aphex: bass xciter or punch factory?

The Ethanator · #1 11-25-2008, 02:51 PM

im looking to get an optical compressor/di. people here are right, i should worry about finding my perfect 'clean' tone before i dirty it up with distortion, synth, etc. so im starting off with a compressor, new amp, and a tech 21 vt bass (in what order, i dont know). a little more punch would also be nice, which is why after reading product dscriptions and reviews im moreso considering the (aptlynamed) punch factory, but the bass xciter is voiced mainly for bass. what would you reccomend? any other compressor/di boxes i should be aware of? i want something to fit on a pedalboard, not a rackmount. whats the main difference? what do the tune/blend knobs to on the bass xciter?

Ampeg SVT · #2 11-25-2008, 03:01 PM

The Bass Exciter isnt a compressor, its more like a Sonic Maximizer with more options.
It does have a DI, I am not sure how it sounds though, the Punch Factory is a fairly transparent Compressor, its pretty subtle though. So if you like big squishy sounds then the Punch Factory wouldnt work well.

The Tune and blend knobs go like this, the Tune selects the frequency you want to "excite" and then the blend knob puts in some of that "excitement". You can pretty much have a Sonic maximizer with the ability to choose which frequencies you want to enhance.

Nikoubis · #3 11-25-2008, 03:01 PM

The bass xciter is NOT a compressor.

The Ethanator · #4 11-25-2008, 03:03 PM

i remember reading somewhere that it was, guess im wrong.... so what exactly does it do then?

Ampeg SVT · #5 11-25-2008, 03:11 PM

I already explained it, its like a Sonic Maximizer but can select the frequencies you can maximize.

However some people dont like mainly because they dont know how to use it, its very simple but the sound can sometimes get too scooped.

bongomania · #6 11-25-2008, 03:39 PM

It changes the presentation of your highs and lows, compressing the lows slightly and boosting the highs; the mids are left alone, which means at higher settings the mids get scooped badly.

dannybuoy · #7 11-25-2008, 05:10 PM

The Xciter does have some limiting built into the circuitry, so it does compress your lows to some extent, but it's no substitute for a proper compressor. I sold my Xciter because it distorts when fed a hot signal and found it pretty useless at the end of a signal chain after loads of pre-amp / gain pedals. Now I run a VT Bass into a Diamond Compressor running at 18v, with a Radial JDI from the FOH duties and am pretty happy with this setup.

FreaqyFrequency · #8 11-25-2008, 05:30 PM

While we're on the topic, exactly how is it different from the SM? I've always understood that the SM is a scooping pedal because it's a two band boost-only EQ, while the Xciter "adds harmonics" and boosts perceived low end with no increase in peak volume, but I've never quite understood what a "sidechain" is.

Techy people, help? I just got one of these to beef up a not so deep sounding amp/bass, please don't tell me I'll be disappointed immediately.

ibnzneksrul · #9 11-25-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

Techy people, help? I just got one of these to beef up a not so deep sounding amp/bass, please don't tell me I'll be disappointed immediately.

Actually the Xciter does make a not-so-deep sounding amp/cabinet sound deeper, you just have to use it sparingly as has been pointed out. Too much and things get too boomy.

warwick.hoy · #10 11-25-2008, 05:54 PM

I had a bass xciter back when I had only an SWR LA8. Basically I used it to make that week sounding little amp sound a little bigger. I got rid of it when I started gigging again and bought appropriate gear.

As mentioned it is a great pedal to make a ho hum rig sound a lot better but that is trying put a bandaid on a gunshot wound. Why not skip it and get a great sounding rig?

I don't think compression is a bad idea....ever.

FreaqyFrequency · #11 11-25-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibnzneksrul

Actually the Xciter does make a not-so-deep sounding amp/cabinet sound deeper, you just have to use it sparingly as has been pointed out.

So it, too, is effectively a scooping pedal?

Ah well, I'll likely find out tomorrow, or whenever it ships in.

warwick.hoy · #12 11-25-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

So it, too, is effectively a scooping pedal?

Ah well, I'll likely find out tomorrow, or whenever it ships in.

