Roundup: Plate Reverbs

From simple EMT models to more out-there plate recreations, reverb is served…

ValhallaDSP ValhallaPlate $50

ValhallaPlate feels different to the other contenders, being more of a reverb ‘effect’ than a straight-up plate simulator, but it sounds great and is very flexible. Sometimes you sacrifice a shiny interface for sound.

There are 12 Plate types, a two-band EQ, and modulation. The decay time has a good range (0.5 - 30 sec), you get a stereo width control (0-200%) which can open up the image, and a reverb size (0-200%) taking it from claustrophobic to expansive. Those 12 plate types drastically change the sound, giving a lot of creative options for reverb tones.

Like many of the Valhalla plugins, this is a nononsense, effective reverb which adds tonnes to your palette on a budget. It can sound a tad digital when cranked, but considering it’s the cheapest plugin on the list, the sound quality is shockingly good. valhalladsp.com

VERDICT 8.8 Arturia Rev PLATE-140 £90

Based on the EMT 140 plate reverb unit, this one captures the old-school vibe of the original hardware and packages it into a simple and efficient interface. There are only a few controls here: Blend (a dry/wet mix), three choices of plate model (Punchy, Classic EMT, Modern, which offer a good sonic contrast and distinction between them). Elsewhere, a drive control adds saturation, and a decay time lets you go from 1 to 6 seconds (albeit using only + or - buttons, rather than any sort of continuous control). Finally, a width control helps change the signal from mono to full stereo.

This plugin is quick and easy to use, though it doesn’t have as many choices as others, but Rev Plate-140 still produces a variety of sounds. Sound quality is warm and strong, giving an authentic recreation of the classic EMT plate sound without any tinniness or digital artefacts. arturia.com

VERDICT 7.2

UVI Plate £115

One of the more flexible plugins on the list, with an open-ended style of configuration. This is an attempt at more of an accurate ‘reverb simulator’, rather than a streamlined effect a la Little Plate. It’s got the most advanced interface on the list. Plate gives you the standard, Mix, Low Cut, Decay time (200ms -infinite) and five Plate types.

The additional controls may seem overly complex for beginners, or a quick reverb effect. But detail is its forte: Area affects the simulated size of the plate; Aspect changes the relative height-towidth ratio of the plate; Anisotropy is hard to pin down, but supposedly does something to high frequencies; Tension changes the tone of the reverb significantly; and Modulation gives subtle sonic alteration. uvi.net

VERDICT 7.0 LiquidSonics Lustrous Plates £145

Lustrous Plates, as the name suggests, has a rich, smooth tone. This is one of the darker plugins on the list, with a relatively warm, analogue feel – none of the harshness or digital tinniness often found in the high frequencies of plate plugins.

It has all the controls you’d expect and more. In addition to the standard dials for Reverb Time (0-Max), Dry/Wet Mix, Plate Type (seven choices), it has a fully featured multiband EQ, with additional controls for modulation, stereo width and ‘frequency dispersion’ which affects whether the propagation has a preference for high or low frequencies.

This is a solid, unpretentious and realistic plate plugin with a tasty pro sound, and well thought-out design.

liquidsonics.com

VERDICT 8.0 Soundtoys Little Plate £80

A small but mighty reverb plugin inspired by the EMT 140. Despite its minimalistic controls, Little Plate is surprisingly versatile. The modulation is subtle, but adds a nice width and blur to the sonic image. The beautiful thing about this plugin is the Infinite Decay setting, which can create stunning washy drones, perfect for a build-up or a drop, and a powerful sound design tool. It adds some kind of saturation or colouring, which gives the reverb a rich and thick, fairly analogue sound – even using it with a short decay adds a strong presence. The full price might seem steep given the limited controls, but this is a very reliable plate plugin that makes it super-quick to dial in a sonically interesting reverb. soundtoys.com

VERDICT 7.5