Waves Aphex : Don't under-estimate this dude !

Here's a quik Video on a higly under-estimated plugin : the Waves Vintage Aphex Aural Exiter
1) Controls Tour
2) Used on an AUX with a beat
3) Used as an insert : MIX1 and MIX 2 positions
4) Used on an AUX with vocals
5) Conclusion & impressions
Hope you guyz like it ;))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7J60WkQJts
 
Feeel free to share your impressions and use here ;)  always cool to see how you guyz use stuffs ;)

I bought it on sale a while ago. My conclusion is this. You shouldn't need to use it on well recorded instruments, unless you're going for some specific kind of effect. And if you are, you have to be really careful with it because your ears quickly get used to the sound of it and when you A/B it, the original sounds awfully dull in comparison. So you think it's doing something good. But then you listen to it again in the morning and it immediately sounds too harsh and bright. 
 
Having said that, I think it works wonders on material that is too dull sounding and which can't be made brighter with EQ (because the frequencies just aren't there). For example, an old drum loop that's a little lo-fi sounding. Aphex can really spruce something like that up. Or any recording that's a little old or muddy. Recently I wanted to use a short sample of an orchestra playing Percy Grainger, but it was a little dull and muffled sounding. I sent a little to the Aphex Exciter and it did a great job of brightening it. 

I've got a hardware unit being used as a rack spacer.  Maybe I should fire that guy back up.
 

Mod Bod
I've got a hardware unit being used as a rack spacer.  Maybe I should fire that guy back up.
 

 
MMM you better do that !!!

I got my first introduction to it this weekend. While I'm a hobbyist, I have a friend who does this stuff for a living (and a lot of live sound/big tours) and he showed me a mix he's been working on in his studio. He was just GUSHING about the Aural Exciter and showing me how he was using it. It was impressive. He's doing it on the UAD platform. I also liked what the Studder plugin was doing - WOW.
 
I listen to his stuff and realize just what a novice I am, but I LOVE the fact he's willing to share so much knowledge (and Crown Royal) with me! :)