[LAU] Exciter / Enhancer Plugin [WAS:] Linux-audio-user Digest, Vol 19, Issue 9

[Emanuel Rumpf]

2008/9/12 Reuben Martin <reuben.m at gmail.com>:
> Back on Thursday 11 September 2008, Emanuel Rumpf was like:
>> 2008/9/10 Fons Adriaensen <fons at kokkinizita.net>:
>> > On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 01:01:58PM +0200, Martin Horn wrote:
>> >> I don't know if such a thing exists for the linux audio world, but to
>> >> get the effect of an exciter you basically need multiband dynamics. That
>> >> is a compressor/ expander that works in multiple frequency bands which
>> >> are separated by crossovers.
>> >
>> > That would be more a 'compellor' than an exciter.
>> > Easy to confuse, both are originally from Aphex.
>>
>> Someone wrote a kind of tutorial some time ago:
>> http://ardour.org/node/405
>>
>> Would be nice to have this as jack-rack file or in rackarrack.
>>
>> exciter :      audio-signal => highpass
>> => dissortion  => add to audio-signal
>> enhancer: audio-signal => (different) bandpass filters => dissortion
>> => add to audio-signal
>> (so described in wikipedia)
>
> Exciter has nothing to do with dynamics. And not really anything to do with
> distortion so much as harmonics.
>
> You use a harmonics generator, cut the fundamental, and add in odd ordered
> harmonics, with each successice odd harmonic going in opposite directions.
> The lower order harmonics are not very noticeable, but very smooth. The
> higher order harmonics are much more noticeable, but very abrasive sounding.
> I generally use all of the first, and about half of the third.
>
> It goes:
>
> original signal => high pass filter => harmonics generator => attenuator
> (variable depending on how much you want to add in) => mix back in with
> original signal.
>
> Here's a jack-rack file demonstrating it. Route your source into the
> jack-rack, and then direct jack-rack's output to the same destination as your
> source. Change levels on the "simple amplifier" to adjust how much you need
> added back in.
>
> You need the proper ladspa plugins installed for this...
>

Thank you Reuben

Now where I tried your rack-rack file, I better understand the Exciter.
Is it a minor or mayor third?
Does one need to know the key / tonality, for adding harmonics ?

-Emanuel