2012 Best Reverb PLug ins until now.

[Foldedpath]

My favorite and most-used reverb for a long time has been the UAD EMT140, supplemented by the Mega and Classic verbs in a Powercore (never did pick up a VSS3).

Unfortunately the old PCI-based workstation that held my UAD and Powercore cards just died, so now I'm stuck trying to figure out whether to get a UAD-2 for the new system (the Powercore is toast, since it's PCI), or try going native. Or the third option would be outboard.... I have an old TC M2000 I can hang on a digital AUX send/return for now, then maybe pickup a used PCM92. A Bricasti is out of the picture for right now, maybe later. But if native verbs are at the point where they'll work for me now...

I can probably make myself happy for acoustic spaces with Altiverb, or maybe Flux IRcam Verb. But replacing the UAD EMT140 might be tough. What does everyone who has used the UAD 140 (or the real thing) like, to get anywhere close to that plate in a native plugin? I saw the Nebula3 with a VNXT 140 sample set mentioned earlier... anything else?

[ooohhh2]

Not 140, but Empty Room Systems hat an EMT 250 emulation, which i haven't tried yet, but I've read good reviews about it.
One of my favorite devs, Sknote is about to release another EMT 250 plugin soon alongside with Stagespace . And btw, his Verbtone is also very very nice.

[mista min]

Originally Posted by ooohhh2

Not 140, but Empty Room Systems hat an EMT 250 emulation, which i haven't tried yet, but I've read good reviews about it.
One of my favorite devs, Sknote is about to release another EMT 250 plugin soon alongside with Stagespace . And btw, his Verbtone is also very very nice.

Verbtone and Necklace are great! I use them at my home system since my ilok is in the studio.

When the powercore verbs don't work, I try the SKnote verbs right after.

[Yummerz]

Sean, you are a treasure trove of information - reading your posts here, on KVR, and your site. Thank you. And now that my demo of VRoom has expired, I guess I owe you $50.

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by scorpix74

Is there any free reverb plug in (not too bad).
I don't like the one in StudioOne and the Focusrite one is not amazing...

Epicverb is likely my favorite free plug. From variety of sound.

Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk

[True North]

As someone whose musical foundation was cemented in the 80's , I guess there should be little surprise that I am a Reverb Plug-in SLUT

One plug in that has not been named, but I still love and use is Wizooverb.

This was a hybrid algo/Covolution reverb which sounds gorgeous to my ears. Sadly they sold to Avid/Digidesign shortly after releasing and the software died a quick death.

I don't know how, but it still works on my Windows 7 machine without any issue but I don't how much longer I will be able to use it.

A lot of the good ones have already been named. I own the Sonnox but haven't used it in a loooooong time. So I am going to have to dust that one off and give it another test run.

At this point, if you can't find a software reverb that works for you, the problem very likely isn't the plug-in.

[jdsowa]

Sold off my UAD-2 (with EMT 250) earlier this week and immediately came down with regret. For the past few hours been Demo'ing Valhalla Room, IRCam Verb Session and KR-Reverb (free). It's not even close. Valhalla is just mind blowingly perfect on my drums.

[eveken]

Originally Posted by jdsowa

Sold off my UAD-2 (with EMT 250) earlier this week and immediately came down with regret. For the past few hours been Demo'ing Valhalla Room, IRCam Verb Session and KR-Reverb (free). It's not even close. Valhalla is just mind blowingly perfect on my drums.

I advise you to try the demo of ERS EMT250....

[cvnc12]

Lexicon

[scoring4films]

Originally Posted by True North

I still love and use is Wizooverb.

This was a hybrid algo/Covolution reverb which sounds gorgeous to my ears.

+1

I think the excellent "HDIR" library (4-channel IR files) have a lot to do with how amazing it sounds. Disappointing that AVID buried it. The decision obviously had nothing to do with the quality of the plug. v1.0 still going strong in win7.

You'd think a better, or even comparable, product would've been developed another company by now. Haven't found it yet in pc/vst platform.

