KVR Audio

Funkybot's Evil Twin · Fri Mar 10, 2017 4:19 pm

EnderWillSaveUs wrote:Interested in reading how this compares to the usual suspects I.e. lexicon PCM, relab lx480, valhalladsp VVV. How would one compare EA (nimbus and R4) to Relab (lx480 and vsr24)?

The LX480 and VVV are vintage inspired units. Knowing Exponential Audio, I'd venture to guess that that this one takes inspiration from the classics and modernizes it, similar to how the Lexicon PCM series has a modern take on that classic Lexicon sound. In fact, without demoing it, my guess is that this is probably in the same vein as modern high-end Lexicons, but probably a next gen version of them considering who the developer is. The Relab VSR-S24 and Nimbus (both of which I own) go for a very different vibe based on the marketing for R4. Both aim for transparency, and the VSR-S24 can sound particularly realistic. The more Lexi-style verbs are less about transparency and more about musicality.

My suggestion is try out R4. You'll probably find it is its own thing.

Stollmeister · Post by **Stollmeister** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 8:20 pm

I must admit that I experience reverbs from one manufacturer to be more alike than reverbs from other manufacturers. To me, the Valhalla reverbs sound like variations on one sound. The same holds for Exponential audio it seems to me. I can hear a difference between Nimbus and R4, but it is really subtle compared to the difference to Valhalla room. Maybe the ultimate strategy is to own one reverb from several manufacturers. I own Nimbus and Valhalla room and Eventide Blackhole, so in theory I should not need R4. I might end up with R4 anyway. It does sound very good.

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 8:26 pm

Stollmeister wrote:I must admit that I experience reverbs from one manufacturer to be more alike than reverbs from other manufacturers. To me, the Valhalla reverbs sound like variations on one sound. The same holds for Exponential audio it seems to me. I can hear a difference between Nimbus and R4, but it is really subtle compared to the difference to Valhalla room. Maybe the ultimate strategy is to own one reverb from several manufacturers. I own Nimbus and Valhalla room and Eventide Blackhole, so in theory I should not need R4. I might end up with R4 anyway. It does sound very good.

That's why I own about 40 different reverbs. I am very moody.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 9:32 pm

So can this do everything that Nimbus and R2 can combined (and more)?

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 9:34 pm

plexuss wrote: That's why I own about 40 different reverbs. I am very moody.

I found out that it is very useful to have the right reverb for the right usage case (vocals, percussions, pads). I couldn't imagine owning 40 different reverbs though. Don't think i could manage that.

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Fri Mar 10, 2017 10:04 pm

chk071 wrote:
plexuss wrote: That's why I own about 40 different reverbs. I am very moody.
I found out that it is very useful to have the right reverb for the right usage case (vocals, percussions, pads). I couldn't imagine owning 40 different reverbs though. Don't think i could manage that.

Here's a video I made about year ago, when I only had 30.

I know it's not the best video for this but it does catalogue the sound of these 30 reverbs.

stikygum · Post by **stikygum** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 3:06 am

Funkybot's Evil Twin wrote:
plexuss wrote:I got an email today with a discount of $150. The email directed me to a page on their site which explains if you have another product you can get R4 with a $150 discount. However the license will be NFR.

https://www.exponentialaudio.com/order-r4-upgrade

This is linked from the R4 product page in the "upgrade" button.
They did the same thing with Nimbus if I remember correctly, but with Nimbus, I think at least some people didn't get notice of the NFR thing until afterwards. I'm fine with it as long as they tell you up front. If you want to sell it later, pay full price. If you want a 50% off discount, just know in advance it's NFR.

Is R4 an updated R2? Or something completely different. I thought Nimbus was an upgraded Phoenix Verb. Or maybe I'm off here.

Also wondering, if we are 'upgrading' can we not sell the EA plugin we have? I know R4 would be NFR, but if I have R2, purchase this upgrade, can I still sell R2 or does it become NFR along with R4?

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 3:42 am

stikygum wrote: Is R4 an updated R2? Or something completely different. I thought Nimbus was an upgraded Phoenix Verb. Or maybe I'm off here.

Also wondering, if we are 'upgrading' can we not sell the EA plugin we have? I know R4 would be NFR, but if I have R2, purchase this upgrade, can I still sell R2 or does it become NFR along with R4?

