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Exciter (effect) 1
Exciter (effect)
An Exciter (also called a "harmonic exciter", "psychoacoustic
processor", "enhancer", or "Aural Exciter") is an
audio signal processing technique used to enhance a signal by
dynamic equalization, phase manipulation, harmonic
synthesis of (usually) high frequency signals, and through the
addition of subtle harmonic distortion. Dynamic
Equalization involves variation of the Equalizer characteristics
in the time domain as a function of the input. Due to
the varying nature, noise is reduced compared to static
equalizers. Harmonic synthesis involves the creation of
higher order harmonics from the fundamental frequency signals
present in the recording. As noise usually decreases
with the frequency band, the harmonics are derived from a purer
frequency band resulting in clearer highs. Exciters
are also used to synthesize harmonics of low frequency signals
to simulate deep bass in smaller speakers.
Originally made in valve (tube) based equipment, they are now
implemented as part of a digital signal processor,
often trying to emulate analogue Exciters. Exciters are mostly
found as plug-ins for sound editing software and in
sound enhancement processors.
Aural ExciterThe Aural Exciter was one of the first exciter
effects. The Aural Exciter effect was developed in the mid-1970s
by
Aphex Electronics. The Aural Exciter enhances clarity and
intelligibility by adding phase shift and musically related
synthesized harmonics to audio signals. The first Aural Exciter
units were available in the mid-1970s, exclusively on
the rental basis of $30 per minute of finished recorded time.
The unit became so popular, especially with the Los
Angeles music and recording studio scene, that Aphex had to move
to Hollywood. In the 1970s, certain recording
artists, including Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and James
Taylor stated in their liner notes "This album was
recorded using the Aphex Aural Exciter." Other users included
Donna Summer, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac,
Olivia Newton-John, Alan Parsons, and Warren Zevon.
Recognizing that there was a much bigger market than just the
rental business, Aphex started selling the professional
units, and introduced two low-cost models: Type B and Type C.
The Aural Exciter circuit is now licensed by a
growing list of manufacturers, including Yamaha, MacKenzie,
Gentner, Emu and Bogen. The original Aphex Aural
Exciter, first offered in 1975, came without the Big Bottom
circuit, which was added in 1992. Later revisions of
theAphex Aural Exciter included the Model 104 Type C and Type C2
units. Aphex has now released the Model 204
Aural Exciter and Optical Big Bottom, yet another refinement of
the original unit. According to Aphex, the Model
204 updates the Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processor blocks
with improved circuitry, including an optical
gain-control element for the Big Bottom compressor.
Other brands
Functionally similar units from competing manufacturers are
generically known either as "psychoacousticprocessors",
"psychoacoustic exciters", "harmonic exciters", or "enhancers". In
the 1990s and 2000s, broadly
comparable products now available from BBE, Joemeek, SPL, and
Behringer. Most are analogue signal processors,
although a few digital units are began to appear in the 2000s.
The BBE Sonic Maximiser utilizes a similar process of
frequency-dependent phase shifting, as do other brands to
varying extent.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Behringerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bogenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yamaha_%28manufacturer%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warren_Zevonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alan_Parsonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Olivia_Newton-Johnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fleetwood_Machttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_McCartneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Donna_Summerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liner_noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Taylorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Linda_Ronstadthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jackson_Brownehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Recording_artisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Recording_artisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hollywoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Recording_studiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Los_Angeleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Los_Angeleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rentalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phase_%28waves%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Digital_signal_processorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vacuum_tubehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fundamental_frequencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harmonichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Noisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Equalizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Audio_signal_processing
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Exciter (effect) 2
Uses
Unlike traditional equalizer devices, exciters are less likely
to add noise and hiss, which make them useful in
enhancing dull recordings, especially analog reel-to-reel tape
recordings that have lost their "sparkle" due to
repeated overdubs.
Exciters are also used for restoring old recordings by adding
lost spectral content
Exciters are increasingly implemented as an audio enhancement
for hardware and software media players Exciters can be useful for
vinyl DJs to add a different sound quality to parts of their DJ set
or "brighten up" a very
old record that has begun to sound dull.
Exciters are also sold in a "stompbox" pedal format, in units
designed for use with an electric guitar, electric bass,
or electronic keyboards.
External links
Enhancers[1]
article on Sound on Sound
Enhancers FAQ[2]
on Sound on Sound
References
[1] http://www.soundonsound.
com/sos/1997_articles/may97/exciters.html
[2] http://www.soundonsound.
com/sos/jan00/articles/enhancer.htm
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan00/articles/enhancer.htmhttp://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/may97/exciters.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sound_on_Soundhttp://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan00/articles/enhancer.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sound_on_Soundhttp://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/may97/exciters.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electric_basshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electric_guitar
