MOTM

I would appreciate hearing from everyone out there in MOTM-land who 
has experience with a BBE Sonic Maximizer.  Seems like a one-trick 
pony but if the trick is good, it might be justified.  Is the plug-in 
version sonically equivalent to the "external box" version?  The plug-
in is cheaper and might help keep noise levels down...

Your thoughts on this and anything related, would be most appreciated.

Cheers!
Tom Farrand

I used to work at a music store where we would regularly play with the
external box version. It works well on full spectrum mixes. I'd
imagine that it would also be good for adding high end clarity to
things, maybe synthesizing cymbals and such. I have no experience with
the plugin.

Moe

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "mbedtom" <mbedtom@a...> wrote:

> I would appreciate hearing from everyone out there in MOTM-land who 
> has experience with a BBE Sonic Maximizer.  Seems like a one-trick 
> pony but if the trick is good, it might be justified.  Is the plug-in 
> version sonically equivalent to the "external box" version?  The plug-
> in is cheaper and might help keep noise levels down...
> 
> Your thoughts on this and anything related, would be most appreciated.
> 
> Cheers!
> Tom Farrand

I have one of these in my studio (hardware).  I use it on my far field
monitors.  It does seem to tighten up the high end and improve the clarity
of the sound.  If you are using it with an equalizer as I am (an Ashley
Stereo 31 band) I found that I had to change the equalizer settings after I
installed the BBE.  Although it is supposed to improve imaging etc. through
offsetting phase shifts it also definitely adds an equalization effect.
Though I can't really say that the EQ effect isn't caused by the phase
compensation.  In any case it's not just psychoacoustic as my RTA can see
the EQ change as well.

I also used these things when I was in the live sound business.  They really
improve live sound a lot IMHO.  Interestingly enough. if I use the BBE on my
near-field monitors, some very expensive Genelecs, the BBE seemed to reduce
the quality of the sound rather than improve it.  Possibly the Genelecs do
not need any phase compensation.  I've been thinking of putting one on my
home stereo to see if it improves the sound.

I have no experience with the software version, but the hardware version is
definitely worth the money as far as I'm concerned.


----- Original Message -----

From: "mbedtom" <mbedtom@...>
To: <motm@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 2:18 AM
Subject: [motm] Opinions Sought: BBE Sonic Maximizer


> I would appreciate hearing from everyone out there in MOTM-land who
> has experience with a BBE Sonic Maximizer.  Seems like a one-trick
> pony but if the trick is good, it might be justified.  Is the plug-in
> version sonically equivalent to the "external box" version?  The plug-
> in is cheaper and might help keep noise levels down...
>
> Your thoughts on this and anything related, would be most appreciated.
>
> Cheers!
> Tom Farrand
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

That's kind of a tough one.  It does obvious things to the track, 
sometimes good sometimes not.  It's good to have in the arsenal, but 
I don't use it on everything.  The bass extension you can get is 
really good, though.  Note that I've never used it on analog tracks, 
just VA.

I use the plug-in.

Mike

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "mbedtom" <mbedtom@a...> wrote:
> I would appreciate hearing from everyone out there in MOTM-land 
who 
> has experience with a BBE Sonic Maximizer.  Seems like a one-trick 
> pony but if the trick is good, it might be justified.  Is the plug-
in 
> version sonically equivalent to the "external box" version?  The 
plug-
> in is cheaper and might help keep noise levels down...
> 
> Your thoughts on this and anything related, would be most 
appreciated.

> 
> Cheers!
> Tom Farrand

I should have mentioned that I use Izotope's Ozone now on just about 
every final mix.  It gives a much more detailed final product than 
BBE.  Of course it's more expensive, but in my opinion this is THE 
secret weapon in mixdown technology.

Mike

I have a friend that uses a BBE (hardware) in his guitar rig and 
will not play live without it!

m

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Marsh" <michaelmarsh@s...> wrote:
> That's kind of a tough one.  It does obvious things to the track, 
> sometimes good sometimes not.  It's good to have in the arsenal, 
but 
> I don't use it on everything.  The bass extension you can get is 
> really good, though.  Note that I've never used it on analog 
tracks, 
> just VA.
> 
> I use the plug-in.
> 
> Mike
> 
> --- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "mbedtom" <mbedtom@a...> wrote:
> > I would appreciate hearing from everyone out there in MOTM-land 
> who 
> > has experience with a BBE Sonic Maximizer.  Seems like a one-
trick 
> > pony but if the trick is good, it might be justified.  Is the 
plug-

> in 
> > version sonically equivalent to the "external box" version?  The 
> plug-
> > in is cheaper and might help keep noise levels down...
> > 
> > Your thoughts on this and anything related, would be most 
> appreciated.
> > 
> > Cheers!
> > Tom Farrand

>>I would appreciate hearing from everyone out there in MOTM-land who has experience with a BBE Sonic Maximizer.<<

I personally don't care too much for the BBE Sonic Maximizer.  The Aphex Aural Exciter is a step above it but still is a similar concept.  Personally, to "enhance" an instrument or a mix I prefer the SPL Vitalizer family of products.  Much more flexible in my opinion.  It is less of an effect and more of a tool.  Just my opinion; your mileage may vary.

Ivan

At 6:18 AM +0000 2004/08/21, mbedtom wrote:
>I would appreciate hearing from everyone out there in MOTM-land who
>has experience with a BBE Sonic Maximizer.  Seems like a one-trick
>pony but if the trick is good, it might be justified.  Is the plug-in
>version sonically equivalent to the "external box" version?  The plug-
>in is cheaper and might help keep noise levels down...

I bought a hardware BBE Sonic Maximizer specifically for a project 
involving cassette to CD remastering. It did wonders to brighten up 
the sound on 20 year old cassettes. I also tried the plug-in version 
and it sounded quite similar to the hardware version. I haven't had 
any need to use it on any other projects, but I intend to keep if 
forever.

I suppose that if you always record sound into a computer before 
processing, then the plug-in version would work for you. But if you 
need any live processing, then the hardware box is the way to go.

>From: "Paul Haneberg" <phaneber@...>
>Interestingly enough. if I use the BBE on my near-field >monitors, some very expensive Genelecs, the BBE seemed to reduce
>the quality of the sound rather than improve it.

Same with sound reinforcements systems.  The BBE effect is very pleasant and noticeable with really bad sound reinforcement speakers systems (Bose and such that use a lot of EQ to attempt to widen frequency response are particularly "enhanced" by the BBE).  But in a very high quality sound reinforcement system the BBE effect can be quite annoying.  Same with studio monitors.

Ivan

This is the reason I bought one back circa '88... then
found out it wasn't half bad on sampled kick drums.
Like lo-fi sampled kick drums that need tightening. 

Like anything, I guess it has its merits, but overuse
is a very bad thing.


> I bought a hardware BBE Sonic Maximizer specifically
> for a project 
> involving cassette to CD remastering. It did wonders
> to brighten up 
> the sound on 20 year old cassettes. 


		
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