Soundtoys Superplate, new plate reverb for NAMM 2023

[revvy]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned that before in the thread.

[simmo75]

Oops.. it’s a thing then.
I’m surprised they haven’t added that, and now after reading the thread, I see I’m not alone, lol .
Sounds nice though, so that’s good.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Hopefully the new higher resolution graphics are a sign that resizable GUI's are on the way. That's sort of what UAD did. Started out updating some old GUI's for hi-res, non-resizable graphics, then eventually the Spark versions of those plugins became resizable.

[vitocorleone123]

Ok, after using SuperPlate for about a day and loaded it up in a bunch of projects; and also used it in real time with real instruments, I must say that I'm beyond happy with it. It finally replaced my beloved Little Plate in most of my projects. It simply sounds phenomenal with anything. It has a warm, rounded, smooth and creamy sound that so far I could only get from some of the UAD stuff, or some of the extremely CPU heavy IRs from Altiverb (way inefficient to use in most heavy projects imo).

Adding it after a bunch of Neural DSP plugins for example, puts all my other plate reverbs to shame... I was expecting much from Soundtoys, but I honestly didn't think they'd deliver such a gorgeous sounding reverb with this. I still need to explore its features though, but so far I'm extremely impressed.

It sounds good. But not as good as Lustrous Plates. However, it can reverberate longer as an effect. It desperately needs a resizable UI. I’d get it for $29. I’m leaning toward a “no” at $39.

Hmm, that's interesting. I actually have almost all the plate reverb plugins under the sun including all the LiquidSonics stuff except their surround versions; and to my ears their plate offerings always sounded very grainy, overly shimmery without enough bottom end and cold without enough realistic movements in the decay (generally speaking I remember the basic EQ curve was a little weird to my ears regardless of how the EQs are set).

I know sound is ultimately subjective, but again to my ears it isn't even in the same league as Wave/Superplate/UAD stuff sound wise. Simply load a simple hi hat, set it for a relatively long decay (don't remember if it was possible to have a very long decay in LP) with a little bit of modulation and carefully listen to the decay, and tell me how is it even possible to compare the almost static decay of the Lustrous Plates that in comparison (regardless of the EQ settings) sounds flat, coarse grained and not smooth enough to the better reverbs out there. I've used Bricasti and Lexicon stuff for years, but nowadays I honestly don't have much use for them with such incredible plugins out there. Superplate just like Little Plate for example has this incredibly natural movement in the reverb's tail and decay that just sounds very realistic and rich without being muddy or bloated.

The cold and grainy characteristics of the LP, somehow remind me of some of the old & generic IR offerings I used to use ages ago. I'm not an expert when it comes to reverb developing but I think they're in fact utilising some kind of a hybrid IR technology in their stuff, so no surprise there.(although inefficient, but nowadays I mostly use Altiverb if I need extreme realism).

I also have all the Valhalla reverbs, they sound good for the most parts, but again to my ears and my years of recording all sorts of soundtracks for video games and TV series, none were as ear pleasing and warm/rounded sounding as UAD and now to the SuperPlate. Valhalla stuff also have this kinda weird initial soft attack (might be user error though) that for some reason I couldn't get rid of completely.

Moreover, and as I said earlier here, Soundtoys stuff traditionally are among the very few effects plugins out there that are extremely transparent when it comes to the plugin's footprints. Dial the Mix knob all the way to the left and off, turn the Superplate or Echoboy for example on and off while listening to your track; and when listening critically there is only a very tiny difference in the EQ between the two that I think is unavoidable anyway. On the other hand, many if not most other plugins change the signal more drastically in comparison in some unwanted manner.

Yep. Subjective. A lot of the things you said about Lustrous Plates is what I hear with SuperPlate, only SuperPlate sounds… small and digital in comparison. More like a Lexicon representation of a plate reverb - with a blanket over the plate to muffle it. Of course Lexicon has a lot of fans and a solid place in production - I made that analogy for a reason. I deleted Little Plate a couple years ago for a similar reason. I was hoping this new one would be better, and it is, but it still has this artificial sound to it.

Now, I’ve never used a real plate reverb, so maybe Soundtoys is the first one to get it right.

So far, I’m not experiencing enough value to even get SuperPlate for $39 plus tax. The UI is too small and dark, too (another reason I’ve avoided/deleted the few other Soundtoys plugins I have after replacing them with something better). I also like Transatlantic Plate better, too, but that’s another plugin with UI issues.

This Soundtoys plate is definitely aimed at their fans and longtime users. I’ll keep using the demo and comparing to my other plate plugins (and digital plate pedal), though.

[bungle]

Sounds absolutely superb, surprised that new plugins still get released with such poor UI though, and no I do not mean resizing, the dials could be done better by anybody in Knobman in ten minutes, there is pixelization and rough edges etc, very very poor designer, whoever they are.

[dickiefunk]

I’m probably going to try the demo of this plate reverb. My current goto’s are LiquidSonics Lustrious Plates, Kush Gold Plate and Rare Signals TransAtlantic Plate. Will be interesting to hear how it compares to those.

[sqigls]

the thing is, there's no demo to download, only a demo of the full package, and I've already demoed the full package, so how do i demo the reverb?

[Vortifex]

..

[sqigls]

i think the $29 UVI plate might tide me over for now anyways. Insane mode is great.
If i want to design something different i'll use this plugin.
For the more staple stuff i have Lustrous Plates. Should i even bother to demo this?
i wonder how long the $39 upgrade deal will be on for?

[wvshpr]

How do you download the demo? Don't tell me I have to log in and download the entire bundle.

[sqigls]

nope, just give them your email and allow advertising material to your inbox
derp

THEN install the entire bundle, then the rest.

[revvy]

In my part of the world we (nearly?) never get charged sales tax but ST is trying to charge me tax on this.

Any ideas why?

[rasmusklump]

I really like it but not enough to buy.
My reverb needs are covered with the UAD EMT 130, Uad Lexicon 224, Capitol Chambers, Transatlantic Plate reverb, Tsar, Relab 480 and Sonsig, little plate, UVI spark, Valhalla Room and some I may have forgotten atm.

[aMUSEd]

I have plenty too but mainly bought it for the rack integration

[vitocorleone123]

I really like it but not enough to buy.
My reverb needs are covered with the UAD EMT 130, Uad Lexicon 224, Capitol Chambers, Transatlantic Plate reverb, Tsar, Relab 480 and Sonsig, little plate, UVI spark, Valhalla Room and some I may have forgotten atm.

Many of those won't do as good of a plate as this one. Or at least will do a different sounding plate. SuperPlate does sound good.

If my price was $29 and I used plates more often I think I'd get this one. As it is, I have enough plate reverb coverage and this one isn't amazing me enough for $39+tax in comparison. As mentioned, the UI is a real downer on this plugin, as well.