Aphex 104 C2

With just a few knobs it's very easy to use, but also can get you into trouble. If I remember correctly, the older models had indicator lights for the drive on the Exciter section, but now it's only on the Big Bottom. Not a big deal, because your ears will tell you, but I had a situation in the studio where a client wanted all backing vocals to go thru the Aphex. It soon was overloaded, and I could see that from the indicator lights, and show him, so it was easier to diagnose the problem in the mix, with everything else playing. Solo'd you would of course notice it.

I purchased this because it was on sale, and I was doing a project that could use the Exciter portion. I love it for acoustic guitars. I don't like to over process things, so I never got into the Big Bottom options. Now I am putting my synth rig back together, and decided to strap it accross a Roland MKS-50. It's a great rack mount analog synth, but with just one osc. and chorus to make it sound thicker, it always came up a bit short. I figured the exciter part would add sparkle, but the Big Bottom is where it excels for this application. I was amazed at how well it tracks on bass sounds, but also adds depth to higher register sounds (poly synth, pad, bell). It doesn't add noise to the Roland's on-board chorus, which is nice. It really fills out the sound, without artifacts that make it sound like anything but the original sound only better.

The first one I bought had a bad channel, so I had to return it. Feels solid enough, but I am sure it was made more on the cheap than some of their other boxes.

None

When I was a newbie engineer I learned that good sound begins at the source, so I am always suspect of boxes that fix everthing. I once saw a visiting engineer take all the sibilence out of a vocal track, to the point of muddyness, because the Aphex would add too much when he ran it thru. I wondered then, why run it thru the Aphex, shouldn't you just leave well enough alone? I do, however, believe that the right tool for the job can take something already good and make it better, and the Aphex does that.

It's incredibly easy to use, and is well laid-out. The manual was good, but it doesn't take much to dial in the perfect sound out of this baby.

This is a really simple, but highly effective unit that does exactly what it'supposed to. The amount of noise it creates is negligible. I've got it plugged into a Fender Ultimate Chorus Amp, following a BOSS GX-700 processor and a dbx 166a. I'm extremely happy with it.

Thsi unit has never failed me. I would gladly recommend it to anyone. The only thing I would recommend is that they replace the cheesy wall wart power supply with an internal supply, using the universal standard power chord, but I think they may already have already done this with the newer model (The 204) - which is on my wishlist, by the way :-)

I've never had a need for customer support, on this unit, or the 1401 that I use in my acoustic guitar system. Aphex rocks!

'96 Standard Strat, Alvarez ADCK60, Fender Ultimate Chorus, Roland AC-60, BOSS GX-700, dbx 166a, Aphex 104 Aural Exciter, Ground Control Foot Conroller, Ernie Ball and BOSS Volume pedals, Aphex 1401 Acoustic Exciter.

I used an SPL Vitalizer previously - which was also very nice, but the signal, when using the sub-bass circuitry (in the SPL) was a little too hot, and would easily distort throgh my speakers. The 104 doesn't do that. They've managed to do the same thing, without making the output spike. Well-done!

Wouldn't want to play without one. Night and day difference in the sound, for me. Pretty much set it and forget it.

I've been playing for 27 years, and play many different styles, both acoustically and electrically. If it was lost or stolen, I'd buy another one, without hesitation.

Sorry for my broken english. Well, extremely simple. Very easy to use.

Sound great if you don??t overuse it. Big bottom circuit is very interesting, you can do bass guitar from your e-guitar :) Sounds very good if used moderate.

Build like a tank.

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Okay, if you can get it for low price (as as me), it is decent piece of hardware. Nothing necessary, but very nice exciter for various studio use. Sounds awesome on drums!!! Also it is excellent for old muddy shitty recordings. It can give nice sheen and heavy bottom. I can recommend it for such low price.

Simple, simple, simple.
Easy to edit.
No need for a manual when you have a pair of ears.

I have used it for all sorts of recorded material.
I know it is hard to imagine but it does make everything sound better. No, it is not the magic box to cure all your recording ills, but it really has a transparent character that makes one wonder how they ever got along with out it.
My unit is really quiet, no hiss or buzz.

Yes I can depend on it and would use it without a backup.

Never had to deal with them.

If it were stolen I would replace it.

It had been a much needed addition to both my home studio and live setup. Very handy for adding punch to soundtracks and copying cassettes.

Unbelievably easy to use - giving enormous sheen and sparkle to mixes. I use it on everything!

Use in a typical project studio - 24 track analogue mixer, 12+ outboard boxes. It puts in extra harmonics to the top end to bring out a real sparkle which is missing unless you use this unit, and the big bottom can give you as much bottom end as you want... without massively changing the output level like EQ'ing would.

Rock solid. Works always, even the wallwart power supply has lasted from day 1 with no replacement or glitches whatsoever. Totally reliable.

Never needed!

I produce a wide cross section of music plus use it for location sound - no matter what the job, it brings something to the party that can't be achieved with any other box. Affordable, and offers enormous performance for the costs involved.

If it were stolen/lost I would replace immediately, cost no object. It sounds so good it's easy to cook everything too much (you just want more and more), so take care you don't get too accustomed to its sound - compare to commercial mixes to make sure you're not getting too carried away, which is very easy to do!

