Best overall software reverb under $250?

[SparkySpark]

So in conclusion:

Buy all the reverbs, gotchya!

Or just get one that is very flexible, then use a ton of different kinds of reverb types. Rooms, plates, halls etc.

...and that would be Breeze.

[SparkySpark]

So in conclusion:
...
Anyhow, I could write a whole essay on this

Well, I think you just did.

Anyway, thanks so much for sharing this! As someone said, it goes against all reverb tradition (which was based on the assumption that one should feel the entire band in the same room). I thought I was the only one to not follow the convention, so I guess I can come out of the closet now.

Speaking of which, I wonder how Peter Gabriel used reverbs. When it comes to 1980s pop music, he is the best name (I know of) on getting a huge, but meticulously controlled, wall of sound. Irregular reverb use, like you suggested, goes a long way in achieving this.

[Stokely]

re: Peter Gabriel

As a big fan of So, Passion among others as far as production and mixes, I got curious about this. Found an old post on GS from one of the mix engineers apparently where he said this, about So in particular:

"In terms of effects we relied heavily on the following
AMS 1580 Delay
AMS RMX 16 reverb
Delta Lab DL2 Delay
Dimension D
QUANTEC Room Simulator
Lexicon 224
tape Slap
EMT Plate
Decca Tube compressors
Lots of stomp boxes."

I haven't listened to Passion in a long time but I need to dig that out. I wonder if all that percussion was in live rooms or if the 'verb was mostly added as fx.

[Winstontaneous]

re: Peter Gabriel

As a big fan of So, Passion among others as far as production and mixes, I got curious about this. Found an old post on GS from one of the mix engineers apparently where he said this, about So in particular:

"In terms of effects we relied heavily on the following
AMS 1580 Delay
AMS RMX 16 reverb
Delta Lab DL2 Delay
Dimension D
QUANTEC Room Simulator
Lexicon 224
tape Slap
EMT Plate
Decca Tube compressors
Lots of stomp boxes."

I haven't listened to Passion in a long time but I need to dig that out. I wonder if all that percussion was in live rooms or if the 'verb was mostly added as fx.

Also, on PG's So and Us producer Daniel Lanois would have used Lexicon PrimeTime and Korg SDD-3000 delays. In many interviews Lanois talks about bringing sounds forward/backward with EQ, compression & room sounds and delay/reverb to create "Depth of Field'.

[Noumena]

The vocals and the bass on Gabriel's So are just beyond belief. Lanois was so masterful and understated. I just cannot think of another recording that achieves these highs. Clean, embodied, structured perfectly to support the intentions of the artist. And the sounds are so emotional that it brings me to tears every time.

[SparkySpark]

The vocals and the bass on Gabriel's So are just beyond belief. Lanois was so masterful and understated. I just cannot think of another recording that achieves these highs. Clean, embodied, structured perfectly to support the intentions of the artist. And the sounds are so emotional that it brings me to tears every time.

Agreed. For Christmas, I'd like Lanois to remix all my songs. Understated tough? Not in my book - even in the 80s he was the biggest name with Bob Clearmountain, as far as I know.

BTW, sorry for bringing up Peter Gabriel and derailing the thread - just thought about great use of fx.

[eytanmich123]

I'm also in the camp that "the best reverb" is several different reverbs for different situations.

Don't be surprised if someone comes with the next obvious question : "What is the best group of several different reverbs for different situations"

As of late I've became exceedingly impressed by Reverberate 3 (either with its own impulses and/or free IRs and/or commercial libraries).

[rasmusklump]

It isn't an overall reverb but Capitol Chambers is one of the best software reverbs I have ever used.. And if one has the hardware he can get it in that price range

[Niowiad]

PSA, Exponential audio's R4 is on sale at plugin boutique for 29 bucks with a code of R4EA. It requires iLok, which I've avoided for now, but since you just need the software license I finally took the plunge. I feel a bit like I'm going to be issued a blaster and a set of white stormtrooper armor

The single use thing I could see as really annoying to a working pro...I only have the one laptop at this point. Also, I wonder if this eventually would just be added to izotope's normal installer/licenser and iLok would not be needed for it. In any case, yes you need iLok and it's one install at a time.

Anyway, first impressions after trying some of the (very many) presets on drums and synth---sounds very nice and smooth. Is it my "best" I don't know, but it's obvious it is very good indeed. It certainly offers a lot of control to go with the sound so between that and Space Designer and IRs I should be set. LOL, "should be set" should be tattooed on many of our arms surely.

Edit: tuzemet beat me to this, but I'll leave this here as a monument to my shame (and for anyone like me that perhaps missed that psa!)

I got R4 a couple months ago on a similar price offer also on pluginboutique.
It's seriously a great reverb, with tons fine-tuning options (and lots of presets if someone needs it).

Weird that it's already the 2nd time in less than 2 months this goes on a huge sale, but they haven't done the same with Nimbus, which I'd immediately get at that price. Or if they did I tragically missed it

[SparkySpark]

Looking into the R4, I came across several articles at iZotope (who owns/distributes R4) on creative uses for reverbs. Some ideas are really cool and new to me at least. Great examples, no-nonsense and also with sound examples. Good job, iZotope!

https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/8-crea ... esign.html
https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/6-crea ... ction.html
https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/essent ... everb.html

[Spring Goose]

I got R4 a couple months ago on a similar price offer also on pluginboutique.
It's seriously a great reverb, with tons fine-tuning options (and lots of presets if someone needs it).

Weird that it's already the 2nd time in less than 2 months this goes on a huge sale, but they haven't done the same with Nimbus, which I'd immediately get at that price. Or if they did I tragically missed it

They haven't done an offer on Nimbus in the past 2 months, but they did do a similar crossgrade offer Phoenix to Nimbus for a similar price earlier in the year.

[Niowiad]

I got R4 a couple months ago on a similar price offer also on pluginboutique.
It's seriously a great reverb, with tons fine-tuning options (and lots of presets if someone needs it).

Weird that it's already the 2nd time in less than 2 months this goes on a huge sale, but they haven't done the same with Nimbus, which I'd immediately get at that price. Or if they did I tragically missed it

They haven't done an offer on Nimbus in the past 2 months, but they did do a similar crossgrade offer Phoenix to Nimbus for a similar price earlier in the year.

Nice. Keeping my eyes open then

[kvotchin]

Now using three(!) reverbs - added a freeware “generic” reverb to the mix, so to speak. Happy with these, so far.

Each is quite versatile (one most of all), so for now, I can’t see any reason to use more.

[SparkySpark]

Now using three(!) reverbs ... I can’t see any reason to use more.

Purist!

[VariKusBrainZ]

Verberate is a real sleeper. Gets good reviews, sounds excellent and quite natural but hardly ever discussed.
Most probably will be heavily discounted for BF going by my observations but its RRP is sub $100 anyway