harmonic excitation plugins, anybody?

mholloway · 03-19-2009, 06:48 AM

the recent post on "sparkle" in the mix got me thinking, what are (if any) good VSt plugs for adding aural/harmonic excitation to a mastering chain? I know Ozone has this, and stuff like the native Adobe Audition mastering suite has it, but I actually haven't seen a standalone plug for it, though a brief survey of KVRaudio reveals that many do indeed exist (and many of them are free). Anybody got any experience here? I've been thinking about how my mastering chain has everything but this (that is, reverb-eq-stereo enhance-comp/inflation-brickwall limit). i'm interested in fooling around with adding a HE component to this....would love to hear if anyone has any positive leads (aside from just Ozone....though actually I hear that it's a pretty damn good HE, as they go...)

-M

The Snakes of Eden · 03-19-2009, 08:22 AM

I could be COMPLETELY wrong about this...but i seem to recall reading something about that in relation to bootsies tessla se plugin.....

raytrace · 03-19-2009, 09:46 AM

isnt there one called 'Stardust' too - cant remember exactly though

MeshNation · 03-19-2009, 02:29 PM

BBE have their D82 plugin version of their hardware units for $99 [ Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register ]

In freeware you could have a play with x-cita [ Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register ]
or dominion has an hf section [ Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register ]

There's hardware to consider too, I got my Aphex Exciter for about $40 from eBay. An older version, but it sounds great.

A quick note about stereo width enhancers, they can cause mono compatibility problems so you might want to check with a goniometer [ Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register ]

Bong050188 · 03-19-2009, 06:32 PM

I have the bbe but i dont use it that much, it loves to boost the lower frequencies.

mholloway · 03-19-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bong050188

I have the bbe but i dont use it that much, it loves to boost the lower frequencies.

I tried to download the BBE d82 15-day trial but I have zero tolerance for elaborate virtual-dongle registration crap, it wanted me to make an account with a whole separate company and then "order an authorization" code, blah blah, all just to use a freakin' 15-day trial demo. so I didn't bother with it. now, reading your comment and others, I'm glad I didn't because I want HE solely for the upper frequencies. shit, i'll just run stuff through ozone with only the HE triggered and bypass the rest.

MeshNation · 03-19-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mholloway

I tried to download the BBE d82 15-day trial but I have zero tolerance for elaborate virtual-dongle registration crap, it wanted me to make an account with a whole separate company and then "order an authorization" code, blah blah, all just to use a freakin' 15-day trial demo. so I didn't bother with it. now, reading your comment and others, I'm glad I didn't because I want HE solely for the upper frequencies. shit, i'll just run stuff through ozone with only the HE triggered and bypass the rest.

X-Cita is good for just the tops: separate controls for low-end and high-end, just leave the low-end set at zero.

ouroboros · 03-27-2009, 05:42 AM

I find Xcita a bit harsh sometimes, but decent. My favorite is EQ22 - it's an eq with some cool twists that let me add just the sound I want up top, musically. Not an exciter by name, but top notch all the way around.
[ Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register ]