Spring reverb: what is the state of affairs in 2023?

[jamcat]

Actually, HoRNet Molla isn’t bad for a free plugin.

https://www.hornetplugins.com/plugins/hornet-molla/

It’s more convincing that a lot of commercial spring verb plugins, some mentioned here. At the very least, it should fill the void in your life left by your lack of spring reverb while you search for the best one.

[plexuss]

I have a close relationship with spring reverbs, real ones. In terms of plugins I really like Spirit Reverb https://aegeanmusic.com/spirit-reverb . I have many of the other like twangstrom, arturia, waves, overload, audiothing, etc.

I like it too but it seems to be abandonware

I consider "abandonware" to be products that are no longer sold or supported. Aegean seems to still be in operation and Spirit still works. It's not abadonware, its just not in active development.

[jamcat]

Is Spirit Reverb algorithmic or convolution?

[elxsound]

Arturia one is the best sounding for me

I have it in the fx bundle, but haven't used it, but I'm working on changing this as not all Spring verbs are the same.

Dub music foundations (Lee "Scratch" Perry) and Pete Townsend are two names that keep popping up for this one.

Here's some fun info on the Arturia Spring 636, based on the Grampian Reverberation Unit Type 636

https://soundgas.com/features/grampian- ... -type-636/

What I have read is Lee Perry used a Grampian 636 when he was recording at Black Ark. Not sure if he continued using one in the later recordings he did with On-U. Is Arturia the only 636 model plugin?

Fuse Audio has a free emulation of the Grampian 666, apparently made for the BBC Radiophonic workshop. Worth a download. Can get nasty. https://soundgas.com/resources/grampian ... -type-666/

King Tubby favored a Fisher SpaceXpander K-10, which has no emulation that I am aware of. When I get around to collecting hardware tanks, that would be where I start.

It's strange, I can't seem to find many audio examples of either one, but I do know that sound.

I don't see anything more than what you mentioned for the Grampian 666.

[aMUSEd]

Is Spirit Reverb algorithmic or convolution?

It’s physically modelled very like the Physical Audio one

[elxsound]

I have a close relationship with spring reverbs, real ones. In terms of plugins I really like Spirit Reverb https://aegeanmusic.com/spirit-reverb . I have many of the other like twangstrom, arturia, waves, overload, audiothing, etc.

I like it too but it seems to be abandonware

I consider "abandonware" to be products that are no longer sold or supported. Aegean seems to still be in operation and Spirit still works. It's not abadonware, its just not in active development.

Damn, that one sounds great and nails the sound the OP is looking for.

In terms of development, does anyone know if it's natively supported on Apple silicon? I'm guessing the answer is no as I can't find anything listed in their FAQ, but I'm hoping I'm just overlooking something.

[jamcat]

Is Spirit Reverb algorithmic or convolution?

It’s physically modelled very like the Physical Audio one

That’s a shame if it’s no longer being developed. How do you know that’s the case?

[kidslow]

It's strange, I can't seem to find many audio examples of either one, but I do know that sound.

I don't see anything more than what you mentioned for the Grampian 666.

The 666 seems to have been perhaps only used by BBC Radiophonic.

I forgot this article went into great detail. Sounds like On-U Sound went out and recreated the gear from Black Ark and then enticed Perry to come and record with them.
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/lee ... k-controls

By studying photographs and rare film of Perry’s sessions at Black Ark, Boyle began to list the key pieces of equipment he wanted to get his hands on. His first acquisition was a Grampian spring reverb from the ’60s. “Most people when you read about it refer to Pete Townshend from the Who, ’cause he used it as a fuzzbox for his guitar,” he says. “He turned the reverb off and turned the input up and whacked a guitar through it it’s got a very unique sound.

“Lee used to do that with some of the chords on his songs to create that very distorted feel before he’d run it through loads of other kit. But Lee’s primary use for it was on the drum bus. Feeding the drums through it and then rolling off some of the bottom end and blending it back in, almost parallel-compression style, creates that real interesting metallic-y drum sound that Scratch has on the early-to-mid-’70s-era Black Ark music. It took me ages to work that out!”

All over the drums (and other instruments) on Super Ape. I removed the embed but you can find it easy enough.

[aMUSEd]

Is Spirit Reverb algorithmic or convolution?

It’s physically modelled very like the Physical Audio one

That’s a shame if it’s no longer being developed. How do you know that’s the case?

