The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

> Phil, thank you very much indeed for this insight. Hm, i am not sure
> if i will use compression at all. I have the impression that not
> handled right, you can "destroy" more than letting the mix without
> any compression. But i will play around with the algorithm in the
> AN1x and see how it goes.
> Aren´t there any books out there for self-study? Hm, i check if
> the "Wizoo"Guide on FX (http://www.wizoo.de) contains some info about
> compression.
>
> I think i can use the BOSS VF-1 later for compressing very easily.
> This should be enough for my "homerecording/livingroom" productions.
>
> But a last question. What does an "enhancer" does? I would guess that
> it´s just almost the same as a "Finalizer"..., right?
>

"Enhancers" can (and do? (nevermind..)) work in several ways... some brands
apply other techniques than others... one method (or type if you will) is
the adding of upper harmonics or other frequencies and another method is the
deviding (and shifting) of audioranges (shifting (with some sort of
cross-over) some lower freqs to higher freqs or vice versa, i.e. changing
the treshold. (*something* like this anyway :)

--- In AN1x-list@egroups.com, mango <j.kolling@c...> wrote:

> "Enhancers" can (and do? (nevermind..)) work in several ways...

some brands

> apply other techniques than others... one method (or type if you

will) is

> the adding of upper harmonics or other frequencies and another

method is the

> deviding (and shifting) of audioranges (shifting (with some sort of
> cross-over) some lower freqs to higher freqs or vice versa, i.e.

changing

Hi Tom,

I believe (but could be wrong), that an 'Enhancer' is also known as an
'Exciter'.

Its purpose is to add a bit of 'sparkle' to the sound. My guess (I'm not an
engineer) would be that you'd use it on certain sounds rather than the whole
mix, to give you some contrast. Too much of it, due to its very nature,
would probably produce a harsh, fatigued sound - particularly if applied to
the overall mix.

Even the exceptionally cheap Behringer Modulizer has a "Harmonic Exciter",
although I've never really used it, so I expect that many FX units feature
it. Due to what it does to the sound, I expect that there certainly would be
some units that do it better than others.

Do you need one?.... Face it, you'll need everything once you've heard
about it!!! ;-) However for me, I'm more concerned about the musical
composition side of things at present - An 'exciter' won't obviously remedy
an ordinary sound or melody.


<re "Compressors"> Don't be afraid of doing 'too much damage' to your music
through the use of a compressor - it only affects the dynamics (ie. volume).
The worst that can happen is for the perceived volume to drop down a bit
every time there is loud bassy kick drum (ie. know as 'pumping'). In which
case, either lift the 'threshold', or reduce the 'ratio', or lower the
volume level of the offending kick drum that causing the problem in the
first place.

Phil

Aphex systems (Aphex aural exciter) (standalone)
dbx (standalone)
Behringer (multi fx with enhancers, i think)
BBE (Sonic maximizer) (standalone)
Boss (in guitar pedal form) (standalone)

These are the ones that i know.
What can you do wrong with it... hm, you can turn the sound to sound too
harsh and unnatural if you set it up the wrong way... other than that i
don't know.

Thomas Finegan wrote:

--- In AN1x-list@egroups.com, mango <j.kolling@c...> wrote:

> Boss (in guitar pedal form) (standalone)

Hm, then i can´t go wrong with the VF-1...

> These are the ones that i know.
> What can you do wrong with it... hm, you can turn the sound to

sound too

> harsh and unnatural if you set it up the wrong way... other than

that i

--- In AN1x-list@egroups.com, Phil <accession@o...> wrote:

> Even the exceptionally cheap Behringer Modulizer has a "Harmonic

Exciter",

> although I've never really used it, so I expect that many FX units

feature

> it.

As i said before, i think i can´t go wrong then with the Boss VF-1
since it supposed to have "Mastering"-algorithms (and 400 others).

> Do you need one?.... Face it, you'll need everything once you've
> heard about it!!! ;-)

lol...yup, true...so it happened with my AN1x...i heard it, compared
it to the softsynths i used and voila.

> However for me, I'm more concerned about the musical
> composition side of things at present - An 'exciter' won't

obviously remedy

> an ordinary sound or melody.

That´s true! I guess all these "mastering"tools just gives your music
the little extra professional touch.
And as Peter already suggested, educated ppl with prof. equipment can
do it always better for you than yourself (if really needed).