Looking at the amp you have listed in your profile (Fender Bassman), My guess is you'll be stoked on the thing. It will most likely make your tone better. With the gear I have a pedal like that would be rendered useless.

bongomania · #13 11-25-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

While we're on the topic, exactly how is it different from the SM? I've always understood that the SM is a scooping pedal because it's a two band boost-only EQ, while the Xciter "adds harmonics" and boosts perceived low end with no increase in peak volume, but I've never quite understood what a "sidechain" is.

Both BBE and Aphex are not talkative about exactly what their devices do on a technical level; however neither of them is "just" a two band scooping EQ. Unfortunately in practical application both of them can sound like a two-band scooping EQ. As I noted in an earlier post, the Aphex system is some compression of the lows, increasing their apparent loudness without raising the peak level, and some boost (which may include some phase adjustment) of the highs, increasing the brightness of the sound and the audibility of the existing upper harmonics.

IOW it's not a scoop exactly, but it can act an awful lot like one when you turn the knob up.

A sidechain is where your signal is split into two paths; one path is the audio path, which gets processed by the effect, and the other path is the control path, which triggers/controls changes in the signal processing that happens to the audio path. The control path is not in the audio chain, it is not heard. In the case of a device like the Aphex, the control path signal might be EQ'ed internally and then the EQ'ed signal controls the maximizer process, which in turn affects the audio signal. The idea there is that for example maybe the lows of your signal are cut out for the control path for a certain control response, but of course you wouldn't want your lows cut out of the audio path.

Another use of a sidechain is let's say you're recording a band, and the drummer is tight but the bassist is sloppy- you put a gate on the bassist and sidechain it off the kick drum mic, and voila! The bassist is in time.

Bassmingo · #14 11-25-2008, 06:45 PM

i own a punch factory and its quite subtle. i do like it though.

FreaqyFrequency · #15 11-25-2008, 06:50 PM

Thank you Bongo, that was a great post. You're awesome.

On the topic of your sentiments regarding the Big Bottom circuit's compression of the low end, does that render proper compression (like the Compulator I purchased at the same time) redundant?

I'll find out whether I like it or not soon enough.

roflol · #16 11-25-2008, 07:05 PM

i'd go for the punch factory, the bass xciter i tried sounded terrible, its essentially a bass boost with a clean blend and also a treble boost with a clean blend. The build quality was terrible - the jacks didn't hold the jacks in etc. The low end was very clippy sounding to. would rather just turn up the low end on my amp.

bongomania · #17 11-25-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

On the topic of your sentiments regarding the Big Bottom circuit's compression of the low end, does that render proper compression (like the Compulator I purchased at the same time) redundant?

Maybe, but that's fully in the land of "it depends", based on personal preference and the tone you get and your playing action, etc.

Phaedrus · #18 10-30-2009, 07:22 AM

Sorry to drag this oldie up again.

Despite one being a subtle compressor and the other being a sonic maximizer, do the Bass Xciter and Punch Factory effectively have similar results on your sound?

I already have (and love) a VXL Bass Attack, and would like a compressor, or something that can fatten my tone and smooth out my average playing.

Thanks,

Mark

wetzelman1 · #19 10-30-2009, 08:00 AM

I'll chime in since I use the Hartke VXL Attack and the Aphex Bass Xciter.

I got the xciter cheap, liked how it sounded on it's own but I always got lost in the mix. I took it off my board for a wile and was going to sell it but then I started researching it more and figured out how to use it. It's interesting because it works along the lines of psychoacoustics. It creates harmonics and blends them with your clean signal creating more perceived presence. It's a pretty standard piece of equipment in studio's, though usually rackmounted.

I put mine in my chain right before the VXL. Dial in the lows around 4 and the highs in around 6. It's defenitely not as important if you have a good amp. I'm poor and in a metal band, so I found an Ampeg B2R for $75. Thing sounds terrible, but the VXL and Xciter make it sound awesome. I also run a bass big muff before the 2 and I get compliments on my tone all the time.

My name is Mudd · #20 11-01-2009, 02:03 PM

I bought an Xciter on the classifieds here a few months ago and just prior to getting my Ampeg BA210 (up to then, I was playing thru my Acoustic B20). The Xciter sounds a lot better with the small amp (even with the pedal being conservatively set); when running into the Ampeg, all it really did is muddy the overall tone a bit (in both cases, it was/is at the very end of the chain, per Aphex's suggestion).