How do you get late 30s tracks to sound brighter at dances?

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julius · #76 Post by **julius** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:23 pm

From my long-ago garage band days I recall a piece of equipment called the BBE Aural Exciter which was used on most major studio albums of the day (well, at the time I listened primarily to heavy rock and metal). No magazine could pin down exactly what it did, but speculation ranged from boosting highs to subtle chorusing and magic signal processing elves. I think one magazine ran a track through an Exciter, recorded it, ran the result through the Exciter again, and eventually wound up with a crackly, jarringly bright recording, and so they concluded that it basically was a spectacular EQ but with fewer controls. (It had one knob designated "excitement", as I recall, but I'm old and the details are hazy.)

It would be interesting to record something through the xmod, then record it again, and again, and again, and see what happens. If anybody is that interested.

tornredcarpet · #77 Post by **tornredcarpet** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:12 pm

kitkat wrote:Dangit, I thought the thing plugged into MP3 players.
Oh well.
I don't have a laptop and don't listen to music on my computer often.

I wonder to what extent the weird sound settings in my Creative Nomad Zen Xtra player do similar things to this device? I haven't liked any of them so far on swing music, but I haven't given them much of a chance.

If I'm reading that right, technically you can plug it into anything with an 1/8" output (or something that is compatible with adapters), but you need to buy the overpriced AC adapter.

Haydn · #78 Post by **Haydn** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:49 pm

tornredcarpet wrote:
kitkat wrote:Dangit, I thought the thing plugged into MP3 players.
Oh well.
I don't have a laptop and don't listen to music on my computer often.

I wonder to what extent the weird sound settings in my Creative Nomad Zen Xtra player do similar things to this device? I haven't liked any of them so far on swing music, but I haven't given them much of a chance.
If I'm reading that right, technically you can plug it into anything with an 1/8" output (or something that is compatible with adapters), but you need to buy the overpriced AC adapter.

The Creative XMod plugs into a USB port on the back of a Mac or PC. I don't think it will work with an MP3 player.

tornredcarpet · #79 Post by **tornredcarpet** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:50 pm

From the Creative specs page:

Connectivity
USB Mini-B
Line Out - 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo jack
Line In / Mic in - 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo jack
Headphone Out - 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo jack

The wired review that was mentioned earlier said this:

The Xmod is a USB device that can also be used as a soundcard replacement. Our testing was performed with an iPod running out to the Xmod, a configuration that necessitates an external AC adapter.

So yes, it would work with source that can be adapted to plug into a 3.5mm line in jack.

Haydn · #80 Post by **Haydn** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:02 am

tornredcarpet wrote:From the Creative specs page:
Connectivity
USB Mini-B
Line Out - 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo jack
Line In / Mic in - 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo jack
Headphone Out - 3.5mm (1/8") Stereo jack
The wired review that was mentioned earlier said this:
The Xmod is a USB device that can also be used as a soundcard replacement. Our testing was performed with an iPod running out to the Xmod, a configuration that necessitates an external AC adapter.
So yes, it would work with source that can be adapted to plug into a 3.5mm line in jack.

Oops - you're right!

Haydn · #81 Post by **Haydn** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:10 am

Haydn wrote:Just got mine, and have used it on my iMac, and agree, the difference on headphones is remarkable. It doesn't boost the volume like the Turtle Beach USB sound card. I haven't noticed such a difference on speakers - as it's supposed to simulate surround-sound, I imagine positioning of speakers would be a factor.

I've just realised I plugged my powered speakers into the headphones output instead of the powered speakers one

. Volume is louder using the powered speakers socket.

zzzzoom · #82 Post by **zzzzoom** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:16 am

Haydn wrote:
Haydn wrote:Just got mine, and have used it on my iMac, and agree, the difference on headphones is remarkable. It doesn't boost the volume like the Turtle Beach USB sound card. I haven't noticed such a difference on speakers - as it's supposed to simulate surround-sound, I imagine positioning of speakers would be a factor.
I've just realised I plugged my powered speakers into the headphones output instead of the powered speakers one . Volume is louder using the powered speakers socket.

You can turn on or off the surround sound feature (and like-wise the x-fi feature). I'm don't really like the surround sound so I don't turn it on. I'll have to try the headphones jack for the speakers next time.