exciter help

[so-fye]

what is aa exciter? what does it do? and what can it be used on?

[whomper]

google is your friend
and faster than asking here


An Exciter is an audio signal processing technique used to enhance a signal by dynamic equalization, phase manipulation and harmonic synthesis of (usually) high frequency signals. Dynamic Equalization involves variation of the Equalizer characteristics in the time domain as a function of the input

[brandondrury]

I recommend you avoid them like the plague on anything you record. They can be useful for scooping out electric guitars via the effects loop, but I would never put one anything I had recorded.

Brandon

[venuestudio]

Absolutely agree Brandon. They have some limited use in live sound and on club sound systems for background music but thats about it. I have an Aphex Aural Exciter that sits in my rack and hasn't been used in 4-5 years.

[brandondrury]

I have found the rackmount versions to be exceptionally useful as a shelf for 1/3 rackmount items that I don't have the fancy mounting doohickey for.

Brandon

[edub357]

So instead of using an exciter like the one in my waves diamond bundle what should i use to give my track a shine to it, obviously i would use it after i get the mixing part down lol!

[357mag]

Mmmm...I use an Exciter on the Master Track for Mastering purposes and it really does exactly what it's supposed to. I've always been in favor of them.

[venuestudio]

Use an eq if you want to add sparkle to the track. Use a mic that has an extended top end on the tracks that you want to shine. Use mic placement to get the sound correct to start with. Try a tube preamp if you are looking for a creamier tone.

Everyone does things differently and if you like to use an exciter or BBE unit, by all means go ahead. But know that you can get there without those units and all of your mixes will be better for it. I can pitch correct any singer but I would rather have them try again and get it right.

[357mag]

Originally Posted by venuestudio

Use an eq if you want to add sparkle to the track. Use a mic that has an extended top end on the tracks that you want to shine. Use mic placement to get the sound correct to start with. Try a tube preamp if you are looking for a creamier tone.

Everyone does things differently and if you like to use an exciter or BBE unit, by all means go ahead. But know that you can get there without those units and all of your mixes will be better for it. I can pitch correct any singer but I would rather have them try again and get it right.

I don't use mics.

[venuestudio]

Understand you would not in the mastering phase, I was only referring to the tracking phase. Now if you are working strictly with synths and electronic drum tracks than that is different. Kind of hard to adjust mics on those!

And like I said, everyone works in their own way and uses different approaches and equipment.