Based on the 4th generation 882i analog unit.

The BBE Sonic Maximizer Plug-In is a new software version of BBE's award-winning Sonic Maximizer that features revised code to support more platforms including Mac, PC VST, and Direct X. The Sonic Maximizer Plug-In allows unlimited user-definable presets, realtime preset changes, and full MIDI implementation. It's like having a rack full of the 882i units at your command for processing multiple tracks. The Sonic Maximzeer Plug-In can add brilliance, depth, detail, and definition to your music in many PC audio software applications that accept Direct X plug-ins, from multi-track recording to sampling to remixing.

The BBE Process-"What it Is"

Loudspeakers have difficulty working with the electronic signals supplied by an amplifier. These difficulties cause such major phase and amplitude distortion that the sound reproduced by the speaker differs significantly from the sound produced by the original source.
In the past, these problems proved unsolvable and were thus relegated to a position of secondary importance in audio system design. However, phase and amplitude integrity is essential to accurate sound reproduction. Research shows that the information which the listener translates into the recognizable characteristics of a live performance are intimately tied into complex time and amplitude relationships between the fundamental and harmonic components of a given musical note or sound. These relationships define a sound's "sound".
When these complex relationships pass through a speaker, the proper order is lost. The higher frequencies are delayed. A lower frequency may reach the listener's ear first or perhaps simultaneously with that of a higher frequency. In some cases, the fundamental components may be so time-shifted that they reach the listener's ear ahead of some or all of the harmonic components.
This change in the phase and amplitude relationship on the harmonic and fundamental frequencies is technically called "envelope distortion." The listener perceives this loss of sound integrity in the reproduced sound as "muddy" and "smeared." In the extreme, it can become difficult to tell the difference between musical instruments, for example, an oboe and a clarinet.
BBE Sound, Inc. conducted extensive studies of numerous speaker systems over a ten year period. With this knowledge, it became possible to identify the characteristics of an ideal speaker and to distill the corrections necessary to return the fundamental and harmonic frequency structures to their correct order. While there are differences among various speaker designs in the magnitude of their correction, the overall pattern of correction needed is remarkably consistent.
The BBE Process is so unique that 42 patents have been awarded by the U.S. Patent Office.

Order today and make your projects sound clearer, brighter, warmer, and punchier.

BBE Sonic Maximizer Plug-In

Write A Review

Average of 9 User Ratings

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Customer Reviews

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Great effect on the cheap

Posted by hank49 from www.soundclick.com/hank49 on Apr 9, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Musician, songwriter, engineer

Reviewer's Play Style: All styles

I bought this plugin a year or two ago and never blinked once in regret. It's great for making the bass richer and increasing the clarity of mids and highs. You can overdo it so avoid extreme settings. On sale now ? That's a good deal. I use the low end hardware model too, for enhancing analog mix playback.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Broadcast Vocals

Posted by Growler on Apr 6, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Video Production

Reviewer's Play Style: N/A

I have used this plug-in with Sound Forge for years to add punch to voice-overs for broadcast. One bonus is it's easy to use. We are a Mac based video production company, and the only negative is it doesn't support AU plug-ins. But, we have kept a PC running Sound Forge, mainly so we can continue to use this specific filter.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Definitely Worth Having

Posted by Anonymous Musician on Apr 23, 2007

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist ,

Reviewer's Play Style: N/A

This little plug really works, so well that it's hard to imagine mastering without it. I've had it for a while, and much later, got Ozone 3. With all of Ozone's separate features, it got easy to forget about the BBE for a while. As time went on, the Sonic Maximizer has regained a place in my standard mastering procedure, in combination w/ Ozone. A lot of people write about using it on individual tracks. I don't use it too much that way, but sometimes if a track sounds dull, the BBE always seems to work well.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

No Support From BBE

Posted by Dick from Michigan on Mar 29, 2007

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Recording Engineer

Reviewer's Play Style: All types

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.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Djroge1

Posted by Djroge1 from Texas on Feb 17, 2006

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist - live and recording

Reviewer's Play Style: Jazz, Blues, Christian

This is a plug-in everyone should have. Both instruments and vocals come out clean and clear. It is more useful than a single equalizer because it is easier and it is quicker to dial in a good sound. I was amazed when I first heard the BBE sound and I think you will be too.

View more product reviews »

If you would like to write a review, please see our product review guidelines.

BBE Sonic Maximizer Plug-In

Read 9 Reviews