[sluttypat]

Originally Posted by scoring4films

+1

I think the excellent "HDIR" library (4-channel IR files) have a lot to do with how amazing it sounds. Disappointing that AVID buried it. The decision obviously had nothing to do with the quality of the plug. v1.0 still going strong in win7.

You'd think a better, or even comparable, product would've been developed another company by now. Haven't found it yet in pc/vst platform.

I don't know wizooverb but VSL has a Hybrid Reverb in their Vienna Suite bundle that sounds great and is really well designed.

[Kesadiq]

@True North - Wizoo Verb, YES!!! One of the best I have heard.

Digidesign gets a big fat "F", for not keeping that one going...

[at4033]

Originally Posted by Kesadiq

@True North - Wizoo Verb, YES!!! One of the best I have heard.

Digidesign gets a big fat "F", for not keeping that one going...

+1

[Pianolando]

Another vote for Relab 480LX. Can't wait for the final product to arrive, it's in beta now but even the light version kicks butt.

Also like and use UAD EMT 250

[Clonkified]

For those with UAD reverbs, what do you think of them compared to native ones? I have TSAR, CSR, Valhalla, and Sonnox, and I'm demoing the EMT 140, 250, and the Lexicon 224. I feel I already have a bunch of reverbs and can't really determine if the UADs will give me anything new and amazing. I make indie pop and electronica, so need verb for vox, sampled drums, guitars, and synths.

[mista min]

Originally Posted by Foldedpath

My favorite and most-used reverb for a long time has been the UAD EMT140, supplemented by the Mega and Classic verbs in a Powercore (never did pick up a VSS3).

Unfortunately the old PCI-based workstation that held my UAD and Powercore cards just died, so now I'm stuck trying to figure out whether to get a UAD-2 for the new system (the Powercore is toast, since it's PCI), or try going native. Or the third option would be outboard.... I have an old TC M2000 I can hang on a digital AUX send/return for now, then maybe pickup a used PCM92. A Bricasti is out of the picture for right now, maybe later. But if native verbs are at the point where they'll work for me now...

I can probably make myself happy for acoustic spaces with Altiverb, or maybe Flux IRcam Verb. But replacing the UAD EMT140 might be tough. What does everyone who has used the UAD 140 (or the real thing) like, to get anywhere close to that plate in a native plugin? I saw the Nebula3 with a VNXT 140 sample set mentioned earlier... anything else?

You know you could just get an expansion chassis from virtuavia.eu and not lose all your reverbs... I use the PCI-e adapters with great success, but realize that these adapters are 32bit PCI so it's good for UAD and Powercore, but no good for Pro Tools.

If you want 4 slots of expansion (what I will be getting in a few months when I upgrade to a different machine) you can get it here.... 4 x PCI Expansion ATX Kit

[scanner]

Originally Posted by mista min

... I use the PCI-e adapters with great success

Hi Mr.Min,

What are you referring to here ?

I was going to buy one of the virtuavia expansion chasis... then realised it was PCI not PCIe.

Do you use another solution ?

Ta

Al

[mista min]

Originally Posted by scanner

Hi Mr.Min,

What are you referring to here ?

I was going to buy one of the virtuavia expansion chasis... then realised it was PCI not PCIe.

Do you use another solution ?

Ta

Al

I'm referring to a PCI-e to PCI adapter. You need them when you are using "older" PCI based cards in a machine that only has PCI-e (pci-express)... They work well enough for me to be able to use my Powercore cards in my current machine.

Only problem is that they take up a PCI-express slot in a mac pro that only has 3 extra slots available and to be honest that's not that many... so I usually recommend the case; which I personally will get so I can run up to 4 powercore cards in my Mac Pro since I really like to use the Sonnox plugins and have them for PoCo and also love the reverbs... (I run out of my current 2 card dsp pretty quickly).

The only caveat is that these adapters and cases are 32 bit PCI, not 64 bit PCI-X which is what old Power Mac G5's. I had read on the DUC that a Pro Tools HD system could run on normal PCI, but heads have complained about these cases not working correctly.

