Aural Exciter Free Vst
- Aural Exciter Free Vst Plugin
- Aphex Aural Exciter Type C
- Aural Exciter Free Vst Torrent
- Aural Exciter Free Vst Free
- Free Harmonic Exciter Vst
- Aphex Big Bottom Aural Exciter
Harmonic exciters are used by producers and audio engineers to add color and flavor when mixing instruments like pianos, guitars, leads, synths drums, and even bass to add more presence and clarity to your sound. This is achieved by adding harmonic distortion.
In this article, we will explain what harmonic exciter is but also discuss and compare the features of the most commonly used Exciter plugins below. Also, check our article for Best 29 Best Sound Design VST Plugins.
How Does Harmonic Exciter Work?
Harmonic exciter uses harmonic synthesis to attack the rudimentary frequency signals in the recording and create higher-order harmonics from it. Since noise mostly comes from higher frequencies, the harmonics are obtained from a purer frequency band, thus giving us cleaner highs.
Nomad Factory BBE Sonic Maximizer D82. One of the best known names in excitement, with. The Best Free Exciter VST Plugins. Using Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter To Bring Character And Sheen. Aphex Aural Exciter MAC OSX INTEL TEAM ATeam 5-29-2011 30.4 MB AU VST VST3 RTAS TDM. The Vintage Aural Exciter audio plugin developed in association with Aphex enhances presence, brightness, and vibrancy on vocal and instrumental tracks alike.
- Get Aphex Vintage Exciter by Waves and learn how to use the plugin with Ableton Live, Logic, GarageBand, and FL Studio for free.
- Download free Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter Exciter Demo. As its name implies, the Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter is an exciter, and it adds a treble 'sheen' to any signal. Modeled on one of only a few tube-powered units ever made, the Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter.
- Explore & download the best free Enhancer & Exciter plugins (VST, AU, RTAS, AAX). Visit and discover thousands of pro audio and music freewares!
Exciters are not just limited to high frequencies. It can be used to add excitement across the whole frequency spectrum.
How & When To Use Harmonic Exciter?
As we said earlier, harmonic exciters are used by producers and audio engineers to add color and flavor when mixing instruments like pianos, guitars, leads, synths drums, and even bass to add more presence and clarity to your sound.
Using a standard EQ to achieve this often results in unnecessary noise and sibilance, so a harmonic exciter is a better choice. Additionally, Harmonic exciters are sometimes used on old recordings in order to clean it up and make it sound more redefined.
Harmonic exciters are generally used for mixing on an individual level. However, they can also be useful in mastering or post-production commonly for treating master tapes. Enhancing higher frequencies could help overcome the clarity loss in mass cassette duplication. Moreover, it can also be used to treat analog tape master, which has lost its higher frequencies due to aging or repeated playing over the years.
Best VST Exciter Plugins
1. Izotope Ozone Exciter:
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The Ozone exciter by Izotope is arguably the most commonly used exciter VST. This is mostly due to the circuit Triode and the Dual Triode modes or the updated Retro, Tape, Warm, or Tube modes that come equipped. These modes can be applied to each individual frequency band, making it a really useful tool to add variation and color to your track.
The interface of this plugin is user friendly. There are four frequency bands (low, mid-low, mid-high, and high), each with 2 control knobs, i.e. the amount control knob and the mix knob. Most of the time users will be applying excitation to the mid-high and high frequencies, though it would be a good idea to boost a little bit in the lower ends sometimes for a little extra flavor to the sound.
Ozone exciter also has an oversampling button which is used to increase the accuracy and the sound quality of the analog modeling in the harmonic exciter greatly. On powerful computers, this feature can be run in real-time. Else, it is best to use while exporting the track.
The plugin is also equipped with a bypass button. This is a useful tool since it allows the user to bypass the effect on individual frequencies in order to figure out what sections of the mix are being processed through each band.
