BBE Sonic Maximizer Plugin Software

by BBE

Product Features

• Brings the secret weapon of performers, producers, DJs and engineers to a computer near y
• Restores high frequency definition and detail while focusing bass frequencies for any sound source
• Full capabilities of BBE's 882i/482i hardware Sonic Maximizer with the convenience of digital
• Progammable Patch Memory
• Compatible with all AU, RTAS and VST host applications

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• ASIN: B0001LV4IK
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 13, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,671 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #62 in Software > Video & Music > Software > Music Creation & Sequencing

Product Description

The BBE Sonic Maximizer Plugin Software brings the secret weapon of performers, producers, DJs and engineers to a computer near you. The Sonic Maximizer restores the high frequency definition and detail while focusing bass frequencies for any sound source. The new D82 Sonic Maximizer delivers the full capabilities of BBE's 882i and 482i hardware Sonic Maximizer processors with the convenience of digital. The BBE Sonic Maximizer plugin will add brilliance, depth, detail and definition to your music in many PC and Mac audio software applications that accept VST, AU and RTAS plugins, from multi-track recording to sampling to remixing. The BBE Sonic Maximizer plug-in works superbly with these and other host applications: Pro Tools Logic Cubase Digital Performer Cakewalk and many more professional audio applications BBE's best sonic quality with plug-in convenience Owning the Sonic Maximizer Plug-in is the equivalent of having a rack full of BBE 882i units with automation, just the thing for processing multiple tracks simultaneously. The most important thing in developing the Sonic Maximizer algorithm was to accurately capture the quality of BBE's fourth generation Sonic Maximizer processor featured in BBE's 482i and 882i products. The most encouraging comment BBE hears from users is that the Sonic Maximizer plug-in is true to the rack mount 482i and 882i units they've come to depend on, retaining all of the warmth, punch and clarity for which BBE's analog processors are renowned.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting and welcomed Plug In, July 19, 2007

By 

R. Lanham (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BBE Sonic Maximizer Plugin Software (CD-ROM)

Several months ago I saw someone post at another websight about this software that is just 'adds distortion.' (?) I can understand why he said that if when he initially tried to use it and didn't have any idea how the settings work. It could if not used properly.
This software is very 'interesting' it what it may be able to do for you in different applications. With a little patients on your part, you may indeed get some very impressive results in finer distinction and clarity with some of your favorite music tracks. I've tried it on many things the last few days after I bought it, from bad recordings to even 'remasters.' (Some of the 'remasters' are just plain poor. Listen for yourself instead of being caught up by this vague 'buzz word.')
Being a musician and working in sound for many years, I don't believe there's any 'one click fix' to any sound problem you might encounter. But what I've found so far with the BBE Sonic Maximizer is that it can be a very useful tool, adjusted properly, and help a great deal in adding clarity, detail, presence and/or depth to music that seems 'flat' or 'lifeless.'
Does it add 'distortion' as I was led to believe at first? It could if not adjusted correctly. (An obvious thing to check is to make sure your 'output level' in the BBE software is not pushing your host application into clipping (distorting). You might not need this kind of application at all and be trying to use it to "fix" (or 'adjust') for an entirely different 'problem.' (It might just be a matter of personal taste and isn't 'a problem' to begin with.)
I wished I had initially taken my own advise and reminded myself to 'go listen for yourself.' I might not need this software all the time, but I'm certainly glad I have it now. Using it on some of my sound projects is going to be very helpful. It is giving me some audio clarity and detail I was not able to get at times. It is a MUST HAVE for me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!, April 23, 2011

By 

Aaron Eikenberry - See all my reviews

This review is from: BBE Sonic Maximizer Plugin Software (CD-ROM)

I ordered this because I thought it would be a great product to have. BEWARE, the software you receive comes with lack of information to even register the product. The link they send you to to register is a dead link..... I spend hours trying to register, finally gave up and emailed the company saying I want detailed info on how to register as everything online and that came with the product takes you in circles, and I did say I should get something in return for the hours I spent helplessly trying to register a product.

They emailed me back saying and I quote "We don't help rude customers. Either be nice or we wont help you". Horrible way to treat customers. I will NEVER buy from this company again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sonically Maximized, October 28, 2008

By 

Mr. FB (The Internet) - See all my reviews

This review is from: BBE Sonic Maximizer Plugin Software (CD-ROM)

PROS:
I use this baby in almost any piece of audio software I own (Ableton Live 7, Sonar 7, Pro Tools, Sound Forge, CD Architect, Fruity Loops, etc...). It's a great plug-in adding clarity, deepness, or both in a hot second! Don't mistake this for replacing good use of EQ though! When used properly, in addition to good mixing, it will add brilliance and life to your music! What's also nice about having this software plug-in as opposed to the hardware version, is that you virtually have an unlimited supply of this "rackmount gear" to put on as many tracks as you want, at a much lesser cost! Up to as many as your computer can handle. Instead of buying 1 piece of hardware, and recording through, or even re-recording all your tracks through that 1 piece, it's like having a whole room full of Sonic Maximizers ready to have individual, or even multiple signals pass thru them and all ready to be maximized. Think of the hassle with hardware...If you want the clarity or deepness the hardware provides, then you have to either record, or re-record thru it with possibly different settings for each part of the song to get your desired result! And while you're tinkering with those settings for each take, don't forget to keep track of those settings for all your previous takes that you think you want to keep for now...You may have recreate that same sound if have to come back to one of those takes later...YEAH RIGHT! Jot it all down with pen and paper?! Heck even using Windows notepad is too much for folks like me! Activate this plug-in on any track you want, set it and move on, saving you time and energy! If you don't like how it sounds later, come back and readjust until you do. Simple! No re-recording, no notepad, no paper and pencil! Most of all, programs like Pro Tools or Ableton let you save the settings should you need to load them later! Can hardware do that? I don't think so! All in all, less time fiddling with gear, more time making music!

Cons: (The reason I only gave it 4 stars)
If you haven't figured out by now, my main DAW is Pro Tools, so when I installed this plug-in I noticed that Pro Tools would blast this really loud distorted noise almost every time I opened the projects it was used on. It was like the snow sound on TV with less low end, played at 60+ dB and louder. (Yeah imagine my surprise the first time I heard that in the headphones...I almost had to clean the seat I was sitting in!) This would happen for anywhere from 5-10 seconds and then it would stop, and all was fine again. So I have learned to open my projects with the headphones and monitors turned all the way down or off. Even then you still faintly hear it since it is so loud. That's how I know when it stops and to turn everything back up again LOL! Also, if you use this on an audio track, as opposed to a send or bus track, it seems that the output of the plug-in will boost the gain of that track, instead of just leaving the track at the same level. Just a little annoying sometimes to have to go back to readjust the level of the track to keep your mix the way you want it.

Anyway, it plays well with all the other software I mentioned above. I haven't noticed the loud blasting distortion problem on any other program but Pro Tools, and anyone who has used Pro Tools knows that Pro Tools has its own quirks at times. Since I have the VST wrapper by FXpansion, maybe I'll uninstall the RTAS version and wrap the VST version to work in Pro Tools, and see if that gets rid of my loud distortion problem! Hope this helps someone in their decision making! Despite the cons, I consider this to be one of the best tools in my arsenal! Learning how to this tool won't make you good...IT'LL MAKE YOU DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!