Which Plate reverb...?

[Steve Steele]

Hi guys - Happy holidays.

I need a native EMT plugin for guitar, voice and drums. I'm still learning about the different EMT plates and what they were used for. For guitar, I particularly like the plate was used on the early Van Halen records. (EMT-140?).

Any advice? Any plate reverb specialists here?

In general, for the algo plate reverbs I have the DP Plate, all of the Waves verbs, and Ozone. For the convos I have QL Spaces, Vienna Suite, and some decent Proverb IRs that I've found (including the M7 IRs). I prefer either an algo or a combination, but probably not a convo by itself (although Spaces sounds ok).

I've demoed Aether, BREVERB 2, ReMatrix, IK TRacks Plate and the Valhalla verbs. They all have their own good sound. I'm going to get Aether regardless. BREVERB sounds really good and it's on sale.

Thanks for any tips!

[Phil O]

I didn't notice a UAD card in your sig, but you did mention ...more.

I was lucky enough to work with one of the original EMT 140 hardware units for a while. Loved it. The UAD implementation of that unit is pretty sweet. I would imagine there are other plugin emulations that come close as well. Those old hardware units each had their own character. Consistency from unit to unit was not one of the selling points, so trying to determine a software emulation's acuracy would be meaningless IMO. I don't know much about plate reverbs in general, but I do know the EMT 140 was killer. It's a great place to start.

Phil

[Steve Steele]

I didn't notice a UAD card in your sig, but you did mention ...more.

I was lucky enough to work with one of the original EMT 140 hardware units for a while. Loved it. The UAD implementation of that unit is pretty sweet. I would imagine there are other plugin emulations that come close as well. Those old hardware units each had their own character. Consistency from unit to unit was not one of the selling points, so trying to determine a software emulation's acuracy would be meaningless IMO. I don't know much about plate reverbs in general, but I do know the EMT 140 was killer. It's a great place to start.

Phil

Hey Phil - I meant to mention that I don't have a UAD card. The UAD EMT looks nice though. Love a good plate sound. Thanks for the tip on plate emulations.

[mikehalloran]

A lot of us really like the various plates in Eventide UltraReverb. It's kind of what reverb is supposed to sound like.
https://www.eventide.com/AudioDivision/ ... everb.aspx

I was disappointed that Ozone 6 no longer has a reverb module but between Ozone 5 Advanced and the Eventide, I'm no longer looking and none of my others seem to get used anymore. I use Oz5A for some very natural small rooms and halls--otherwise, it's UltraReverb for me.

[vsoprod]

I've also found the Eventide Ultraverb to be an excellent reverb. Its become my go to verb lately.
If not that then I go to Wave Ren reverb.
Different instruments or voices like one or the other.
After all these years I've found a great use for the DP plate. For some specialty uses its great too.

[Tritonemusic]

I'm glad this thread came up, because I've forgotten what a cool plug-in DP's Plate really is. I wouldn't use it for everything, but it definitely has an attractive sound of its own (just my opinion, of course).

[oshtakuta]

DP Plate and eVerb very musical and work well in the mix

[EMRR]

I have real Ecoplate I and III to compare against. The stock Proverb plates are pretty good. I can sub them in a hurry on projects likely to have tight deadlines and remixes with no complaints.

[daniel.sneed]

DP Plate and eVerb very musical and work well in the mix

+1!
Lately I did add Proverb to my arsenal.
IMHO, very effective when throwing extra orchestra hall IRs in.

[Tobor]

+1 on the Eventide Ultraverb
+1 on Proverb and DP Plate

But now I'll say it for the 10th time, the Reverb I use most often on Vocals and Horns etc. is in the CLA Artist Series Vocals plug or CLA Unplugged. Since one or the other is on my default Vox/Horn bus I try it first because the reverb is included right there and 8 times or more out of ten it's perfect. Three different modes (Tight, Chamber, and Hall for example) and just by adjusting the fader a bit you're there in three seconds.

I use Proverb on my general instrument bus (drums, what have you going through it) set on a Med. Hall with a +18 pre-delay and it always seems right for most anything most of the time.

I also have enjoyed working with the Manny Marroquin Reverb, lots of options and interesting plugins within the plugin like Distortion and Phaser. That's another great collection of useful and inspiring plugs, particularly the EQ and Delay and Tone Shaper.

I jumped in because the CLA Artist Series is on sale for $149 (or cheaper when signed in) at Audiodeluxe this month. Less than $30 bucks apiece for some of the most useful plugs out there. A real pleasure to use and they make just about everything sound better than it did before. I know tweakers think the Artist series is too simplistic, but the range of sound possible is staggering with each plug. If your time is valuable and you need to get to the 'A' game fast, the CLA and MM series I can highly recommend. Haven't been nearly as impressed with the others.

[bolla]

Using the realware 140 TS we would often add a predelay by wacking a 1/4" tape delay before the plate input. The other option for the predelay was a Lexicon Delta T.
The return would always have the low end rolled off to stop it wallowing about.
We had three units and each had its own sound. Not vastly different but enough for people to have their favourite. They were suspended in their own room above the studios.
The studio is no longer there but "apparently" the plates still are.......
DPs plate is good but my favourite is the UA.
Cheers, Bolla

[mhschmieder]

Late to the game here as I've been off the grid, but I second Mike's recommendation of Eventide's UltraReverb. This is the most amazing Plate Reverb I've ever used in plug-in land, and slots effortlessly into the mix. Great on vocals, percussion (e.g. tambourine), and really just about anything you throw at it.

For some strange reason, the audio quality is better (more transparent) if I use the Output Control on the UltraReverb GUI vs. leaving it flat and trimming on the Aux channel's fader instead. Not a huge difference, but enough that I'm going to operate this way from now on. It may have to do with conversions before and after the reverb is applied in the signal path (not sure if it up samples and then down samples). This is specifically when working at 48 kHz.