So for old UAD-1 and old PoCo PCI MK II you can use these... I use one myself....

Here is a link to what the adapters look like... http://goo.gl/WlqEQ

[Aiyn Zahav]

Originally Posted by Pianolando

Another vote for Relab 480LX. Can't wait for the final product to arrive, it's in beta now but even the light version kicks butt.

Also like and use UAD EMT 250

It is beautiful and I've got a the beta of the full version. However I found the character of the LXP bundle more to my liking. Could this just be presets or is the the difference in algorithms what interests me? I feel that LXP sounds just a little more modern and definitely often sounds like it has more modulation going on.

[seancostello]

Originally Posted by Aiyn Zahav

It is beautiful and I've got a the beta of the full version. However I found the character of the LXP bundle more to my liking. Could this just be presets or is the the difference in algorithms what interests me? I feel that LXP sounds just a little more modern and definitely often sounds like it has more modulation going on.

I haven't heard the LXP bundle in a while (demo ran out ages ago), but I think it uses a different type of modulation than what is used in the LX480 Random Hall algorithm, or what was used in the 224/224XL era Lexicons.

[mista min]

Originally Posted by seancostello

I haven't heard the LXP bundle in a while (demo ran out ages ago), but I think it uses a different type of modulation than what is used in the LX480 Random Hall algorithm, or what was used in the 224/224XL era Lexicons.

Sean, I wanted to ask you as a developer. How much more work goes into porting your plugins?

The reason I ask is because I am a big TC Electronics fan and I really like a lot of their reverbs, but TC doesn't have a good track record of porting plugins (Megareverb for TDM Mixfarm, but no HD)... so whether we get native TC plugins or not is up in the air.

Also, if we look at Eventide (another great reverb creator) they ported only one of their TDM reverbs and even that one is just part of a whole package of reverbs. Although, they are making them run natively, it seems as if they are taking their time.

I'm not seeking to bash these companies and I'm not asking you either, but I just would like to understand why it is the way it is... I can totally understand how somethings may only work with specific systems, but I thought if you already got the algo all you need to do is build the plug (over simplifying) or am I missing something?

Cheers!
Min

[seancostello]

Originally Posted by mista min

Sean, I wanted to ask you as a developer. How much more work goes into porting your plugins?

The reason I ask is because I am a big TC Electronics fan and I really like a lot of their reverbs, but TC doesn't have a good track record of porting plugins (Megareverb for TDM Mixfarm, but no HD)... so whether we get native TC plugins or not is up in the air.

Also, if we look at Eventide (another great reverb creator) they ported only one of their TDM reverbs and even that one is just part of a whole package of reverbs. Although, they are making them run natively, it seems as if they are taking their time.

I'm not seeking to bash these companies and I'm not asking you either, but I just would like to understand why it is the way it is... I can totally understand how somethings may only work with specific systems, but I thought if you already got the algo all you need to do is build the plug (over simplifying) or am I missing something?

Cheers!
Min

This is a good question. The answers is that there is a TON of work that goes into developing plugins, and the majority of this work is for the non-audio code. The GUI code, copy protection, preset handling, and the various cross-platform issues are what most developers spend the bulk of their time working on.

This isn't to say that there isn't a lot of work that goes into the audio algorithms. I've been spending a lot of quality time fine tuning some algorithms recently, and exploring new areas. I enjoy this work, so I tend not to think of it as "work." However, the audio development can't happen without thinking about how the parameters will interact with the algorithms, how the parameters will fit into the GUI, and so on.

If I just released GUI-less plugins, things could get done a LOT faster. For example, I just found an Audio Unit plugin that I had coded in 2009, EvilVerb2. It was the precursor of ValhallaShimmer, without the pitch shifting (but with a very cool modulation that I may want to add to Shimmer in the future). I started coding the plugin based upon the GUI-less version of ValhallaFreqEcho that I had at the time. It took me around 1 day to code EvilVerb2. Meanwhile, it took me several months of staying up until 3 am to get the GUI version of FreqEcho released, and another 7 months of work after that to get ValhallaShimmer released.