I think R4 is an upgraded R2 - R4 has a directory of R2 presets in it.

Re NFR: it depends on the nature of your license that are upgrading from, if it was NFR or not at time of purchase. For example, Phoenix was on sale last year but the sale price license was NFR (although you can use it to do upgrades).

I've been playing with the R4 demo. I am not convinced it's worth $300US for me and definitely a problem at $150US NFR. I do like the EQ modulation and some other tone features but not at that price compared to what I already have. The closest comparison so far I can find with my library of reverbs is 2c Aether.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:09 am

I was comparing it to B2 myself - I think B2 can sound just as good but the CPU cost is much greater.

I'm tempted but not keen on their upgrade strategy which is dumb

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:33 am

Funkybot's Evil Twin wrote:The Relab VSR-S24 and Nimbus (both of which I own) go for a very different vibe based on the marketing for R4. Both aim for transparency, and the VSR-S24 can sound particularly realistic. The more Lexi-style verbs are less about transparency and more about musicality.

Out of the VSR and the Exponential reverbs which do you prefer?

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:03 am

OK doing the demos now - so far I prefer the R4 by quite a way. I do like the transparency of VSR but it also tends to sound a bit forced spatially to me whereas R4 has a more relaxed openness about it that responds better to my playing.

don1thedon · Post by **don1thedon** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:24 am

For = Simply stunning sound
Against = Such a dumb upgrade policy (NFR) as previously mentioned.
At $150 that makes it a really tough call even for my GAS!
Hmm what to do?

DFoisie · Post by **DFoisie** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 2:12 pm

aMUSEd wrote:I was comparing it to B2 myself - I think B2 can sound just as good but the CPU cost is much greater.

I'm tempted but not keen on their upgrade strategy which is dumb

Yeah, I very much liked B2, but CPU was huge. Eager to test this, as EA has been great for sound and quite CPU efficient thus far. R4 is said to be very CPU efficient. The upgrade policy is a bit daunting, but then the support has been nothing but fantastic. There has never been a paid update (unless you want to count R4), and EA continually are working to make their plugins stable and more efficient.

DJErmac · Post by **DJErmac** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 2:28 pm

Instant purchase. I was expecting a "your upgrade price is 260 instead of 300 !!!!! great price isn't it ??". $150 for such a beast is a nice move from Exponential Audio. I don't care if it's NFR or not. I care when I'm not sure I'll keep the product forever.

R4 is way more than a R2 improvement. It sounds lush, with more depth, can be tweaked in a thousand ways... And it's not like R2 was a meh product, R2 already was a stellar reverb.

I've compared it quickly (quickly ! may update !) with my VSR S24 : the early reflections are not as good (but on the other hand they can sometime sound -flangey- on the VSR), and the tail sound less "alive", but I think R4 sounds more lush and dense (that makes both of them equally interesting and powerfull, I'm not saying one is superior).

I've tried to make the same kind of reverb preset from scratch using R4 and R2, and then compared the results : my R2 preset sounded dull when compared to the beauty of R4. And, and AND : CPU usage seems quite low.

This is not a review, this is a early discovery feedback.

DFoisie · Post by **DFoisie** » Sat Mar 11, 2017 2:56 pm

DJErmac wrote:Instant purchase. I was expecting a "your upgrade price is 260 instead of 300 !!!!! great price isn't it ??". $150 for such a beast is a nice move from Exponential Audio. I don't care if it's NFR or not. I care when I'm not sure I'll keep the product forever.

R4 is way more than a R2 improvement. It sounds lush, with more depth, can be tweaked in a thousand ways... And it's not like R2 was a meh product, R2 already was a stellar reverb.

I've compared it quickly (quickly ! may update !) with my VSR S24 : the early reflections are not as good (but on the other hand they can sometime sound -flangey- on the VSR), and the tail sound less "alive", but I think R4 sounds more lush and dense (that makes both of them equally interesting and powerfull, I'm not saying one is superior).

I've tried to make the same kind of reverb preset from scratch using R4 and R2, and then compared the results : my R2 preset sounded dull when compared to the beauty of R4. And, and AND : CPU usage seems quite low.

This is not a review, this is a early discovery feedback.

Just a thought, but perhaps R4 should compared against lx480 (coloured reverbs), and vsr s24 be compared against nimbus (natural/transparent reverbs).

Exponential Audio R4