Exciter (effect)

An exciter, also Aural Exciter, (derived from engl. Excitement to " stimulate ", both in the sense of emotional stimulus and by vibrations cause ) is a musical effects unit that produces the high frequencies of a sound signal artificially.

Construction

The exciter consists of two series-connected elements: a high-pass filter, and a distortion. That was originally designed as a quadrature, but in simpler equipment is often a circuit with anti-parallel diodes is used. In each case, new harmonics generated by the circuit above the cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter based on the original signal as harmonics. The signal thus produced is the original signal with a low level portion added back.

Effect

The altered by the Exciter sound sounds more transparent as the original and is also spatially localized better. Subjectively similar to the processing of a treble boost, although the level hardly increased measurably. Too much of the effect deteriorates the signal quality significantly, from the sound becomes unnatural, distorted, annoying.

Application

The exciter can be used both for the processing of the complete as well as for blends of the individual signals. Even the " refresh " inferior transmission paths it is suitable in this case an audible improvement mainly on simple playback devices ( clock radio, portable radio, mini- systems) is achieved, which make up the majority of the target market of the Phonographic Industry. In almost all blends an exciter is used nowadays, harmonically rich individual signals such as pools are finished with him, and particularly in advertising the device is popular because it promises to be the re- work psycho-acoustically louder at the same level.

History

The American Charles D. Lindridge was produced in 1955 the first exciter. The market penetration achieved the unit from 1970 under the name Aphex Aural Exciter of the company. After the effects unit was initially borrowed only by the hour for high rental rates and its operation was a closely guarded secret, kept the best-known variant type C in the 1980s entered the recording studios. In addition to the original of the company Aphex there were soon alternatives (for example, by BBE, Behringer, SPL) and high- end versions ( for example, politeness ). Meanwhile, the Exciter heard virtually every upscale gym equipment and is also available as a plug- in for digital production environments.

Related devices

An enhancer operates according to a principle similar to an exciter, however, a number of bandpass filters, instead of a high-pass filter used. Many models do not create new overtones, but analyze existing, lift it and work with dynamic run-time effects to pulse broadening. Depending on the frequency of the filter has the enhancer different purposes and differing sound qualities. Examples of this are a better speech intelligibility, a more spacious appearance and a clearer stereo imaging.