How to use a harmonic exciter on a metal mix

Ever get that feeling? Your metal mix is heavy, the performances are tight, but it’s still missing that certain spark? That elusive 'finished' sound that makes a track jump out of the speakers and grab you by the throat? Sometimes, even with meticulous EQ moves and carefully dialed-in compression, your mix might just need a little something extra to truly come alive.

Joel Wanasek, one of the masterminds behind Nail The Mix and Unstoppable Recording Machine, recently dropped a killer tip for this exact scenario: using a multi-band harmonic exciter. This isn’t just another fancy EQ; it’s a powerful way to inject new energy, density, and aggression into your tracks, helping you get closer to that pro-level polish we're all chasing.

What's a Harmonic Exciter and Why Bother?

So, what’s the deal with harmonic exciters, and why should you care when you've already got a boatload of EQs?

More Than Just EQ

It’s easy to confuse harmonic excitement with equalization because, on the surface, they both affect the tonal balance – you can add treble, mids, or bass. But here’s the crucial difference:

• EQ boosts or cuts existing frequencies in your audio.
• Harmonic Exciters generate new harmonic content related to the original signal. They add harmonics (overtones) that weren't there before, or were too quiet to notice.

Think of it like this: EQ is like turning up or down the volume of specific instruments already in the orchestra. A harmonic exciter is like subtly adding a few new, complementary instruments that play along, thickening the overall sound and adding unique character. This process adds "density" and a specific kind of saturation to the frequency regions you target.

Chasing That Analog Vibe (Digitally)

Back in the day, when music was mixed on big analog consoles, outboard gear, and tape machines, a lot of that "magic" came from the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) distortions and saturations inherent in the gear. These weren't always clean, perfect processes. The transformers, tubes, and transistors all added their own harmonic flavors, which often had their own built-in EQ curves. This contributed significantly to the ‘sound’ and density of classic records.

In the pristine world of digital audio, we often miss that analog character. That’s where plugins, like harmonic exciters, come in. They allow us to strategically reintroduce these desirable distortions and saturations, giving our digital mixes that much-needed grit, warmth, and life.

Putting It Into Practice: Joel's Harmonic Exciter Technique

Alright, theory's cool, but let's get to the fun part: how do you actually use this thing to make your metal mixes punch harder? Joel Wanasek demonstrated a straightforward but super effective way to use a harmonic exciter on the entire mix.

Choosing Your Weapon: Exciter Plugins

There are some great harmonic exciter plugins out there. In his demonstration, Joel used Excite by Drumforge. It’s a solid choice, but he also mentioned that the exciter module in iZotope Ozone is another popular and effective option. The key is to find one that gives you multi-band control, allowing you to treat different frequency ranges independently.

Dialing in the Settings: A Practical Example

Joel’s approach is all about subtlety and enhancing what’s already there. Here’s a breakdown of how he set it up:

H4: Plugin Choice and Initial Setup

He instantiated the Drumforge Excite plugin on his master bus (or main mix bus). He then switched the plugin to its "Drum Room" mode. This preset likely has some base characteristics suited for adding vibe and space, even if you're using it on the whole mix.

His initial move was to set all the bands to unity gain (or a very low starting point). This means the exciter isn't doing much yet, providing a clean slate.

H4: The Critical Step: Level Matching

This is super important! Harmonic exciters, by their nature, can increase the perceived loudness of your mix because they're adding new content. If it just sounds louder, you might trick yourself into thinking it sounds better. Joel made sure to volume match the processed signal with the bypassed signal. This way, you're judging the actual tonal and textural changes, not just a volume boost. Always A/B with level matching when using saturation or excitement plugins!

What to Listen For: The Impact on Your Mix

With the exciter engaged and level-matched, Joel pointed out what you should be listening for:

• Improved Separation: Elements in the mix might feel like they have a little more of their own space.
• Increased Aggression: The overall mix can take on a slightly more aggressive character, which is perfect for metal.
• Enhanced Saturation: You'll hear a pleasing saturation across the frequency spectrum, adding that analog-esque density.
• Musicality: The effect, when dialed in right, is subtle but very musical. It shouldn't sound artificial or harsh.
• Cohesion: It can help "glue" the mix together, making it feel more like a cohesive unit.

Fine-Tuning: Tailoring the Excitement

Once you've got a general feel for what the exciter is doing, you can start to tailor the effect to your specific track.

H4: Emphasizing Specific Frequency Bands

In Joel’s example, he decided he wanted a bit more top-end sparkle and less low-end enhancement. So, he reduced the excitement in the low band (setting it to '1' in his plugin) and increased the excitement in the high band (pushing it up to '3').

H4: What You'll Hear

This adjustment gave the mix a bit more "air" and sizzle without making the low end muddy or overblown. The result? A sound that had more perceived saturation, size, and width, with an overall feeling of enhanced excitement. It’s a powerful way to add that final polish and energy.

Beyond the Mix Bus: Where Else Can Exciters Shine?

While Joel demonstrated this technique on the entire mix bus, don't forget that harmonic exciters can be killer on individual instruments or subgroups too!

• Drums: Add crack to a snare, sizzle to cymbals, or even beef up a kick drum.
• Guitars: Bring out pick attack or add aggressive bite to heavy rhythms.
• Bass: Help it cut through on smaller speakers by adding upper harmonics.
• Vocals: Add air and presence to make them sit on top of a dense mix.

Experimentation is key! A touch of harmonic excitement can often be just what an individual element needs to find its place and shine.

The Bigger Picture: Saturation as a Mixing Tool

Ultimately, using a harmonic exciter is one facet of a broader mixing concept: leveraging saturation. Whether it's tape emulation, tube preamps, console emulations, or dedicated exciters, saturation adds harmonics, character, and density. It's one of those "secret ingredients" that helps pro mixes sound, well, pro. Learning to use different types of saturation subtly (or sometimes aggressively!) is a game-changer for metal production.

This harmonic exciter trick is a potent addition to your mixing toolkit, a relatively simple move that can yield significant improvements in how lively and engaging your metal mixes sound.

So, this harmonic exciter trick is a potent addition to your mixing toolkit. But let's be real, achieving a truly massive metal mix involves a whole universe of techniques, from dialing in face-melting guitar tones to getting drums that punch you in the chest. Imagine having a seasoned pro guide you through every step on real-world sessions. That’s exactly what you get with Nail The Mix. Each month, you get the actual multitracks from huge metal bands and watch renowned producers mix them from scratch, sharing every secret.

Ready to stop guessing and start learning what really works? Dive deeper and Unlock Your Sound: Mixing Modern Metal Beyond Presets to transform your mixes from demo-quality to release-ready. Give this exciter technique a shot on your next mix and hear the difference for yourself!