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Originally Posted by elambo  Someone on the first page suggested that these IRs sound just like his hardware M7. At that very moment, assuming the statement is true, I lost interest in the hardware. While these are likely the best IRs in my library I'm still unimpressed by the sound I'm hearing compared as to a 960L or PCM96, even compared to an Eventide and I'm not crazy about their reverb. I can tell that I like the basic character of these IRs and their response to the source, but I'm not crazy about the end result. It's like the IRs are going through a mediocre A/D from 15 years ago and the hardware units - the Lex and Eventide - are going through the best of today's A/Ds. I'm using AltiVerb btw.
I hope these IRs are NOT nuts on. I'm sure Acousticas has done an excellent job - they always do - but I suspect that either IR technology isn't able to give me what I'd hoped for, or the M7 isn't living up to the hype as I perceive it.
Regardless, thanks for the IRs. As I said, they're some of the best I own. |
Hi Elambo,
the Bricasti M7 is among the finest reverberators built today. It is perfectly capable of
creating a beautiful sounding mix and atmosphere. The Lexicon 96 is also very very good.
However, when directly compared to an EMT 250 & EMT 252 one quickly realizes that what EMT and Barry Blesser created about 30 years ago are in a world and league of its own and is yet to be rivaled. The algorithms created by them are simply put genius.
We have most hardware reverbs available ranging from the 70'ies thru' to today at our disposal. In our opinion the EMT 250 & 252 are the finest reverberators ever built closely followed by the Lexicon 224, 480 and 300.
Those guys from the past, are proof enough that processing power has nothing to with building a great reverberator. The algorithms and the theory behind the recreation of "space" are all that really matters. Barry Blesser is a genius who has contributed so much to this industry and we were extremely proud as he accepted our IRs, of his device, as a gift. Goes without saying that he passed the blindtest
The only downside to legendary reverberators is that they are very hard too come by and if/when you do find one in mint condition, chances are that you cannot repair it, if it breaks, as the parts aren't available anymore. Besides that an EMT 250 sells for about EUR 6000-8000 and the EMT 252 for about EUR 6000. The acquisition is expensive not mentioning the maintenance. That is where one aspect of the convolution reverb technology comes in very handy. Whether the IRs are sounding exactly the same as the original is secondary. Primary concern is whether they convey the feeling and character of the hardware. According to some of our users owning the originals they do.
I would like to point out that reverberation is a very subjective and delicate matter.
Anyone, looking into to laying more than $1000 on the table for any reverberator should ask his dealership for a test unit. Then make up his mind. Hype goes a long way these days but doesn't create a great mix ;-)