2. Waves Aphex – Vintage Aural Exciter:
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This exciter plugin by Waves is modelled after an actual, physical exciter device that was introduced originally in the mid-70s. The Aphex exciter was an instant hit at that time, but it was quite expensive and rare to find. Today, Waves technology acquired the Aphex exciter and created a VST that replicates its sound almost exactly.
The user interface in the Waves Aphex is very different from the Ozone exciter. We have a mix1/mix2 mode that the user can choose from. The AX mix slider is to blend the desired amount of effect with the dry
signal. In addition to that, Aphex also has an AX mode. This is used when this effect is used on an aux bus, and there are tracks routed to it as “sends”.
Another feature that makes Aphex especially useful is the VU meter and the VU calibration displays. The VU meter displays the input or output level in dBVU. It also has a clipping indicator that lights up when the level exceeds 0dBFS. The VU calibration controls the headroom calibration in the VU meter. Just like the Ozone exciter, Aphex also has a bypass option.
3. Audio Thing Valve Exciter:
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Valve Exciter is a harmonic exciter with a vintage valve emulation plugin by Audiothing. Much like its counterparts, the interface of this plugin, as well as the sound, is unique to it.
Valves plugin has two main sections, i.e. the exciter section and the valve section.
The exciter section consists of hand-tuned filters. Valve also has a harmonics knob which allows the user to sweep the middle frequencies. The bass and treble knobs are self-explanatory, i.e. they are in charge of boosting frequencies in those ranges. The harmonics knob is used to sweep in the middle frequencies of the bass and treble. Additionally, the harmonics knob is also used to boost the mid-range.
The valve section is designed to replicate a custom version of the vintage Telefunken ECC83 tubes. This section comes with a drive knob, triode/pentode mode, and a bias settings knob. It also comes with an ON/OFF switch to enable/disable it. The drive knob is used to add that “grind” and “grittiness” to the sound by eliminating some of the frequencies using pre-defined settings. Bias knob attempts to emulate the idle current sound that the original tube generates. This changes the tone of the sound. This is also the case for the triode/pentode switches.
4. XCTR – Audio Assault:
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The Audio Assault plugin by XCTR to me does more than harmonic exciter. This is a full-on saturation plugin with multiple controllers for multiple functionalities. The XCTR, in a way, inhibits a feature from all the plugins we mentioned above.
Just like in the Aphex plugin, we have input/output with a peak meter section. In addition to input/output, we also have bass, low mids and high mids controllers in the same section. The bass knob is used to set the range of frequencies that will affect the bass saturation channel. The range of frequencies is from 22 Hz to 1 kHz. The same thing goes for the low mids and the high mids knobs. The range for the low mids knob is from 1 kHz to 4 kHz, whereas the range for high mids is from 4 kHz to 22 kHz. Much like the Ozone exciter, the XCTR also has an oversample and a bypass feature.
The 5 channel controllers are inspired by the analog flavors found in the Head Crusher, which is another plugin by Audio Assault. These plugins allow the user to independently add saturation to individual frequencies. The drive slider is a fader that controls how much of the effect is being added to our frequency. The mix slider controls how much of the driven saturation is mixed with the original dry signal of the track.
Specs comparison:
Ozone ExciterWaves AphexValve ExciterXCTRCompatibilityMac: OS X 10.11 El Capitain–macOS 10.15 CatalinaPC: Win 7 64-bit (Latest Service Packs)–Win 10
PC: Win 7 64-bit (Latest Service Packs)–Win 10
Ozone 9 Standard: $99
Ozone 9 Advanced: $499
Tonal Balance Bundle: $299
Overview:
To wrap this up, Harmonic exciters are a great way to boost lead vocals and to add more flavor to a track by increasing individual frequencies without adding noise. Exciters have proven to be vital in the mixing and mastering process, and so they established a prominent position in the mix chain. There is a wide variety of exciter plugins in the market, each with different functionality, different sound, and different controls.