Very Simple to get around this unit. However, in the wrong hands, one could shoot one'self in the foot. Firmware? I thought this was strictly an anologue unit.

Currently employed on air chain of several FM stations. It's easy to use too much causing an overload on the peak limiter. However, used in moderation it adds a lot to the sound of many radio stations. The effects generally are welcomed artifacts. The low end processing refered to as "big bottom" is very impressive. Signal to noise of this unit is close to excellence.

24/7. If the unit were to fry suddenly, it would be missed from the processing chain but no death would come as a result of loosing it for a day or two untill replacements could be made (or repairs).

Never had to deal with this company on this level.

This box puts life back into music where some broadcasting audio chains remove it. I've used Aphex Aural Exciters since the early 80's on many FM air chains. If lost I'd definately replace it! What's to love? Simplicity. It's a very "musical" sounding box. It enhances listening pleasure .... especially on air chains where the "loudness egos" win out and program directors insist on compressing the program line with all their might.

very easy to use. Plug it in yoru signal chain and away you go. the manual is bascilly 4 pages, explains how it works and what knobs do what. Nice little unit!

The difference in sound is amazing. It realy warms up my system. Im using it to warm up my overall mixes. I put it inbetweent he output from my behringer 2004 and my tascam us-224. I was goign to go with a BBE, but I think I did well with the BIG BOTTOM circuit.

I also use it to record my DJ mixes. All the high-hats sparkle, the bass drum really thumps and theres a unique presence in the low-end.

Seems pretty sturdy. Bought it used off ebay. Doesnt loo like much coudl go wrong with it.

Dont know, unit doesnt seem overlly complicated.

I play, write and mix drum and bass/jungle. This thing really adds an overall presence to final mixes. Id defnitley reccomend this to everyone.

It doesn't take Einstein to use this lil machine, maybe thats why i can use it !

i DJ in clubs around China (not joking) and this fits very nicely in my headhone bag.........no i haven't got a 19" head its got me cables in it as well. It's really great for making all those dodgy sound systems sparkle.

hate the wall mart power supply but it never breaks down, i take it everywere exect the bath and bed but with a name like "aural exciter" who knows. although i once did have an Electroharmonix electric mistress though but it didn't have big bottom.

All my customers are really happy when i play !

It's a great machine and i use it everywhere except my walkman !
If it was stolen i'd laugh my head off because the controls are in English,this is China!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2-knobs per mode, 4-knobs per channel: BIG BOTTEM- for Bass volume
you turn up till the light turns green, MIX- for the amount-of-the-effect to be mixed-in-with-the-dry-uneffected-signal,
TUNE- for the parametric frequency to be chosen-for-process 800Hz to
6KHz, MIX- the same for the "Big Bottem" circuit's-side but for
the "Exciter"-cicuit-section...

It can distort if you use too much process by turning up the MIX-knob
...I can't tell if I am using the unit or if it is in bypass in that
case...But I can definetly tell when I am using the BIG BOTTEM circuit
and it works perfect, you can over-due or add the right amount of bass
as long as you have enough low-frequencies to let the light turn green
...The Bass can be better effected in POST-PRODUCTION rather than in
a live performance/studio application even with very little Bass...
PERFECT FOR FIXING LOST BASS IN RECORDINGS and not good enough for
processing clarity(at least I can't tell)

It has a stupid "wall-wart" power-supply-adapter-transformer with
THIN-CHEAP-WIRES, and it could have been an internal one...

They called me back long-distance, after I left the TECH a message
long-distance...He said: "The unit will distort if you turn the
MIX-knob all the way up" and he told me he turns his to "no more than
12:00"...I can't tell too much of the difference in the recording...
He said to "bypass the preamp in my mixer" HOW THE HELL AM I GOING
TO DO THAT??? If I open up the unit, it will void the warranty!!!
...I guess it works better with some already-recorded-material...
JUST SOME

This is THE ORIGINAL...BBE, BEHRINGER, NADY, and many more will copy
but will not have the "BIG BOTTEM"-circuit that this has...On the
other hand, My "BBE 462 Sonic Maximizer" does about the same thing
but more clear, crisp, over-done, and DISTORTION-FREE when the PROCESS
knob is turned all the way up unlike "APHEX"...But "BBE" claims:
"Never use this with effects in your signal chain due to phase cancel"
PHASE-CANCELLATION is OUR-BIGGEST-NIGHTMARE and "APHEX" says don't
worry about that...Both these units have a DARK-SECRET, they take
your frequencies and re-align the phase-polarities of your signals
so that they won't overlapp so your frequencies arrive at your ear at
different times, This tricks your brain into thinking you are hearing
more treble and clarity...So be careful of the possible sound-holes
and gaps inbetween your spectrum of frequencies when you are using
this with "PHASER" "FLANGER" "CHORUS" "PANNER" and other PHASE-MANIPULATING-EFFECTS (including stereo Reverbs/Delays)...
JUST BE CAREFUL...And check out my other reviews like "BBE 462"
(SONIC MAXIMIZER) or email me...