MX

Audio effects 193
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In addition to the rooms we have modeled two device types in the reverb effect
that allow you to create an artificial reverb for a longer time: Plate Reverb and
Spring Reverb.
Plate Reverb: A plate reverb consists of a large metal plate (often 0.5 to 1m²
thick or more), that is put into motion by a magnet and coil system (similar to a
loudspeaker). On the reverb plate so-called “taps” are positioned at different
locations. These are pick-ups comparable to those on a guitar. Reverb plates
have a very dense sound (high diffusion); no direct echo can be heard. They
are therefore ideal for percussive metal. With vocals a plate reverb generates a
smooth “wellness effect”.
Spring Reverb: You probably remember Spring Reverb from guitar and
keyboard amps, particularly older ones. At the bottom of these amps a unit
consisting of two to four spirals is mounted on a vibration-free carriage. As
with the reverb plate it uses systems for transforming the electric signal into a
mechanical one. There are different designs and sizes of spring reverb;
however, they all have the same quite peculiar sound: the typical “bloing”
sound when the springs are moved, similar to splashing. When the reverb dies
away the basic pitch of the spring(s) can usually be heard quite clearly.
Furthermore, the frequency range is considerably limited due to the losses in
the spirals and in the used pick-up/transmitter. Despite this, the sound is
special and some of the latest music styles (e.g. dub & reggae) would hardly
be possible without spring reverb.
Parameters
The reverb effect ha
s the following parameters:
Size: defines the size of the room (or the system for the plate and spring). With
some low “size” settings you can also reduce the distance between the
individual reflections. This allows resonance to develop (accentuated frequency
ranges), which can sound oppressive if the reverb sustain is too long. The
proper size for each instrument can be gauged by taking into account the
interplay between the room and the resonance.
Time: reverberation time. With this controller you can define how far the echo
will be absorbed, i.e. the time for the reverb to die away. Turning this knob to
the left minimizes the time. You will then only hear the first reflection. Turning
the knob to the right minimizes the absorption and thus results in a long
sustained reverberation.