Sound Enhancement Processors

[Andy B]

Hi,

I've been using a Behringer Ultrafex II for about 8 years as a 'last in the line' processor that sits directly infront of the DAT. I've been trying to shake it off for years, but keep coming back to it as it has one of those pseudo surround knobs that brings everything to life for me. I've recently bought some Adam P22A monitors and whilst I always thought that the Behringer would be kicking out a ton of noise, I hadn't realised truly how much it was until hearing it through the new monitors. I know that there are numerous plug-ins that do the same thing, but I need it to be outboard as I still use my Emus that only have analog outs into my O2R. What I'm looking for is a Digital unit that will do the same trick as the Behringer.
As an alternative - does anyone own the TC Unity Board option for the O2R and if so does it have anything like I've described?

Thanks,

Andy.

[mathis]

I would like to know what the Behringer does besides simple M/S stereo bandwidth spreading. Does anybody know?
But if it´s only this phase thing it could be easily done with the Waves S1 plugin. Aren´t these plugins also available as hardware plugins for the Tascam portastudios and I thought also for the Yamaha mixers?
I like to use the Multiband stereo width control in Samplitude for. And on the very high end I sometimes apply a slightly different eq (around 15K on L and 14K on R, as an example) to apply some uncorrelated phase widening.

[Dietz]

The only convincing stereo-enhancing hardware I had in my hands was the BASE-1, which was a rare and expensive analogue processor about 12 years ago. Everything else was either cr*p or a plugin :-/

/Dietz

[Nigel Watson]

**Andy: how about the SPL Vitalizer products?:
http://www.spl-usa.com/V_MK2/in_short.html

- theymight be technically superior to the behringer gear. You might find a bargain with one of the discontinued models, too.

What do you still like to use your Emus for, BTW?

**mathis, here is the Ultrafex manual -p.15 describes the "surround effect" which, allowing for the translation from the german, sounds pretty much like a simple phase-shift process.
http://www.behringer-download.com/EX3200/EX3200_ENG_Rev_E.pdf

Funnily enough, on paper the Ultrafex specs don't look much inferior to the Vitalizer....maybe you have an older model, Andy? Or maybe the 'enhancement" process in itself, whatever the outboard used, simply adds noise which is more noticeable on good monitors?

**Dietz, could you please then suggest a decent ~(preferably Audio Units) plugin for the job? thanks!

Nigel

[Dietz]

Waves' S-1 Imager/Shuffler, if used with care, can do wonders. - The best software-driven stereo-imager I know is on the Sadie mastering-platform, though.

HTH,

/Dietz

[mathis]

Aha, reading the Behringer manual it says (in more simple and technical words) that it uses the Side signal (derived from a M/S encoding matrix) and superimposes it on the original signal with a "program dependent" delay. Whatever program dependent means.
However the idea seems interesting. Basically, translated to Dolby matrix language it adds a delayed slap from the back.

This is quite easy to do with a O2R alone, btw. Just use two channels fed by your stereo mix, turn the phase on one channel and mix them together. This results in the Side signal. Now apply to that some delay and EQ to your taste and add it back to your mix.

[Nigel Watson]

Mathis, presumably the same process in software using a separate mixer group would do the same job.....?

Nigel

[mathis]

genau!

[Nigel Watson]

Dankuwel, love those SiropWafel.....!!![:)]

[mathis]

Hm, as far as I know what you describe as SiropWafel is rather belgium than dutch. But anyway, I´m rather german than dutch. [[;)]]