Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter
Waves’ latest plug-in faithfully models the original Aphex Exciter, delivering plenty of elusive sparkle! Mark Cousins tries it out.
Price: £396.00
Manufacturer: Waves
Website: http://www.waves.com
Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter
Manufacturer Waves
Price Native £180. TDM £396
Contact Sonic Distribution
0845 500 2500
Web www.waves.com
Minimum system requirements
PC 2GHz processor, Windows XP,
2GB RAM
Mac Core Duo 2.3GHz, Mac OSX 10.5.8, 2GB RAM
Few studio devices have caused as much of a stir as the Aphex Aural Exciter did when it was released back in 1975. Its allure was largely explained by the fact that the unit was available only on a ‘for hire’ basis, with the cost calculated at $30 per minute of finished recording time. In the 70s, of course, a clean, extended high end was next to impossible to achieve, so the extra sparkle that the Aural Exciter delivered was absolute gold dust! More affordable units – the Type B and Type C Aphex Aural Exciters – followed in the 80s, but for many, the classic tube-powered Aural Exciter remained the gold standard that all other exciters measured up to.
Aphex twin
Waves’ latest plug-in, therefore, is a faithful digital re-creation of an original 402 Aural Exciter, complete with all its tube-powered characteristics, mains hum and noise (although, of course, those last two qualities can be deactivated). If you’ve grown accustomed to innovations delivered in the later revisions – like Aphex’s Big Bottom bass enhancement or the adjustable Tune and Drive controls – then this classic 402 design might appear somewhat rudimentary. However, for those looking for the best-sounding aural excitement in town, there’s little doubt that the 402 design is a logical place to start.
As with Waves’ other vintage plug-ins, the attention to sonic detail is superb. This is principally evident in the all-important Aural Exciter effect, which delivers a surprisingly natural, silky top end that lifts an input far beyond its existing frequency range. By comparison, most other excitement effects sound closer to filtered distortion, with all the harshness and unpleasant non-linearities that you’d expect from that approach. Clearly, Aphex, and latterly Waves, really understand the subtleties and complexities of the aural exciter effect, as is evident both in the original 402 and this new re-creation.
Exciting times
Another important part of the sonic detail in Waves’ version of the 402 is the various Mix and Auxiliary modes. Originally, the unit could be used in one of two ways – either as an insert effect or via an aux send, whereby multiple tracks on the console could access differing amounts of the ‘excitement’ effect. Interestingly, though, the unit also introduced phase inconsistencies in the direct sound, which, to some extent, added to the sound of the unit. By providing three modes, though, Waves gives you the option of running the Aphex as an insert-based processor with and without the ‘phasing shifts’ (MIX2 and MIX1 respectively or via an aux send (AX)).
As with the original Aural Exciter, it’s best to use the effect relatively sparingly, especially given its somewhat addictive qualities. On selective sounds, particularly vocals, a touch of the Aphex can provide a definable ‘air’ lift, helping the performance to soar above the top of the mix. Likewise, an acoustic guitar can gain a sheen that’s almost impossible to achieve with EQ. Most important, though, is the Aphex’s ability to create top end from an input with surprisingly little treble – something that brings new life to tired drum loops.
Aural delights
Although a sparkly top end might not be as elusive as it used to be, there’s little doubt that Waves’ Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter delivers some of the best top-end excitement that we’ve heard from any plug-in. Some users will miss the Big Bottom or the extended control and functionality offered by the latter-day aural exciters, but if you simply want a smooth and extended top end, the no-nonsense, easy-to-use approach of the Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter makes it a real winner. The additional Mix modes also significantly add to the flexibility of the unit, allowing it to be subtle enough for mastering yet also have enough character to use as a deliberate effect.
WHY BUY
Superb re-creation of the aural exciter effect
Effortless top-end enhancement
Less harsh than many comparable solutions
Designed for both insert and auxiliary applications
WALK ON BY
No Big Bottom
Addictive and easy to over-use
VERDICT
Waves’ Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter proves just how good the original tube-powered unit really sounded. Despite the lack of Big Bottom, this plug-in simply oozes top-end sparkle! Definitely recommended if that’s what your mixes lack.
★★★★★★★★★ (9/10)
Score: 9
This review first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 98
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