We use a qu 24 for our band when playing live music. One band member suggested we run a maximizer ot enhance the sound. Currently we are using exclusively the on board fx for our mix, which is really convenient.
Does anyone use a maximizer with a qu 24 for small venue live music? Would you recommend it?
No, and no. What are you trying to achieve when you “enhance the sound”? If you think it’s a silver bullet to make your band sound better, then think again. Start with buying a better PA, doing a better mix, and knowing the limitations of the equipment you have and the room you are in.
A “maximizer” or “Aural Exciter” are just distortion generators. Some say it is pleasing distortion. If used as an effect in the correct situation it can be quite nice sounding. I might use it on a lead vocal. But placing it across the main mix tells me something is wrong.
I think trashing the device outright for any and every situation is just as bad as using it too much. I’ll agree the name is entirely misleading though.
Very diplomatic, but truth be told they do nothing that can’t be done without the box itself. Totally worthless, too light to hold your boat over the fishing hole…
Besides emulating a smile curve and screwing up the phase response, the main “effect” they have is adding about 5 dB to the bypassed signal.
More bass, more treble, screwy phase response and enough extra volume to make it “sound better”.
Nothing that can’t be done with the onboard FX and EQ.