Sonic Maximizer... Worth it?

faster40thanu · #1 03-04-2009, 11:20 AM

I'm thinking about purchasing one (probably a BBE), but I'm wondering how much of a difference (if any) I will notice through my rig. Any advice?

ItsMichaelYeah · #2 03-04-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faster40thanu

I'm thinking about purchasing one (probably a BBE), but I'm wondering how much of a difference (if any) I will notice through my rig. Any advice?

IF you can Borrow one I recommend it. What it does is Clean up the noise as it goes through the bass to the amp so all the levels come out equal

watch this video to help you understand it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6fatjizjyU

for some reason a lot of the other bass players where I live invent this idea that it's a distortion, or an EQ when its not at all.

I have one in my bbe Bmax preamp and I like having it.

silky smoove · #3 03-04-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItsMichaelYeah

for some reason a lot of the other bass players where I live invent this idea that it's a distortion, or an EQ when its not at all.

The distortion thing comes from the BBE website, but it frequently misquoted. They explain that "exciter" type pedals add small amounts of distortion to the upper harmonic content of a signal to add warmth.

As for the EQ portion. I wouldn't say that its not an EQ. After having owned a standalone Sonic Maximizer and a BMax, when you engage the Sonic Maximizer your EQ is changed dramatically, even at relatively low settings. It might not be a dedicated EQ, but it does create a shift in your overall EQ.

goyin108 · #4 03-04-2009, 11:45 AM

I used to use one in my live rig for when my strings got old to put some of that "zing" back in my tone.

Gab124 · #5 03-04-2009, 12:14 PM

I used to use one in my rig - the older blue rack mount model. I would never turn it off, it seemed to keep everything more "clear" and a bit more "prominent". At that time I had a Hartke amp with the maximizer and a sansamp. Now I am running a Tfunk 550 and I do not like the way either of those units sound with it. I think that I actually liked the way the older rack model sounded over the stomp box version - don't know why. It seemed the stomp version was a little too much or something.

Oh! Henry · #6 03-04-2009, 12:20 PM

There are different opinions here, some say it works miracles, other say it does very little. My experience is that it will make a so so rig sound better, but if you have a great rig and like how it sounds, then it's not really necessary.

+1 to trying before spending money on one.

jtc_hunter · #7 03-04-2009, 12:29 PM

What I do is, I run one for the entire Mixer. Therefore everything is better. Not just bass(thru the FOH), but also guitars, vocals, etc.. BBE362 rackmount, used $50 , one of the best $50 I ever spent.

Rick Auricchio · #8 03-04-2009, 12:51 PM

Had a 362 or 462 in my studio, didn't like what it did for most sound sources. It helped too few to be worthwhile.

Jaydin Nathan · #9 03-04-2009, 01:18 PM

There's quite a few stories on here that it's just an 'envelope' mid-scooper. I've never owned one, but do a search in the Effects Forum.

Would'e? · #10 03-04-2009, 01:34 PM

I've use the BBE process for bass and liked what it did, but found the effect in a mix was negligible when just running on the bass rig. But running a BBE on the P.A. for the entire band's mix will make a dramatic improvement in my experience.

Jim C · #11 03-04-2009, 04:51 PM

Hate them; some (SWR) cause big extreme low freq problems for speakers; dangerous in the studio

Not my cup of gruel

Femto · #12 03-04-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Hate them; some (SWR) cause big extreme low freq problems for speakers; dangerous in the studio

I thought that was called Aural Enhancer or something like that?

I once tried a BBE Sonic Maximizer and I was kinda

about it.

I run an Aphex model 204 in my rig and that thing, for me anyway is absolutely awesome. I have it on all the time but sometimes I switch it off to see what the difference is and I pretty much switch it right back on. Maybe an Aphex 204 might be your bag?

Sufenta · #13 03-04-2009, 05:06 PM

Though definitely not a necessity, I've used one for years. The best way I can describe its effect is that it fills in and smooths out the overall sound. Its a bit like airbrushing over the augmentation incisions scars on a nice centerfold shot.

LowBSix · #14 03-04-2009, 05:07 PM

I love it.

**Kelly Lee** · #15 03-04-2009, 05:21 PM

Sonic Maximizer = effect. Moved to Effects

Projectile · #16 03-04-2009, 05:27 PM

It's basically just an EQ. Nothing wrong with that. It's a very well tuned and nice sounding eq that can make poor equipment sound better. Great! I just wish people would stop repeating BBE marketing propoganda all over these forums. It doesn't align any frequencies to couter-act sound propogation in a room blah blah blah..... Lies lies lies and marketing. None of BBE's explanation of what the sonic maximizer actual does make any sense from a scientific perspective. What they DO sound like, is a fancy way to describe an eq circuit to people that wouldn't know any better. It's just a clever way to market an eq. You guys don't need to help them any by repeating that load of bullsh*t here.

FronTowardEnemy · #17 03-04-2009, 05:27 PM

I own a Sonic Stomp. I have a great rig and I love my tone without the BBE, however I keep it on all the time and adjust the settings to match whatever room I am in at the time.

Projectile · #18 03-04-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItsMichaelYeah

IF you can Borrow one I recommend it. What it does is Clean up the noise as it goes through the bass to the amp so all the levels come out equal

watch this video to help you understand it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6fatjizjyU

for some reason a lot of the other bass players where I live invent this idea that it's a distortion, or an EQ when its not at all.

I have one in my bbe Bmax preamp and I like having it.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. That video is hilarious because it makes absolutely no freaking sense at all! That's not how audio signals or crossovers or anything works, even remotely. This guy is totally clueless. He's just spewing a bunch of gobbledygook and market speak that he got from BBE. Please stop this nonsense!

I'm not knocking on the sonic maximizer. If you like it, then use it. Nothing wrong with that. Just don't buy into this nonsense.

Sufenta · #19 03-04-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Projectile

This is exactly what I'm talking about. That video is hilarious because it makes absolutely no freaking sense at all! That's not how audio signals or crossovers or anything works, even remotely. This guy is totally clueless. He's just spewing a bunch of gobbledygook and market speak that he got from BBE. Please stop this nonsense!

I'm not knocking on the sonic maximizer. If you like it, then use it. Nothing wrong with that. Just don't buy into this nonsense.

Yeah, BBE should have YouTube pull that vid. What a load of caca. I would have been better if he had just pushed the button a few times and never tried explaining things he doesn't understand.

Mudfuzz · #20 03-04-2009, 06:31 PM

I have one and it is nice as far as BBE Sonic Maximizers go, the pedal is better sounding then the original black rackmount unit.

I understand what they are suppose to do but in the end it for me and what I hear it boosts bass and treble. If this is something you need then cool. I use mine as a EQ for dirt pedals some times, as it will help bring beef out of pedals that don't work all that well on keeping a bass's bassyness. But I have other pedals that do this as well and am starting to acumulate them, but they all have their own voicing so I find them all useful.