Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter

Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter | Legendary Analog Exciter, Recreating Bright High-Frequency Sheen

Modeled on the legendary hardware from the 1970s, the Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter injects unparalleled air and life into your audio. In that era, the original Aphex Aural Exciter was a secret weapon available only for high-priced rental at a few top studios. It magically restored high-frequency details lost during recording and playback, bringing a stunning "excitement" to tracks. Now, through precise digital modeling, Waves has perfectly replicated the soul of this classic hardware, allowing you to add brilliant sheen and brightness to your music without using an equalizer (EQ).

The core secret of this powerful aural exciter lies in generating controlled 2nd-harmonic distortion. This unique high-frequency processing method significantly enhances a track's clarity, presence, and punch without adding harsh treble. Whether processing vocals, instruments, or mastering, the Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter brings a warm and refined analog coloration to your work, transforming dull sounds into lively, three-dimensional ones. This is not just an effect; it's a key tool for recreating the sonic aesthetics of a golden era.

Key Features & Applications

Breathe New Life into Vocals & Instruments
Whether it's vocals that need more air, acoustic guitars that crave clarity and brightness, or synths that need to cut through the mix, the Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter adds the perfect amount of vitality and sheen, making them sound more alive and detailed.

Minimal Controls, Infinite Possibilities
With its extremely simple interface, you can create a wide range of musical effects without complex settings. The plugin offers three core modes, and by adjusting the interaction between the input level and the effect, you can seamlessly transition from subtle brightening to significant excitement.

Light Up Your Masters
Many early recordings lack the 'air' and presence of modern recordings, which is why the Aural Exciter was originally hailed as a 'miracle worker'. In today's digital age, it has become an indispensable tool in mastering and restoration workflows, effectively enhancing the commercial quality and clarity of the final product.

Pristine Clean or Analog Noise
Through in-depth analysis by Waves engineers, it was discovered that the inherent hum and noise of the original hardware are part of its unique sonic character. You can choose to enable Analog mode to fully replicate the warm noise floor of the original unit, or turn it off for absolutely pristine digital clarity.

Instant Inspiration
Includes over 60 professionally designed presets covering various instruments, mixing, and mastering scenarios. It also features signature presets crafted by Val Garay, a renowned 1980s mix engineer and heavy user of the Aphex Aural Exciter, providing you with instant creative inspiration and a practical starting point.

Technical Specifications (Tech Specs)

• Plugin Formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX Native, AudioSuite
• Supported Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
• Channel Processing: Mono, Stereo
• Latency: 0 ms (zero latency)
• Analog Noise Simulation: Switchable On / Off (50Hz / 60Hz)
• Operation Modes: AX, MIX, BP (Bypass)
• System Requirements: Compatible with major DAWs on the latest versions of Mac and Windows operating systems (see the official Waves website for details).