MINI REVIEWS
Web unitedplugins.com Format PC/Mac, VST/AU/AAX
The third plugin by Soundevice, under the United Plugins umbrella brand, is an algorithmic reverb effect inspired by vintage digital hardware, but equally able to deliver a clean, modern sound. Its other big selling point is its “advanced late reflections treatment algorithm”, which introduces ear-pleasing randomness to the tail.
All the standard reverb parameters are in place, but you get two predelay settings – one (up to 250ms) for the early reflections, and another (up to 200ms, added to the ER predelay) for the late reflections. The LR decay time ranges from 200ms-10s; the Size control determines the perceived scale of the late reflections; and the Damp knob sets the rate of attenuation of high frequencies in the tail. Midside stereo widening/narrowing is dialled in with the Width knob, low- and high-pass filters provide broad frequency shaping, and the Lush control applies “special” stereo modulation to smooth the tail – this last is quite a subtle effect, but too much of it and things start to get a bit wobbly. Speaking of getting wobbly, the Modulation section brings an LFO (0.001-4Hz) to bear on the decay time – great for working movement and even a bit of psychedelic phasing into the tail.
The vintage emulation angle is realised by the 12-bit button, which activates a vintage DAC emulation; the Colour control, governing a very impressive analogue saturation emulation; and the Legendarism knob, which “enriches the sound with the colour and saturation of legendary reverb”. We’re not entirely sure what that means, but it’s another tasty sonic flavour to play with.
Versatile and characterful, Verbum is a superb workhorse hall reverb that feels particularly at home on vocals, drums, guitars and pianos, but certainly shouldn’t be restricted to only such sources. With its refined, lively sound, flexible controls and easy workflow, it’s another winner from United Plugins, who don’t seem to have put a foot wrong since launching only a few months ago. n9/ 10n