Author Topic: BBE Sonic Maximizer (Read 9808 times)

Crazy_Joe · « **on:** October 13, 2007, 02:48:08 PM »

I still don't get what it does :?
I just bought a BBE treble boost and was thinking about getting a Sonic Maximizer to go with it. From the clips i have heard it just makes stuff sound better (?) haha.

Can someone tell me in simple terms what it does.

Cheers, Joe.

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #1 on:** October 13, 2007, 04:04:12 PM »

What a BBE Sonic Maximizer does:

The human ear perceives different frequencies as being louder than one another due to how many times it repeats. Higher frequencies are smaller and repeat more often in the same amount of time than a midrange or bass frequency, and seem to cut more at lower volumes. Just turn your hi fi down really low and see what frequencies you hear the most of.

The BBE introduces a slight delay to high frequencies so that your ear perceives all of the frequencies coming out of it 'at the same time', essentially. It also adjusts the phase of the high frequencies in relation to the midrange and low freqs.

The way you would normally perceive a guitar's signal is kinda like this --

TREBLE ------------------------------>
MIDRANGE -------------------->
BASS --------------->

After the BBE, you hear it like this --

TREBLE ---------->
MIDRANGE ------>
BASS ------------>

It results in what the ear perceives as a richer, fuller tone.

ailean · « **Reply #2 on:** October 13, 2007, 04:06:23 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

What a BBE Sonic Maximizer does:

The human ear perceives different frequencies as being louder than one another due to how many times it repeats. Higher frequencies are smaller and cut more at lower volumes. Just turn your hi fi down really low and see what frequencies you hear the most of.

The BBE introduces a slight delay to high frequencies so that your ear perceives all of the frequencies coming out of it 'at the same time', essentially. It also adjusts the phase of the high frequencies in relation to the midrange and low freqs.

The way you would normally perceive a guitar's signal is kinda like this --

TREBLE ------------------------------>
MIDRANGE -------------------->
BASS --------------->

After the BBE, you hear it like this --

TREBLE ---------->
MIDRANGE ------>
BASS ------------>

It results in what the ear perceives as a richer, fuller tone.

Good answer, I actually understood that.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #3 on:** October 13, 2007, 05:35:00 PM »

Funnily enough, I have just got one myself. My brother has been in the USA and he picked one up for me ( and one for himself too-he is always copying me-he now has BKP's !) I can't improve on Ben's explanation. Got a gig tonight and I am going to give it a go.

Antag · « **Reply #4 on:** October 13, 2007, 06:18:15 PM »

I won't attempt to better TO's technical explanation either :)

But I will say that the effect is startling. As Feline said when I demo'd his, "it's like lifting a blanket off your amp". It makes the sound tighter & clearer - you'll wonder how you ever coped without one. FWIW I bought a 482 rackmount unit from XL2XL soon after hearing Feline's with his JCM800.

One other thing: to get the most out of it with high gain sounds you need to use it in the FX loop, but for cleans it works better in front of the amp.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #5 on:** October 13, 2007, 06:21:41 PM »

Thats a good explanation Ben

I find that it helps a lot with clarity too
I put one in my Hi-fi separates and it works really well for me

In the loop of an amp it can have a great effect
Made my JCM 800 sound somewhat more like a Mesa Rectifier or like Zakk Wylde had been let loose on it.

Raysus · « **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2007, 07:26:37 PM »

I personally find it makes the sound more ''Hi-Fi'' and kind of makes the sound more modern. I find that pinch harmonics are really easier to get and that the sound is clearer. I also think that it smooths out the sound, as opposed to a more ''raw'' sound.

the only thing I dislike about it is the fact that it doesn't work as well at high volumes, but that might have to do with the perceived loudness from each type of frequency at high volumes(the human ear is more sensible to mids at lower volumes and more sensible to highs and lows at higher volumes)

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #7 on:** October 14, 2007, 01:40:03 PM »

They are amazing what they can do for your sound, for high gain it's hard to see how you liked your tone without it.

Good explanation Ben!

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** October 14, 2007, 02:05:05 PM »

That helped a lot Ben cheers :D I might have to pick one up if my BBE treble boost impresses me.

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #9 on:** October 14, 2007, 02:07:20 PM »

Quote from: Crazy_Joe

That helped a lot Ben cheers :D I might have to pick one up if my BBE treble boost impresses me.

Get one anyway Joe, it'll blow you away!

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #10 on:** October 14, 2007, 02:32:33 PM »

Haha, the way things are looking so far then i'll be picking one up very soon, and maybe a few other BBE pedals as they sound really good!

38thBeatle · « **Reply #11 on:** October 14, 2007, 03:02:09 PM »

Joe, I used mine ( which is a Sonic Stomp btw) last night at a gig and put it in the line between guitar and amp.I messed around during the 1st set to find the settings I liked best.I would say that it opens up the tone a bit-definately preferred it on to off so a thumbs up from me. You need to find the sweet spot but as there are just 2 knobs, it doesn't take that long. I suppose I could have done it at a rehearsal but a gig situation is where I play most so it made sense to me.It sounded a "richer" once I found the sweet spot. I have a rehearsal with my other band on Wednesday where I play bass and I will give it a go there. Mine cost £45.00 as an import from USA-well worth the money. What do you think of the treble boost-I am very fond of them-good ones do more than boost treble but I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #12 on:** October 14, 2007, 03:10:43 PM »

Quote from: 38thBeatle

Joe, I used mine ( which is a Sonic Stomp btw) last night at a gig and put it in the line between guitar and amp.I messed around during the 1st set to find the settings I liked best.I would say that it opens up the tone a bit-definately preferred it on to off so a thumbs up from me. You need to find the sweet spot but as there are just 2 knobs, it doesn't take that long. I suppose I could have done it at a rehearsal but a gig situation is where I play most so it made sense to me.It sounded a "richer" once I found the sweet spot. I have a rehearsal with my other band on Wednesday where I play bass and I will give it a go there. Mine cost £45.00 as an import from USA-well worth the money. What do you think of the treble boost-I am very fond of them-good ones do more than boost treble but I'd be interested in your thoughts.

I'm still awaiting my Treble Boost, but from the clips/videos/reviews i saw it is a good piece of kit, it said in a review that it boosts the upper mids more than treble. I'm buying myn mainly for a solo boost to help it cut through more as i found in college that with the Fender Deluxe 900 amps that we use to perform with that when they go higher gain that it gets a bit bass heavy and solos turn into a bit of a mushy especially on the lower strings.

Edit: here is a review of quite a few BBE pedals: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=umNPbwCzOB8

Tellboy · « **Reply #13 on:** October 14, 2007, 03:43:04 PM »

Like Beatle, I've got the stomp box version. Also available as rack studio effects or as VST/DX plugins for Cubase,Cakewalk Sonar etc.
Its worth trying the stomp box both 'in line' (as recommended) and in the effect loop. I found that in line there was more noticable effect on clean sounds and in the amp effects loop it affected distortion sounds more.
This was discussed here: http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8945&highlight=bbe

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #14 on:** October 14, 2007, 04:39:15 PM »

It sounds like it boosts it a bit though (extra harmonics etc.), which i don't want really, is this true?