In this post, we discussed the most commonly used ones and compared them based on system compatibility, price and hardware requirement, and seen a very broad difference in terms of price particularly. While I personally use Ozone Exciter, I highly recommend trying out every plugin that was mentioned by downloading the free trials or demos in order to get the full picture as to how each plugin sounds and find out precisely what you need for your style.
Want to add some well needed brilliance and presence to your mix?
Or maybe you want to make things a little more gritty, or add some perceived clarity.
An harmonic exciter plug-in, when used right, will do that for you. So in this plugin guide, we’ll go over a few of the best exciter plugins to give your mix that special brilliance.
Quick answer: iZotope Ozone Suite’s Exciter offers the best that money can buy.
This is followed by The Abbey Road Studios Brilliance Pack by Softube.
The lowest price? Take a look at Valve Exciter by AudioThing.
The rest of this guide will explore these plugins for closely, and name a couple others to boot.
Let’s take a closer look 🙂
Table of Contents
- Exciter Plug-in Buying Guide
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Exciter Plug-in Buying Guide
What is an Exciter?
An exciter is a hardware device or software plug-in that enhances an audio signal via any number of processes. Among the methods typically used by exciter circuits are dynamic equalization and phase manipulation.
Some devices also use high frequency harmonic synthesis, while others incorporate harmonic distortion into the signal.
Exciters are also often referred to as harmonic exciters or aural exciters.
The earliest exciters were hardware devices with tube circuitry. Most modern hardware exciters utilize digital signal processing (DSP) in emulating early analog/tube exciters. But they now also come in plug-in form for use in a software-based audio production environment.
What are Exciters Used For?
If the above definition went over your head, don’t worry about it…
… what’s more important is what an exciter plugin can Voice fx vst plugins. do for you, and why you should use it when necessary.
Some useful applications in live and studio settings:
- Restoring the ‘brightness’ or high frequency content of analog tape recordings
- Brightening up old tape or vinyl recordings (eg. by digitizing vinyl using a turntable) by simulating spectral content
- Enhancing the output of media players, both hardware and software
- Enhancing the signal of electric guitars or other instruments
Features to Look For in an Exciter Plug-in
A good amount of control is always nice to have in a plug-in, and it is especially important for exciters.
With sufficient control over the amount of the harmonic excitation and the mix between the “excited” and original signals (like the wet/dry mix of a reverb plugin), you will be better able to brighten up your audio without undue harshness or brittleness.
Some of the more fully featured exciter plug-ins come with several configurable modes. This is also a good thing to have, as different modes tend to affect the signal in different ways.
Some plug-ins even have models of tube circuitry or specific hardware exciters, giving you a good range of options with which to treat audio signals.
How to Choose the Best Exciter Plug-in
At the end of the day, what matters most is the sound.
While transparency and neutrality are always good qualities in audio processing tools, there are instances where a bit of grit or character is just the thing to get the perfect mix.
Although you should definitely consider the availability of controls and features when choosing an exciter plug-in, it is equally important that you choose one based on how much you like its basic tone.
The Best Exciter Plug-in Software
iZotope Exciter
Part of the hugely-popular Ozone mastering suite, iZotope’s Exciter packs a whole lot of features and functionalities in a cool and very customizable interface.
The exciter circuitry adds a lot of character and brilliance to audio with its multiple saturation modes. Along with the triode and dual triode options, there are also tube, retro, and tape modes that sound just as good as their analog counterparts.
If you have been disappointed with the sterile and brittle quality imparted by many exciter plug-ins, the iZotope Exciter definitely deserves a close look.
Specs and useful features
Aural Exciter Free Vst Plugin
- Four configurable saturation bands
- Triode and dual-triode modes
- “Retro”, “tape”, “warm”, and “tube” settings
- Multiband and mid/side processing
- Saturation spectrum display
- Post filter for sculpting frequency output
- Peak saturation
User impressions
Many users laude the Exciter’s ability to enable sounds to cut through the mix without the need to increase the gain. The plug-in also gets praise for its flexibility, which is attributed to the ability to specify algorithms for each of the four saturation bands.
