There have been many classic hardware reverb units made by companies such as Lexicon, AMS, EMT, TC Electronic and many more over the years. Some have even made to legend status in pro audio circles. But these days, so-called golden examples of these units are few and far between and can be challenging to find and costly to maintain. If only there was a plug-in that featured software recreations of many of these classics, with a simple user interface that also sounded arguably as good as the originals. Well, Slate Digital and LiquidSonics think they have such a plug-in, and it is called Verbsuite Classics.
Verbsuite Classics
Reverb is perhaps the most fundamental effect in audio production. Over the decades several classic digital reverb units have become staples for professional mixing engineers, and VerbSuite Classics brings you all the ones you really want in your reverb arsenal.
Fusion IR Technology
VerbSuite Classics is a partnership with plug-in developers LiquidSonics and uses proprietary Fusion IR processing to capture the ever-changing and modulating characteristics of the hardware being modelled.
This revolutionary new processing technique captures the evolving character of time-varying reverbs using multiple true-stereo reverb streams that are processed simultaneously. The inputs to the convolution streams are modulated and the outputs fused into a rich, captivating space that mixes effortlessly with your music.
Fusion-IRs contain separately sampled early and late reverb components for a level of mix control never before found in convolution reverbs or sample packs.
The Test
In the video for Production Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey tries the Slate DIgital Verbsuite Classics reverb on a session featuring full drum kit, bass and two electric guitar parts. James explains which reverb model he is using for each of the instruments and why. He also talks about some of his theories and ideas about applying reverb, how he likes to create a virtual space for the instruments rather than going over the top with effects.
Verdict
Verbsuite Classics is a very powerful, versatile and creative audio tool that could save you from the pain and financial ruin of trying to own maintain racks and racks of vintage hardware reverbs. The user interface is simple to use, yet allows you to dig deep into the parameters that really count when it comes to tweaking a reverb. For me, this is not a “by the numbers” plug-in. It’s all about feel. Dial a little more decay in here and a little more pre-delay there add some stereo width and there you have it. The perfect reverb for your music. Verbsuite Classics is exactly what it says on the tin. All the classic and/or vintage reverbs you are ever going to need in one plug-in.
You can find out more about Verbsuite Classics from the Slate Digital website. You can also find out more about the Slate Digital All Access Pass and the hundred of other amazing plug-ins and tutorials available as part of AAP subscription. If you want to buy the Verbsuite Classics plug-in on its own without the All Access Pass you can do from the Slate Digital website for $149. You can also purchase the stand-alone plug-ins some of which are part of the Verbsuite Classics package directly from LiquidSonics but you are going to end up spending a lot more money this way.