as you can tell by the results here, results vary wildly depending on your rig & the sound you're going for.
i'm in the "meh" camp.
i'm in the "meh" camp.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Sonic Maximizer, is it worth it?
- Thread starter Dearthbass14
- Start date
I had one in my rack ( before tube enlightenment 
). What I noticed was a wonderfully tight low-end and smooth high-end with little midrange definition in my sound. I found myself getting lost in mixes, even in low volume playing environments. Ditched the 482 ( I think that was the model number) and have never looked back!
Marc
). What I noticed was a wonderfully tight low-end and smooth high-end with little midrange definition in my sound. I found myself getting lost in mixes, even in low volume playing environments. Ditched the 482 ( I think that was the model number) and have never looked back! Marc
I ran one for a few years. Only stopped using it because I wanted to simplify my rig and it sounds better through the PA
Last edited:
I have used one - a band mate of mine has one and they are pretty cool. A little transparent but there does appear to be an effect of "lifting" everything very subtly.
IMHO they can sound cool at home practicing, but in a live setting with a band they burry you. It's worse with guitar usually. Just my opinion though. I've been scorched before for ranting about how much I don't like them.
I have a feeling maximizers/enhancers/exciters often sell because people hope for a magic bullet to fix a sound which isn't quite what they want when they don't know how to fix it. (I can say this because I've done it myself ... ). It's like trying to sharpen a photo that is out of focus, it just won't give you a great result. The saying "you can't polish a 
" comes to mind ... 
" comes to mind ...
Last edited:
You can always tell live sound from recorded or amplified. Why? The loss of high frequency detail. That is why there so many gadgets that try to "fix" this, going to great lengths like the BBE's +26dB of boost, but once it is gone it is gone - EXCEPT in the case of the Aphex Exciter process. The missing detail is always harmonics - there are no musical fundamentals that high.
Essentially, Aphex takes a tunable part of what is left and doubles it - making new harmonics that you can then mix back in. I have used them live (incredible for acoustic guitars!), for on air use and in the studio, and it really does work and without the listener fatigue of the various equalizers and phase manipulators. Try the iPhone app - it really helps MP3s.
Sorry to sound like an ad, but I have had a lot of experience with all these gadgets and there is traditionally a lot of misinformation about them going around.
Essentially, Aphex takes a tunable part of what is left and doubles it - making new harmonics that you can then mix back in. I have used them live (incredible for acoustic guitars!), for on air use and in the studio, and it really does work and without the listener fatigue of the various equalizers and phase manipulators. Try the iPhone app - it really helps MP3s.
Sorry to sound like an ad, but I have had a lot of experience with all these gadgets and there is traditionally a lot of misinformation about them going around.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
- 6,944
- 2,081
- 51
- Disclosures
- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
I use the sonic stomp which is on all the time, but i honestly wouldn't spend more for a rack version. And that's i all i got to say about that.
The Joe Meek stuff generates harmonics. Via low level distortion blended back in with the original signal. I believe SWR's enhancers work the same way. Aphex may have had the market cornered on harmonic generation, but those patents expired years ago. Not sure how the Vitalizer works, but did a shootout with all three and the vitalizer and aphex both sounded similar and much better on everything than the bbe.
Not exactly - Aphex keeps upgrading and renewing the Patents. Others are doing something different. Also - SWR licensed the Aphex process - their factory was right around the corner from Aphex.
Either way, I agree - harmonics are much better than huge amounts of EQ.
Last edited:
A couple pages back, I made known that I really enjoy the sound of my rig with the Sonic Stomp. However, I have been playing with it turned off to see if I was just being proud. I still very much like the sound I get when I use it at the end of my pedal chain, provided it is set up correctly. However, I also like the way the amp sounds without it. The difference is noticable, but I don't really have issues with either sound.
That said, I have started to wonder if I might not be able to get a more versatile tone-shaping by selling the BBE and grabbing an EQ pedal instead.
Any opinions on this?
That said, I have started to wonder if I might not be able to get a more versatile tone-shaping by selling the BBE and grabbing an EQ pedal instead.
Any opinions on this?
I have the empress. The newest version has some interesting new features. Like the bypass switch can be either true bypass or buffered bypass. The buffer is awesome. Also the boost can be run with eq bypassed if you want. The foot switches are progammable for these new features. Easy to change without opening the case too. So this pedal has lot more uses now than just as an eq. The only change I would make, and I suggested this to empress, is that the pad switch should be in even when bypassed when in buffered bypass mode. That way I can use it adjust for output differences when switching basses. But this is a minor issue.
