Brand New Unused: Waves MaxxBass101 Rackmount
SUMMARY: If you're looking for bass-in-a-box, your search has ended!
STRENGTHS: Increases low end with no reduction in headroom.
Easy to use. Flexible I/O.
DESCRIPTION:
Waves is primarily known as a software plug- in manufacturer, but the company has been making forays into the world of hardware as well, beginning with the L2 Level Maximixer. In another move from software to hardware, Waves has introduced the MaxxBass 101, hardware version of their bass maximization plug-ins.
The MaxxBass 101 is single rackspace in size and features balanced 1/4- inch, XLR, and wire terminal I/O.
On the front panel you'll find an input trim control with signal present and clipping indi- cators for both channels, a bypass switch with indicator LED, as well as a power switch and accompanying LED. For permanent install or for any applications where you don't want unauthorized fingers tweaking knobs, there's a tiny recessed Lock button (you have to use a pin or other such object to press it) that disables the controls. An LED lights when the unit's controls are locked.
MaxxBass uses a proprietary psycho- acoustic process that adds harmonics to the original signal, tricking the listener's ear into “hearing” a phantom bass fundamental. Since
“real” bass notes aren't being added, the process doesn't eat up headroom or change overall level, even when you're seemingly adding tons of low-end boost. In addition, MaxxBass removes existing low-frequency information, further reducing the headroom and amplifier peak power demands.
As far as control over the MaxxBass process, only two knobs are required: frequency, which lets you tune where the bass boost is heard (25
Hz to 100 Hz), and intensity, which sets the amount of bass added to the signal. If you're using MaxxBass to enhance small speakers, you tune the unit to 70-90% of the speakers' cut-off frequency. If you're using MaxxBass to add bass to a mix or track, then you can set the frequency by ear.
MaxxBass is ideal for install applications where small speakers are being used (such as restaurants with in-ceiling speakers), is great for live PA situations where you can't bring in big subwoofers, and is a useful tool in the studio both for processing new mixes, and for restoring or adding low end in old bass-light recordings. I had great luck, for example, cranking up the low end on some old live recordings of my early bands — care- ful tuning of the MaxxBass process made bass guitar and kick drum thump magically appear on those decidedly anemic tracks. I also found MaxxBass effective on detuned
