Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter by Waves exciter plugin interface

Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter: Analog-Style Exciter Plugin by Waves

Rated 5.0/5 on Plugin Boutique (10 ratings)

Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter is an exciter plugin from Waves that adds brightness, sheen and controlled harmonic distortion to tracks and masters. It is built in close association with Aphex and is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats.

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01Overview

Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter is modeled on the Aphex Aural Exciter, a 1970s processor that was long regarded as a rare and expensive studio tool. The plugin is intended to add air and presence to a signal without relying on treble boost, so the result can sound brighter while keeping the top end controlled. Waves developed it in close association with Aphex, and it offers three sound qualities across two insert modes and a send/return mode.

Best for

Vocal brightening
Acoustic guitar sheen
Master bus sparkle
Restoring dull recordings
Compensating weak monitors

Developer: Waves
Category: Exciters
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Developed in close association with Aphex
Brightness without boosting treble or adding hiss
Controlled 2nd-harmonic distortion for sonic excitement
Suited to vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
Adds spark and sheen to final masters
Compensates for speakers with weak high-frequency response
Restores older, duller recordings
Two insert modes plus send/return mode

03In depth

How the Exciter Adds Brightness and Sheen

The Aphex approach is based on controlled 2nd-harmonic distortion rather than equalization. Waves describes the goal as making tracks brighter without making them more trebly, which means the effect can add perceived clarity and shine while avoiding hiss.

Because the processing generates new harmonics instead of raising existing frequencies, it is aimed at sources that sound dull or lack presence. Waves positions it for restoring older, duller recordings and for compensating for speakers with weak high-frequency response.

Workflow: Inserts, Send/Return and Typical Sources

The plugin offers two insert modes and a send/return mode, which gives three sound qualities to choose from depending on how you route it. This flexibility suits both individual tracks and bus or master processing.

Waves highlights vocals and guitars, especially acoustic guitar, as strong candidates. It is also suggested for adding spark to final masters, where controlled excitement can be applied at the end of the chain.

04Specs