Bottom-line
The iZotope Exciter is one of the most fully featured exciter plug-ins available today. It does cost a lot more than other exciters, but only because it is part of a comprehensive suite of audio tools that perform a lot more functions as well. Offering a high degree of user customization and a modern, intuitive interface, it could very well handle all your audio exciter needs.
Demonstration
Softube Abbey Road Brilliance Pack
This is inspired by the revolutionary mix tools used in the legendary studio of the same name. The Abbey Road Studios Brilliance Pack is a set of three specialized equalizers that work well on individual tracks, stems, and even entire mixes.
Focusing primarily on the high frequencies, the suite is comprised of two RS127s (one with and without built-in transformer), and the RS135. With these three distinct-sounding EQs, mix engineers have a broad range of tools to liven up even the dullest tracks.
Specs and useful features
- Three treble equalizers modeled from Abbey Road original hardware units
- RS127 – Up to 10 dB of boost or cut at 2.1, 3.5 and 10 kHz
- RS127 – Adds transformer to original RS127 circuit
- RS135 – Fixed boost at 8 kHz
- Low CPU usage
Aphex Aural Exciter Type C
User impressions
Many user reviews of the Abbey Road Brilliance Pack cite the absolutely beautiful sounds that this suite produce, a sentiment that I also share. A common thread is the ability to enhance source audio and make it sweeter, without introducing any harsh qualities to the signal.
Most users tend to use these plug-ins for processing vocal tracks, although they have been used to great effect on individual instruments and stems with plenty of high frequency content as well.
Criticisms of the Abbey Road Brilliance Pack typically revolve around the relative lack of control over certain parameter settings.
Bottom-line
The Abbey Road Brilliance Pack is a great set of exciter plug-ins that covers most any conceivable studio applications. While the somewhat unusual workflow may take some getting used to, there is no denying its ‘magic.’ Even with its somewhat steep price tag, the Brilliance Pack has a really unique sound that many salivate over, and considerable functionality in a versatile package.
Demonstration
Valve Exciter by AudioThing
Also modeling tube circuitry is the Valve Exciter by AudioThing, which is billed as a “Harmonic Enhancer plug-in”.
The exciter section has a series of filters that have been tuned meticulously by hand, allowing you to sweep the crucial center frequencies with absolute control. The valve section itself gives you all the rich analog flavors you could need to add subtle brilliance to your tracks.
It even has a bias control for the tube section, so you can hone in on the precise frequencies you want.
Specs and useful features
- Bass and treble with Harmonics sweep
- Valve emulation with drive control
- Low CPU usage
- Preset system with randomizer control
User impressions
Like many other exciter plug-ins, the Valve Exciter has garnered praise for its ability to improve clarity and enhance brightness when used subtly. The key to its effective use is proper gain staging, as the input is especially sensitive to signal levels. Some users have in fact mentioned difficulty in fine tuning the levels, although this was effectively dealt with after familiarization with the controls.
You learn about gain staging from or article on understanding gain structure.
More problematic was the idiosyncratic valve response, which seemed to be a highly subjective quality. While some users had no problem with the compression artifacts produced by the plug-in, others felt that these effects made the plug-in unusable for critical applications
Bottom-line
The Valve Exciter is a pretty flexible exciter plug-in that has an attractive price tag. However, the compression artifacts induced is very much an acquired taste. Few users will likely settle on this as their sole exciter plug-in, although it may have some use for ‘character’ sounds. Those looking for more transparency would probably be better off considering other options.
