The Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter® plugin faithfully recreates one of the rarest and most sought-after tube-powered hardware units in recording history. Developed in close association with Aphex, this plugin brings the same brightness, vibrancy, and depth that defined countless legendary recordings of the 1970s and beyond.
Originally introduced as a premium rental-only unit, the Aphex Aural Exciter was credited on platinum-selling albums by iconic artists such as Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, and James Taylor. Revered for its ability to add presence and clarity without boosting levels, this plugin delivers the same iconic sonic character in a modern, convenient digital format.
Key Features
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Authentic Tube-Modeled Plugin: Faithfully recreates the rare original Aphex hardware.
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Adds Brightness & Depth: Enhances vibrancy and clarity on both vocals and instruments.
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Increase Presence Without Volume: Perfect for mixing without adding loudness.
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Mix & AX Modes: Flexible configurations for insert or send effects.
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Developed in Association with Aphex: Ensures true-to-original sound quality.
Perfect For
Vocal tracks, acoustic instruments, electric guitars, synths, and full mixes that need a polished, professional sheen.
Note: This is a non-refundable digital download.
Mac
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CPU: Intel Core i7 / i9 / Xeon-W / Apple Silicon
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Memory: 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
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Storage: 16 GB free disk space on system drive
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OS: macOS 10.15.7, 11.6.5, 12.4, 13.0
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Display:
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Minimum: 1024 × 768
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Recommended: 1280 × 1024 / 1600 × 1024
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USB displays not supported as primary
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Graphics: Metal support required
Windows
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CPU: Intel Core i5/i7/i9/Xeon (Gen 5+) or AMD Quad Core (AVX required)
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Memory: 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
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Storage: 16 GB free disk space on system drive
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OS: Windows 10 (21H2) 64-bit, Windows 11 (21H2)
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Display:
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Minimum: 1024 × 768
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Recommended: 1280 × 1024 / 1600 × 1024
Supported Hosts (DAWs)
Mac
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Pro Tools 2022.4 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
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Logic Pro X 10.7.4 (AU)
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Digital Performer 11 (AU)
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Ableton Live 11 (VST3)
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Nuendo 12 (VST3)
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Cubase 12 (VST3)
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MainStage 3 (AU)
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GarageBand 10.4.6 (AU)
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Audition 22 (VST3)
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Premiere Pro 22 (VST3)
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Studio One Pro 5 (VST3)
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FL Studio 20 (VST3)
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REAPER 6 (VST3)
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Reason 12 (VST)
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Maschine 2 (VST) | NKS-ready
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Komplete Kontrol 2 (VST) | NKS-ready
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Bitwig Studio 4 (VST3)
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Luna 1.1.11 (AU)
Windows
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Pro Tools 2022.4 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
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Ableton Live 11 (VST3)
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Nuendo 12 (VST3)
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Cubase 12 (VST3)
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Cakewalk by BandLab 2021 (VST3)
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Audition 22 (VST3)
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Premiere Pro 22 (VST3)
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Samplitude Pro X6 (VST3)
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Sequoia 15 (VST3)
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Pyramix 14 (VST3)
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Studio One Pro 5 (VST3)
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FL Studio 20 (VST3)
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REAPER 6 (VST3)
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Reason 12 (VST)
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Maschine 2 (VST) | NKS-ready
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Komplete Kontrol 2 (VST) | NKS-ready
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Bitwig Studio 4 (VST3)
Supported Platforms
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MultiRack, SuperRack, StudioRack, eMotion LV1/ST Mixer
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DiGiCo SD (v929 or earlier with MultiRack v9.8 or earlier embedded)
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Avid VENUE 7.1+ (with SoundGrid Rack for VENUE)
Technical Notes
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Sample Rate: Up to 192 kHz
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Channel Components: Mono, Stereo
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Latency:
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Native & SoundGrid = 0 samples (44.1–192 kHz)
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VENUE TDM = 3 samples (48 kHz)