It is entirely possible that I suck at coding GUIs, and that things would go much quicker for someone else. However, I see lots of other plugin developers on similar schedules nowadays, and we developer types tend to talk about the annoying issues we have to deal with (Twitter is a good place to vent). The general view among developers is that audio is the fun stuff, and that the GUI coding and other "plugin" bits are the hard part.

As far as TC Electronics and Eventide, there might be all sorts of issues at play. One thing to note is that both of these companies have done their hardware development on Freescale fixed point processors, and there will be some work involved in porting things to floating point C/C++. It is also worth noting that both of these companies are fairly small, as far as companies go (even though their products and reputations are enormous within our audio world), so they may only have a few people working on plugins.

An example of both of the above at work can be seen in the Lexicon plugins. Lexicon has been doing reverbs for the last 30+ years, has a huge reputation, and is owned by a multi-billion dollar company. However, I think that ALL of the plugins were designed & coded by one guy, Michael Carnes. Michael was lucky enough to be porting algorithms from a floating point platform in the PCM96 (although odds are good that he wasn't "lucky" so much as able to make a convincing argument that floating point hardware was a good idea). During the past few years, he was able to code 4 plugin suites.

One other thing to note about TC Electronic and Eventide is that these companies have made their money from plugins (or from hardware accelerated plugins) for a long time. The current plugins might be their way of "testing the water," to see if the plugin space is profitable for them versus hardware.

[mljung]

I'm very hard to please when it comes to artificial reverb, as it so easily sounds too obvious, pasted on and well, artificial.

VNXT 140 plates for Nebula is possibly the most "natural" sounding I have used even if it doesn't sound like a real room as such.

Verbtone by sknote has more adjustments possibilities and has the same "natural" quality, so in plugin format this is pretty outstanding. Looking forward to their REV250.

For more FX like artificial reverbs ValhallaRoom is wonderful and very versatile, it can be used subtle as part of a reverb chain for making "natural" sounding reverbs, but alone, for me, it's in the FX category.

Finally another wonderful FX reverb: Meldas MMultibandReverb, almost endless possibilites...

And one more - the best spring-verb plugin I know of is this: http://www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=28

::
Mads

[Pianolando]

Originally Posted by Aiyn Zahav

It is beautiful and I've got a the beta of the full version. However I found the character of the LXP bundle more to my liking. Could this just be presets or is the the difference in algorithms what interests me? I feel that LXP sounds just a little more modern and definitely often sounds like it has more modulation going on.

I just got the Beta yesterday and tbh I love all the algos but then again I'm a huge Lexicon fan.

Random Hall has modulation that the other algos don't have (or at least that's how I've understood it). If you try Random Hall HD in the beta it has even more density than the LX version.

The developer says the full version sounds exacly like the hardware, except the HD-algo which is new so I'm very much looking forward to hearing some AB-tests when after release....only problem is that noone knows when the release will happen.

[LeafInTheWind]

Found my favourite verb - VSL Hybrid Reverb. Oh yes.

[Warp69]

Originally Posted by Aiyn Zahav

It is beautiful and I've got a the beta of the full version. However I found the character of the LXP bundle more to my liking. Could this just be presets or is the the difference in algorithms what interests me? I feel that LXP sounds just a little more modern and definitely often sounds like it has more modulation going on.

I don't believe it's a question about presets - I haven't heard the LXP bundle, but I do have the Native bundle and the algorithms are quite (read: very) different when comparing LX480 and Native bundle.

Personally I prefer the old 224, 224XL and 480L algorithms.

[scorpix74]

I like the IR into OpenAIR (in studio one)
But there are too many differents.
Is there any free IR's bank?

