BBE Sonic Maximizer - where does it go?

[RustyAxe]

Thanx

It's hard to be more sarcastic than this .....

I just hate to see misinformation propagated in the forum. Everyone knows that only oxygen free Zaolla cables will work!

 

[Medford Bassman]

monster cables... biggest scam on planet

 

[TimmyP]

As I said, I havn't had it plugged up in a few years (probably 5 or more). What I do recall is that the most notable differences were when we played dancy cd's between sets. Don't recall it doing a whole lot for live music though. I also remember it eating up a bunch of headroom. I just hate to see it sit when I have a few open rack spaces. Is the Peavey Kosmos similar in function to the BBE product? And is that respected any more as a viable tool then the BBE?

Yes, they are similar. No, it's not worth having either.

 

[James Judson]

Capacitance and Inductance phase shift higher frequencies away from lower frequencies. Capacitors are used by the ton to block DC voltages and pass AC (your signal) thru amplifiers. When an acoustic instrument is played all frequencies hit you in phase (bass and treble is lined up). When that same sound is sent thru an amp the capacitance slows down the bass making the sound some what lifeless. Inductance does the opposite (slows down the higher frequencies) to a lesser extent. Sonic Maximizer to the rescue. This thing is not an EQ. It has two controls, one shifts the bass (phase) to line up with the mids, the other control shifts the treble (phase) to line up with the mids. It enhances bass and treble thus the confusion with EQs. The controls should be set at 12 oclock and adjusted from there. The effect is more vibrance, dynamics, natural sounds etc. The idea is your putting back what the electronics took out. Where it is in the chain doesn't matter much but it makes the most sense to put it just before the amp. I use mine mostly for recording. I do fall in love with it about once a year on my bass but the love affair only lasts about a month.
YMMV

 

[scotch]

... This thing is not an EQ. It has two controls, one shifts the bass (phase) to line up with the mids, the other control shifts the treble (phase) to line up with the mids...

Umm,.. nope. Read the manual & look at BBE's own published specs. The knobs are labeled creatively, yes ("Lo Contour" and "Process") but those are just words I'm afraid. Neither control has any effect over adjusting the phase correction. Whatever phase adjustment that may be happening is fixed! Those two knobs are shelving boost-only eq controls. Read the manual.

 

[scotch]

If the BBE lineup actually had adjustable phase controls for the high & low bands - then you would have a useful tool! Of course, this would be much more expensive and really requires a more trained ear to utilize properly. The BBE units are not aimed at sophisticated, high-end applications of course.

As a 2-band limited eq, they work just fine! But don't be fooled by their marketing and labelling- you are getting a fixed amount of treble delay applied at a degree that may or may not be ideal for the acoustical environment you are using it in.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Capacitance and Inductance phase shift higher frequencies away from lower frequencies. Capacitors are used by the ton to block DC voltages and pass AC (your signal) thru amplifiers. When an acoustic instrument is played all frequencies hit you in phase (bass and treble is lined up). When that same sound is sent thru an amp the capacitance slows down the bass making the sound some what lifeless. Inductance does the opposite (slows down the higher frequencies) to a lesser extent. Sonic Maximizer to the rescue. This thing is not an EQ. It has two controls, one shifts the bass (phase) to line up with the mids, the other control shifts the treble (phase) to line up with the mids. It enhances bass and treble thus the confusion with EQs. The controls should be set at 12 oclock and adjusted from there. The effect is more vibrance, dynamics, natural sounds etc. The idea is your putting back what the electronics took out. Where it is in the chain doesn't matter much but it makes the most sense to put it just before the amp. I use mine mostly for recording. I do fall in love with it about once a year on my bass but the love affair only lasts about a month.
YMMV

I disagree about the 12:00 setting as a starting point as this is a boost-only system but to each his own. If there was an implied "neutrality" (much like setting an EQ at "O") offering either cut or boost, I would agree. My experience has been that your suggested starting setting would produce a very harsh, unmusical response. Correction: bass / low contour unity shows up ~ 3 to my ears. I've only used the SM as a line level component (inserts, FX loops). Again, if using in an FX loop, it needs to be run 100% wet.

What you've described above sounds like a delay amongst treble, mids, and bass. If so, the dbx DriveRack offers a similar option whereas the HF, midrange driver, and subwoofer can be assigned varying delays (milliseconds or feet increments).

The Aphex 204 (can't recall the most recent model) is a more attractive alternative IMO.

Riis

 

[Nighttrain1127]

To Amswer a pervious Question about the Peavey Kosmos. no it is totally different nothing like the BBE Sonic Messerupper. The Kosmos If used as a crossover works very well The highs should not be boosted with the peavey as they become harsh very quickly (like immediately) But everything else works fins and it does seem to clean up the vocals nicely.