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I could read the manuals but I'm feeling lazy today. Who has used both and can shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of each?

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5 Answers

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I've used MaxxBass and RenBass for years and have been using LoAir for about a year. Here are my observations:

MaxxBass and RenBass have a similar sound. RenBass has simpler (slimmed down) controls. While they sound the same, they also can sound different :) I use them for adding punch, thump, or weight to a sound. Sometimes MaxxBass works sometimes RenBass, it all depends on the material.

LoAir is completely different. It is supposed to be like a subharmonic synth (I've never used one). I use LoAir when I want boom, when I want to shake the house, and when I want my sub bumping. While I find LoAir is much more of a "wow" effect than the others, I also find that it is easier to make things sound terrible using it.

When I'm designing guns, I rarely use LoAir but often use MaxxBass or RenBass. LoAir works better for me on things like explosions or big monster footsteps/bodyfalls. I also tend to use LoAir at more extreme settings than the other 2.

That's my take on it, others may have different experiences.

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As I understand it, LoAir enhance/adds in subharmonic or low end content. MaxxBass adds in harmonic content in the upper registers to help perceive the low end of a track as more present and louder witout overdriving the low end (it's really good for that too).

So MaxxBass=adds/enhances upper registry harmonics for low end sound, LoAir=adds/enhances lower frequency content for higher end/thin sounds.

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Thanks for this Shaun! – C3Sound Oct 13 2010 at 23:56
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If you're considering LoAir also checkout LowEnder - its based on the dbx subharmonic synth & has just been released in RTAS format and works wickedly well, is very affordable & theres no WUP bizo...

http://www.refusesoftware.com

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@Tim, thanks - had not heard of it before now. Looks good, and killer price. Will check out the demo. Have you done a taste test between it and LoAir? – Jay Jennings♦ Oct 14 2010 at 3:03
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 @Jay I do plan to sometime - I also have an outboard dbx120XP so would like to compare them with it too – tim prebble Oct 14 2010 at 18:32
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I have also been wondering the same thing and Tim Prebble's LowEnder suggestion does look good. What about Waves RBass? How does it compare to LoAir and Maxxbass?

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Shaun's description of the differences between Maxxbass and LoAir are spot on. To my ears, RBass and Maxxbass do relatively the same thing. Although I like Maxxbass more for bumping around 60kHz, while RBass is much better at adding body more in the 120kHz-200kHz range. As Tim said, LoAir works like a dbx subharmonic synth...great for your next earthquake disaster movie. – Justin Pearson Oct 15 2010 at 2:56
@Justin, thanks for that. I think RBass might be a useful addition. – Bern OReilly Oct 15 2010 at 12:33
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How does it fare when combining both Maxxbass and Rbass to bump the lower and upper frequencies? For instance using MaxxBass for the 70Hz and below and then adding harmonic with Rbass in the 120Hz+ region?

The reason I ask is I produce electronic bass music and need a rattling bottom end but the definition in the bass through smaller systems/HiFi's.

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 @Relic - Never tried both together, but I use MaxxBass and I get some serious low end in my tracks (of the electronic/electro/bass sort). If you want low end thump in your tracks on standard playback systems then you want to add upper-end harmonics (like from MaxxBass). It's essentially "percieved" bass. The listener thinks the low end wallop is there but it's really not. It'll keep your mix tighter and more manageable as well. – Syndicate Synthetique May 5 2011 at 17:55

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