Aphex Aural Exciter and Optical Big Bottom
Add sparkling harmonics with the classic Aural Exciter, plus punch up lows with the Big Bottom. Aphex adds clarity, presence, and detail like no ordinary EQ.
Overall User Ratings (based on 2 ratings)
Submitted December 28, 2011 by a customer from optimum.net
"Buy it and try it."
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
replace with the same
Sound
The Optical Big Bottom from Aphex is a nice tool, like it states in the manual, it will increase your low end without increasing your overall gain. Increasing that big bottom and keeping it from clipping it works great, And when I did try to get the same big bottom sound with just using my EQ, it would put the chain into clip mode. So the Aphex is pretty good.
The test was done with the New Aphex Aural Exciter 2011, did not try the 204 model, it could be the same unit with a face lift. The only thing I did not like are the knobs, I like when the knobs have the white marker right to the face plate, NOT A DOT ON THE FACE OF THE KNOB ONLY. It makes it hard to tell where you're at and to do pre-sets for multi users. Just a small issue. The use was for broadcasting so I rolled back the high end part of the exciter, but I will say it has more than enough high end if needed. I also would add one could almost lose the EQ in your chain and just use the Aphex! I said to myself wow this is real close in sound... Good luck it's all about sound.
Features
see review
Ease of Use
see review
Quality
see review
Value
It's a steal.
Manufacturer Support
Very easy to contact, and was very friendly and the tech dep't was top notch. Note: I contacted them just for a few questions before I ordered the unit.
The Wow Factor
see review
Musical Background:
N/A Broadcasting
Musical Style:
Rock, hip-hop, country
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Submitted June 10, 2012 by a customer from yahoo.com
"Aphex Aural Exciter Optical Big Bottom "
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This is an extremely useful live sound tool. I was previously skeptical about adding yet another processor in the audio chain, but I decided to give this unit a try after hearing of a friend's actual usage.
The Aural Exciter is really effective in boosting harmonics without introducing phase artifact caused by equalizer. With proper tuning (as recommended in the manual for voice), voices sound more present without harshness, I would still use the equalizer to "cut" unwanted frequency contents.
Big Bottom processor worked better than I had expected. It makes my 12" EV ZX3 sound like a 15". It is a safe way to boost low end without risking over-excursion which can be a result of using EQ.
The fact this unit has separate exciter and Big Bottom processor for each of the 2 channels really opened up the flexibility of application. This is how I use it. I use Channel 1 for vocal processing via Send & Return, with the harmonic tuning tailored for voice; not using Big Bottom for this channel. I use Channel 2 for bass, kick drum, and music play back, via Send & Return, with Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processing tailored for these instruments.
At just over $200 and just 1 U space, this unit is extremely useful in providing 2 different types of processing for 2 separate channels. Most important of all, these processings are actually useful in real world application.
Musical Background:
Band leader, small sound company owner
Musical Style:
Christian; Contemporary
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