Last update was 2018, and now I can't even get into my user account which is annoying

[jens]

Judging by the prices of all these plugins, you might be better served getting a Danelectro spring reverb pedal. Real springs take on a life of their own if you lay into it. That's something I haven't heard in any plugin yet. The Danelectro is great and affordable.

It's okay - really not bad at all but also not the best spring reverb in the world (it's three springs but they are rather on the short side) and it has one disadvantage:

Since it's not built directly into a combo, it isn't quite as reactive - I think part of the charme of a typical guitar-amp spring-reverb (as we know them from these famous Fender combos) is that the speaker-vibration itself starts to rattle the tank at higher volumes (I'm basically just guessing here though).

Oh, and by the way: the Kickpad of the Danelectro is a really nice gimmick, but you can basically just use it in one or two songs because it's that idiosyncratic. And several plugins emulate that sound as well by the way.

[elxsound]

It's strange, I can't seem to find many audio examples of either one, but I do know that sound.

I don't see anything more than what you mentioned for the Grampian 666.

The 666 seems to have been perhaps only used by BBC Radiophonic.

I forgot this article went into great detail. Sounds like On-U Sound went out and recreated the gear from Black Ark and then enticed Perry to come and record with them.
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/lee ... k-controls

By studying photographs and rare film of Perry’s sessions at Black Ark, Boyle began to list the key pieces of equipment he wanted to get his hands on. His first acquisition was a Grampian spring reverb from the ’60s. “Most people when you read about it refer to Pete Townshend from the Who, ’cause he used it as a fuzzbox for his guitar,” he says. “He turned the reverb off and turned the input up and whacked a guitar through it it’s got a very unique sound.

“Lee used to do that with some of the chords on his songs to create that very distorted feel before he’d run it through loads of other kit. But Lee’s primary use for it was on the drum bus. Feeding the drums through it and then rolling off some of the bottom end and blending it back in, almost parallel-compression style, creates that real interesting metallic-y drum sound that Scratch has on the early-to-mid-’70s-era Black Ark music. It took me ages to work that out!”

All over the drums (and other instruments) on Super Ape. I removed the embed but you can find it easy enough.

Nice article. Nothing better than having him come in to show how he did it.

The saturation into distortion is every bit a part of that sound.

[Echoes in the Attic]

Is Spirit Reverb algorithmic or convolution?

It’s physically modelled very like the Physical Audio one

That’s a shame if it’s no longer being developed. How do you know that’s the case?

Last update was 2018, and now I can't even get into my user account which is annoying

I emailed them a few months ago asking if they were planning VST3 and they did reply saying no. Too bad. It was definitely my favorite algo spring reverb I've ever tried ITB.

[kevinsparks]

Judging by the prices of all these plugins, you might be better served getting a Danelectro spring reverb pedal. Real springs take on a life of their own if you lay into it. That's something I haven't heard in any plugin yet. The Danelectro is great and affordable.

It's okay - really not bad at all but also not the best spring reverb in the world (it's three springs but they are rather on the short side) and it has one disadvantage:

Since it's not built directly into a combo, it isn't quite as reactive - I think part of the charme of a typical guitar-amp spring-reverb (as we know them from these famous Fender combos) is that the speaker-vibration itself starts to rattle the tank at higher volumes (I'm basically just guessing here though).

Oh, and by the way: the Kickpad of the Danelectro is a really nice gimmick, but you can basically just use it in one or two songs because it's that idiosyncratic. And several plugins emulate that sound as well by the way.

I never mess with the pad since I keep it on my desk, but I was referring to the overtones the Danelectro begins to generate if you keep picking relentlessly. It requires at least a few seconds of playing before that happens. This might actually be a bug/feature of the short springs . Anyway, it's not the best on the market but I don't know of anything that competes with it under $300.

[jamcat]

I emailed them a few months ago asking if they were planning VST3 and they did reply saying no. Too bad. It was definitely my favorite algo spring reverb I've ever tried ITB.

Well then, forget that one. Moving on.

[masterhiggins]

Is Spirit Reverb algorithmic or convolution?

It’s physically modelled very like the Physical Audio one

That’s a shame if it’s no longer being developed. How do you know that’s the case?

Like Arts Acoustic Reverb and CL compressor plugins. Astoundingly good, but haven’t been updated in many years. Huge shame.