i might be in SF Saturday... if so, i could let you fiddle with it on my laptop.

get.it.

you know you want it..

H20nly wrote: edit: i might be in SF Saturday... if so, i could let you fiddle with it on my laptop.

thanks, and thanks to everyone for responding. i might just DL the demo and check it out for myself. i don't think i'll be around saturday, but appreciate the offer! happy halloween motherfuckerS!!!

back at cha you mothafucka you!!

it is old but for me in a chain fx essential

Used to use one of the Behringer rip-offs of it between my old Digitech guitar preamp/FX and my marshall power amp. Just made things a lot clearer as long as I didn't over do it. Stopped using it when I got decent tube preamps and a much clearer TC Electronics effects in parallel only though. Never tried it on mixes. Imagine it's not as good as the real BBE one though. Maybe I should dig it out the loft!