Customer Reviews

BBE Sonic Maximizer Plugin Software

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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!!!!!!!!!

Doesn't work with Intel Macs. I actually had good support from technical service when I called. They were very friendly and enthusiastic to try and help. Consider the hardware version if you are using an Intel Mac. I doubt they will upgrade this software as many companies are going to hardware versions of their products because of piracy.

Prior to purchasing the BBE Sonic Maximizer Plug-In, I wrote to BBE to ask them about the product. I got no response. I kept reading reviews and decided to purchase the BBE Sonic Max Plug-in when I purchased BIAS PEAK LE 5 for my iMac. The BIAS PEAK installed fine, and works fine. The BBE Sonic Maximizer Plug-in installaed just fine. It even shows up on the VST list of effects for the BIAS. But, ever time I try to access the Sonic Maximizer within Bias Peak, I get an error message. So: I wrote to BBE again. And I wrote to BIAS. BIAS responded within hours: something they have done every time I have written to them. In fact, their support was so good prior to my purchase, I felt that BIAS would be a great to work with...and they are. But, BBE has yet to respond. Do you know what BIAS said? Here's the quote: "This is an issue that BBE is aware of and they should have an easy fix for you". Yet< I get no response or help from BBE. Do not buy the product if you want support.
I did use install the BBE on my Windows PC and have used it with Sound Forge. It works well. But, unless they help me with support so I can run it on my main work station, my iMac, it is useless to me.