Demonstration
Aural Exciter Free Vst Torrent
Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter
The name “Aphex” should be familiar to anyone who has worked extensively in pro audio. With the Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter, the venerable tube-driven circuitry now has an equivalent in software form. The software version closely models the sound, vibe, and even appearance of the original, with a bunch of features that would make it fit right into any modern studio. It even comes with an analog section that allows you to dial in just the right amount of grit to individual tracks, stems, and entire mixes.
Specs and useful features
- Modeled after tube-powered original
- Enhances brightness, depth, and vibrancy
- Increases presence without increasing levels
- Suitable for vocals and instruments
- Mix and AX modes
- Useable as insert or send
- Mono and stereo capability
- 24bit/192kHz resolution
User impressions
One of the most common praises about the Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter is its ability to liven up a mix when used sparingly. Although this implies that it is easy to overuse the plug-in to the detriment of the sound, it is easy enough to simply add as much of the effect as needed to improve the source audio without ‘overcooking’ it.
Some users also appreciated the high-end ‘grit’ that it added to the signal, while others praised its ability to make muffled vocal tracks clearer and more intelligible.
Bottom-line
The Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter carries with it the formidable Aphex pedigree, but more discriminating users might bemoan the lack of classic features and reduced flexibility. Those looking for more functionality than that which their native EQs provide might have some use for this. Otherwise, there are better options for the money, particularly for master buss usage.
Demonstration
Waves OneKnob Brighter
The Waves OneKnob Brighter is about as simple as exciters come.
This little plugin offers only a single control knob, and packs a surprising amount of functionality in a simple and straightforward package.
Of course, the sound is what matters the most, and you may find that the OneKnob Brighter works perfectly on the mid-high frequencies of your guitar and vocal tracks, making them cut through the mix without being too shrill or overbearing.
Specs and useful features
- Full range of mix processing
- All-in-one sound-shaping capability
- Mono, stereo, and mono-stereo capability
- Single-parameter interface
- Suitable for studio and live applications
User impressions
For many users, the Waves OneKnob Brighter is about as easy to use as they come. Adding brightness to the mid-high frequency range of audio signals, it helps tracks cut through the mix without the need for extensive tweaking.
If you are happy with the sound that the OneKnob Brighter gives to your audio, this could be a pretty cool exciter plug-in for your needs. However, some users feel that it understandably provides limited functionality in the context of a full mix, and that the price warrants more control.
Bottom-line
The Waves OneKnob Brighter could be sufficient for your needs, if you like the base sound and don’t have a need for more intensive tonal shaping. For most users however, the single control can be too restricting, and the price might make it seem like less of a bargain.
Demonstration
Final thoughts – Which to Get?
Aural Exciter Free Vst Free
The clear winner in this roundup is the iZotope Exciter. It has a level of control that no other exciter plug-ins can come close to, this one combines rich sound with modern features and functionalities that deliver outstanding results every time.
It comes as part of the Ozone suite of mastering plug-ins, which might give it an unfair advantage over the other standalone exciters in this roundup. Nevertheless, there is no denying the control and precision that the iZotope Exciter offers, and it would be just as impressive even when judged on its own merits.
Speaking of impressive, the Abbey Road Brilliance Pack packs quite a solid punch as well. Vintage flavors are the stocks-in-trade of this trio of exciter plug-ins, but it can more than hold its own with other more modern-oriented offerings.
If you like the rich, brilliant flavors heard on countless classic recordings since the 1960s, the Abbey Road Brilliance Pack will make a great addition to your set of studio tools.
Free Harmonic Exciter Vst
The Waves OneKnob Brighter might seem like a bit of a one-trick pony to some, but it’s pretty hard to beat if simplicity is high on your list of priorities.
Aphex Big Bottom Aural Exciter
As for the Valve Exciter by AudioThing and the Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter, these could very well find a place in your studio toolbox. Keep in mind though that the artifacts they impart to the sound at more extreme settings might make them better suited to more specialized tasks or as alternatives to your more transparent exciter plug-ins.