[mista min]

Originally Posted by seancostello

This is a good question. The answers is that there is a TON of work that goes into developing plugins, and the majority of this work is for the non-audio code. The GUI code, copy protection, preset handling, and the various cross-platform issues are what most developers spend the bulk of their time working on.

This isn't to say that there isn't a lot of work that goes into the audio algorithms. I've been spending a lot of quality time fine tuning some algorithms recently, and exploring new areas. I enjoy this work, so I tend not to think of it as "work." However, the audio development can't happen without thinking about how the parameters will interact with the algorithms, how the parameters will fit into the GUI, and so on.

If I just released GUI-less plugins, things could get done a LOT faster. For example, I just found an Audio Unit plugin that I had coded in 2009, EvilVerb2. It was the precursor of ValhallaShimmer, without the pitch shifting (but with a very cool modulation that I may want to add to Shimmer in the future). I started coding the plugin based upon the GUI-less version of ValhallaFreqEcho that I had at the time. It took me around 1 day to code EvilVerb2. Meanwhile, it took me several months of staying up until 3 am to get the GUI version of FreqEcho released, and another 7 months of work after that to get ValhallaShimmer released.

It is entirely possible that I suck at coding GUIs, and that things would go much quicker for someone else. However, I see lots of other plugin developers on similar schedules nowadays, and we developer types tend to talk about the annoying issues we have to deal with (Twitter is a good place to vent). The general view among developers is that audio is the fun stuff, and that the GUI coding and other "plugin" bits are the hard part.

As far as TC Electronics and Eventide, there might be all sorts of issues at play. One thing to note is that both of these companies have done their hardware development on Freescale fixed point processors, and there will be some work involved in porting things to floating point C/C++. It is also worth noting that both of these companies are fairly small, as far as companies go (even though their products and reputations are enormous within our audio world), so they may only have a few people working on plugins.

An example of both of the above at work can be seen in the Lexicon plugins. Lexicon has been doing reverbs for the last 30+ years, has a huge reputation, and is owned by a multi-billion dollar company. However, I think that ALL of the plugins were designed & coded by one guy, Michael Carnes. Michael was lucky enough to be porting algorithms from a floating point platform in the PCM96 (although odds are good that he wasn't "lucky" so much as able to make a convincing argument that floating point hardware was a good idea). During the past few years, he was able to code 4 plugin suites.

One other thing to note about TC Electronic and Eventide is that these companies have made their money from plugins (or from hardware accelerated plugins) for a long time. The current plugins might be their way of "testing the water," to see if the plugin space is profitable for them versus hardware.

Wow Sean... Now that is a lot of amazing info... Crazy how much work that entails.

I wish I knew something else to ask... I'm just a bit flabbergasted by all of it. Dsp programming is a really amazing thing.

Cheers!
Min

[raymondwave]

I got Lexicon LXP Native bundle when it came and even tho I thought I was a Lexicon man (used MPX1 exclusively for years) I never really got into the sound of LXP bundle and very rarely use it. I just can't get it to please my ear. I'm guessing it might be more useful for non-synth stuff, but 90 % of my stuff is synths.

I demoed PCM when it came and remember liking the Random Hall. Would love to demo it again to see if it's worth the single plugin price.

Eventide 2016 Stereo Room, Eventide Blackhole, D16 Toraverb. Now I'm getting into Flux Verb too.

[mista min]

Originally Posted by raymondwave

I got Lexicon LXP Native bundle when it came and even tho I thought I was a Lexicon man (used MPX1 exclusively for years) I never really got into the sound of LXP bundle and very rarely use it. I just can't get it to please my ear. I'm guessing it might be more useful for non-synth stuff, but 90 % of my stuff is synths.

I demoed PCM when it came and remember liking the Random Hall. Would love to demo it again to see if it's worth the single plugin price.

Eventide 2016 Stereo Room, Eventide Blackhole, D16 Toraverb. Now I'm getting into Flux Verb too.

The PCM stuff is good, but it us such a massive reverb bundle and the presets are no good :-(

Toraverb is nice, but not my favorite. I do love the Eventide stuff :-)