expensive algorithmic reverbs vs convultion

[antismap]

Hi and sorry for the naive question.
What is the point of buying expensive reverb plugins since you can just make an IR from whatever reverb once (for example in demo mode) and use this IR for free in a convultion plugin?

Of course you can't tweak the settings of the IR, but still, this could cover lots of use cases.
Or did I miss something about convultion? Will it really "capture" the whole reverb sound?

[Gam456]

IR are always static, LiquidSonics use IR on Seventh Heaven but they develop an algorithm to add mouvement, preserve the low end and bring more live on the taill.

[egbert101]

This video might help explain why very expensive algorithmic reverb units are now (in 2023) overpriced. But also why algorthmic reverbs are still better.

[DCrown]

Why buying expensive?
Expensive doesn't mean good!

[Gam456]

Why buying expensive?

You can't be wrong with Relab, UAD, Lexicon, Eventide, LiquidSonics

[Uncle E]

Relab Sonsig-A was recently on sale for $49. That could easily be the only reverb you ever buy. It does Bricasti, Lexicon, and QRS algorithms. One would need to make thousands of impulses to cover all of its sounds.

[DCrown]

Why buying expensive?

You can't be wrong with Relab, UAD, Lexicon, Eventide, LiquidSonics

The by far best reverbs developed by a genius are about 20 only right now and were that price in the past, too, so not expensive at all .
It depends what you want, what music genre, adding some colour or transparent, realistic or artificial, simple or with lots of things to tweak to your likes.
The only one from your "list" is Relab for me, I also have Eventide and Lexicon, but never use them and Luquidsonics is not for
me at all (I demoed all their plugins) and I ignore UAD, cuz they started releasing native plugins a bit too late

[Benedict]

Why buying expensive?
Expensive doesn't mean good!

This looks at FabFilter Pro R2 overall but in this section I compare R2 to cheaper/simpler Algos. The outcome is that they are similar but different. Each has things that make it useful.


As for Algo vs IR: As already pointed out, IRs cannot move therefore I describe them as being similar to an overlay on Instaham where you apply bunny ears. At no point do they make you a rabbit, and worse as you move about they don't move with you properly. Algo works so well, even with simple "maths", as it is an "analog" of a) the signal and b) the real world. Therefore we accept it as part of the illusion of a band in a space. IRs come unglued and break the illusion, even if initially it seems more amazeballs - maybe in part because it always feels a bit broken so it is a bit exciting/frightening.

So bottom line, the quality of the reverb device that you buy is not at all a driver of anything, how you use what you have to create a beautiful* illusion is absolutely everything.


*beautiful applies equally to Celine Dion, Cannibal Corpse, and the new Peter Gabriel album I have on right now.

[vitocorleone123]

Why buying expensive?

You can't be wrong with Relab, UAD, Lexicon, Eventide, LiquidSonics

The by far best reverbs developed by a genius are about 20 only right now and were that price in the past, too, so not expensive at all .
It depends what you want, what music genre, adding some colour or transparent, realistic or artificial, simple or with lots of things to tweak to your likes.
The only one from your "list" is Relab for me, I also have Eventide and Lexicon, but never use them and Luquidsonics is not for
me at all (I demoed all their plugins) and I ignore UAD, cuz they started releasing native plugins a bit too late

I put Matt at Liquidsonics right up there with Michael Carnes. To me, I far prefer Liquidsonics.

To me, no IR reverb competes for what I want a reverb to do and sound like.

If I was doing work that needed a particular soundstage feel or sound, then maybe Altiverb or Berlin. But I’m working with synths and drums, not orchestras.

[Gam456]

Relab Sonsig-A was recently on sale for $49. That could easily be the only reverb you ever buy. It does Bricasti, Lexicon, and QRS algorithms. One would need to make thousands of impulses to cover all of its sounds.

I own that one as well. Sonsig-A doesn't emulate a Bricasti
QRS (lofi), 224 (space/texture), REV-A (high end) are just filtering mode
QRS refer to the Quantum Room Simulateur, not the Bricasti

I believe the perfect reverb doens't exist.

LiquidSonics Seventh Heaven and Savant Quantum are amazing to simulate a real space for accosutic instrument, voice.

UAD 224, Relab 480L and Sonsig-A, Blackhole, SuperMassive, Solaris for ambience.
Eventide UltraReverb for creativity.

The unexpected one. The Sonible Smart Reverb. I was looking to make a dry signal, just a little bit wet, and more natural. Sonible Smart Reverb was the good one.

I own around 20 reverb, none of them is good for everything.
I'm convinced IR convolution isn't for me, it's like chase after hundred of preset.

[comfortablynick]

I have Sonsig but I just don’t love it for some reason. Maybe it’s the parameters, I don’t know. I love LX480 but if I want a 224 sound I’d rather use UAD or Arturia. I’ve thought about selling it but have only held off because so many people say it’s one of the best reverbs … just hoping I click with it at some point.

[kevinsparks]

The by far best reverbs developed by a genius are about 20 only right now and were that price in the past, too, so not expensive at all .

Which reverbs are you talking about?

[DCrown]

The by far best reverbs developed by a genius are about 20 only right now and were that price in the past, too, so not expensive at all .

Which reverbs are you talking about?

Exponential Audio's reverbs are masterpieceses
Unfortunately discontinued by Izotope,
luckily I have EA, am not going to support a dev like Izotope any more.

[audiouser720]

Finally a reverb thread

[DCrown]

Relab Singsing is very nice on vocals, but I really miss ducking. I know you can sidechain with a comp for ducking, but it can't be that complicated to add ducking feature to a plugin.