I’ve been using the AHFX in the studio since its release, and it’s been fantastic for adding color, character, weight, and detailed texture to sounds. I see it as a tool to really commit to sounds during the creative sound design phase. Once you make a change and bounce the sound, no more tweaking! I mostly use it with Overbridge due to my current setup, and it works great (though I’ve heard the sound might be even better with analog outputs).
I’d love to see a stereo imaging tool added to the Bass Focus module, something like the Octatrack’s Spatializer. This would definitely enhance its mastering potential.
I had considered getting the SSL Fusion rack unit, but I got a great deal on the plugins and have been enjoying the hybrid approach to mastering. I often seem to get the best results combining plugins (like Fusion or Ozone) with the AHFX.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use the AHFX as an end-of-chain box, especially in a simple live setup, but in my hybrid studio, it’s been amazing as a creative coloring tool.
Oddly, it took me months to really dig into the modulation options, but once I did, it opened up so many new creative possibilities! Even subtle modulation can make a huge difference in how the sound becomes more alive.
Appreciate the detail. I’m going to try out a variety of use cases in the next few days and see what works the best. It is a Swiss Army knife no doubt, I’ve just got to find the best purpose for it.
Also i own a mki. I find using it as a filter for other bits of kit the best. I have few nice filters, Akai MFC42, Electrics filter factory, some nice modular filters, and the AH is my favourite filter. But end of signal chain character box is not my cup of tea. I also like to run samples through it when sampling into the DT. Some parallel wet/dry distortions can add juice to bland samples. IDK i can’t bring myself to use it subtlety enough for end of chain character.
Similar setup going on, but I use outputs 3/4 for drums running into the AH+FX and into a mixer. I find that having everything go through the AH+FX just mushes everything together and I like to have my synths sound a little cleaner than the rest of the mix.
Well it doesn’t work for me on the MPC Live I have been using. A well mixed tune loses fidelity / width and squashes together even on low CLEAN BOOST with 40% drive settings. I can see why people use this simply with one Elektron box for example.
I’m taking the entirely wrong approach I think. Tomorrow I’m going to pair it with the Machinedrum. I’m going to try using it with Overbridge and see if I can make some quick audio / video performance content with it instead.
For my use on the master i found around 40% or 60% better than 50%. To me it seems like something happens with the frequencies at 50%. It cuts some bass or some slight phasing is going on. I can’t pinpoint it and have never fully analyzed it though.
Yeah you shouldn’t run at 50%, it does some sort of cancellation. Run it like 75% wet or 75% dry, or full wet, etc, but never 50%. It’s been discussed a lot on here over the years, many people wondering why their Heat doesn’t sound right.
IMO AH+FX is a very good mastering unit when used very subtly : a bit of overdrive with the three first distorsion circuits, some bass and high frequencies enhancement, sometimes filter used as a peak enhancer to slightly boost a frequency -works nice to create a nice fuzzy hiss-, very lite warble FX to add stereo space and that’s all ! In my experience, adding compression to a full mix that is already working is always taking the risk to smash and flatten it…
This track was made with 2 DN and AH+FX used as a mastering tool. On the end of the track, it also adds some grittyness with bits effect.
But AH+FX is also a very good sound design tool to process a voice or the output of a single box but it only become interesting with the modulations.
On this track for example, AH+FX is processing a single Digitone. AH+FX presets are plocked with a midi track from Digitone. This is what creates all those strange FXs (gritty modulated reverbs, weird delay resonators, stuttered lo fi pads, etc…).
