XCITER ® AURAL EXCITER ® & OPTICAL BIG BOTTOM ® GUITAR & BASS PEDAL STUDIO QUALITY TONE ENHANCEMENT OWNER’S MANUAL
Owner’s Manual Xciter ™ Contents Connections, Battery, Velcro 3 Controls 7 Tune-Up 9 Tone Enhancement 11 Specifications 13 Limited Warranty 14 Service Information 15 Copyright 2011 DWC-Aphex All Rights Reserved
Connections, Battery, Velcro Power Ground Grounded(In) Lifted (Out) BACK D.I.
Xciter Input Connect your instrument here. The power is automatically switched on or off by inserting or removing the plug from the input jack. Output Connect this output to your amp’s input jack using a good quality guitar cord. Use the same jack settings on your amplifier as you would use if plugging the instrument directly into the amp to get normal volume and tone when you switch the effect off, and your instrument passes directly through the pedal to your amp’s input. D.I.
Owner’s Manual External Power When external power is used, the internal battery becomes disconnected and will not experience a power drain. A wide range of both a.c. and d.c. supply voltages is acceptable for power (5VAC to 32 VAC or +/-7VDC to +/-48VDC) and it does not matter whether the center pin is positive or negative. The power jack fits a standard 6MM x 2MM power plug as used by most popular stomp boxes. Phantom Power Phantom power applied to the D.I.
Xciter Battery Location and Velcro Area The battery compartment is located on the bottom of the pedal and can be opened with a thumbnail, heavy pick or flathead screwdriver. The battery presses into the compartment directly. Observe the markings showing correct +/- alignment. The large indented area is there for the included Velcro strip. This allows the Velcro to remain in place whether attached to a pedal board or using the included rubber feet.
Owner’s Manual Controls Foot Switch Turns the pedal on or off. When the pedal is off, your instrument is patched directly through to the output jack. In other words, it’s a straight bypass. No electronics are in the line at that point. LED Glows when the pedal is on and dark when the effect is off. If the LED does not glow, the battery is dead or no plug has been inserted into the input jack or there is no external power present.
Xciter Big Bottom® - What It Does For bass instruments, it dynamically enhances the low end by deepening and expanding the bass tones according to an interactive process that is not just boost. The effect protects speakers by extending bass without adding level. For acoustic instruments it adds a warmer tone that makes the instrument sound rich. For electric guitars, it adds fullness at the lower end of the scale. It’s not a synthesizer. It takes what is there and enhances it.
Owner’s Manual Harmonics Sets the amount and character of harmonics created by the Aural Exciter. Printed on the top panel of the Xciter are suggested starting points for Bass, Electric Guitar and Acoustic Guitar but the control provides the ability to experiment with any setting, or between settings, with any instrument. Tune-Up The Rule Trust your ears! Use the Big Bottom and the Aural Exciter as if they were separate enhancers. After that, it is all up to experimentation.
Xciter Setting Up the Big Bottom Turn up the Lo Freq Boost control to at least 12 o’clock so you can hear the effect. Rotate the Lo Freq control to hear what frequencies are affected. Listen for the sweet spot and readjust the Boost control until according to your taste. You will notice that, within a fairly broad range, the Lo Blend will provide a balance where it does not bloat the sound, but it does extend and deepen the tone.
Owner’s Manual Tone Enhancement It you are reading this, congratulations! Learning more about the Aphex Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processors will ensure you get the most enjoyment out of your Xciter. The History In 1975, Aphex created the first Aural Exciter® as a rental processor that received U.S and foreign patents. This processor was used by recording and touring artists all over the world. A few years later, Aphex introduced a version of the Aural Exciter that anyone could buy.
Xciter In extreme cases, the Aural Exciter can bring back lost clarity. In milder cases, it can make the sound more vibrant and present. For musical instruments, the Aural Exciter can make your instrument project better off the stage or give you a richer, more realistic feeling. It can help you play better as you feel better about the tone. The Big Bottom - What Is It? Great low frequency reproduction faces many obstacles, including acoustic mass, power requirements, and acoustic interference.
Owner’s Manual Specifications Xciter Input Z 10MΩ Output Z Instrument: 1KΩ D.I.: 150Ω Lo Freq 80 -250Hz Hi Tune 700-7kHz Maximum Input Level Freq. Resp. SNR (Typical) Power Drain Battery Type External Power Must be CE certified 0.6V RMS 10Hz-30kHz +/- 1dB 70dB 5mA 9V 5-12VAC 7-17VDC +48V Phantom Aphex reserves the right to continually improve our products. All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Xciter Limited Warranty PERIOD One year from date of purchase SCOPE All defects in workmanship and materials. The following are not covered: a. Voltage conversions b. Units on which the serial number has been defaced, modified, or removed c. Damage or deterioration: 1. Resulting from installation and/or removal of the unit. 2. Resulting from accident, misuse, abuse, neglect, unauthorized product modification or failure to follow instructions contained in the User’s Manual. 3.
Owner’s Manual Service Information 1. If it becomes necessary to return this unit for repair, you must first contact Aphex at the phone number or email address below for a Return Authorization (RMA number). 2. Pack the equipment in a strong carton containing at least 2 inches of padding on all sides. Be sure the unit cannot shift around inside the carton. Include a letter explaining the symptoms and/or defect(s).
About Aphex Aphex is a leading manufacturer of products for recording, broadcast, and sound reinforcement. Be sure to ask your dealer about other Aphex products or visit our website. “Aural Exciter”, “Big Bottom” and “Xciter” are trademarks of Aphex. All rights reserved. Aphex is a wholly owned subsidiary of DWV Entertainment, a spin-off of David Wiener Ventures.
