Hi,
since I started my productions hi-quality reverb was one thing that was always a problem. I have Timeworks ReverbX which is good but it eats so much CPU that I can't use highest quality reverb while tracking.
Is there a separate DSP card that you can buy that will just handle reverbs so that you can use CPU for other plug-ins?
Also, what do you think of convolution reverbs like Waves IR-1.
Thanks

Last edited by ilalin on May-02-2004 at 18:41

Indeed Reverb quality is proportional to the CPU power, that's why even basic hardware reverbs usually sound better than even good software reverbs.

I'd say good software reverbs of the normal kind are Timeworks, Spinaudio Roomverb, Ambience and Waves, but they require much CPU.

Convolution reverbs are very powerful, as they can mimic real spaces and other reverbs (go to noisevault to find impulses of famous hardware units, damn good quality). SIR is free, and for the rest I see two good packages which are Waves IR-1 and Voxengo Pristine Space. The quality of those reverbs is as good as the impulses you use for them. But the problem again is CPU power. It's either a matter of huge latencies, or low latencies with much CPU requirements.

There are DSP cards like the Powercore and the UAD-1. They are multi effect (so not only reverb). Most people prefer the reverbs from the Powercore, although the Dreamverb on the UAD-1 isn't bad. Don't forget the latency is an issue here too (those cards have their own latencies). CPU power isn't that much, as those cards can handle quite a couple of effects.

The final solution would be to get a decent hardware unit. Say a Lexicon MPXxxx or TC M-One, which are quite cheap, but really good. You'd have a latency from the soundcard, but it would be in the same league as with the DSP cards. Of course, the software/DSP has the advantage of being able to run multiple effects at once. With a stereo hardware unit, you'll be able to run 2 effects at the same time in the best case.

Personally, I think if quality is an issue, the DSP or hardware units are the best choice, especially when tracking (effects on recording) is important. If it's only for mixing, the convolution reverbs are an option too, but if your computer isn't one of the fastest, you might need to bounce a lot.

Timeworks Reverb X is a CPU sadist.

___________________
Business is very food.

Thanks DJ Thy, great review

If you're aiming for QUALITY reverb... if you've got the equipment to hook it up to your production rig, get a lexicon digital reverb rack unit. They make different models for different size wallets. Highly suggested and used by the world's top studios.

___________________

'-.SgtFoo.-'
My SoundCloud

yeP lexican is teh best bet for high quality reverbs...they are lush and full of life and perfect for trance...but a little more expensive....the TC M-one is nice to but not as lush sounding as lexicon verbs. I've been looking into this for a long time as a good reverb and delay unit is all I need to complete my setup(well there is alwasys room for more synths)...but depending on your pocket book choose the right one. If it's simply the fact that you don't use much hardware then grapa Powercore or UAD-1 card cause I hear they work wonders.

Limit out!

Hey.. I got the powercore reverb and I am prety happy with it.. No longer i have to warry about using 25% or more of my cpu whn i was using waves.. I say the quality of the powercore reverb is pretty good, I did hear better, but yep it was a hardware lexicon unit. Anyways one thing i wont to add to this about latency on the powercore... first i was really sceptical about it, I tried the card at a friends house, he had a diefferent audio card than me, than tried it at a store on a mac, I have a pc.. and i finally took the plounge. And to be honest with deley compensation build into cubase sx 2 that i am using, the delay is non existent to me. I can't eaven tell the diefereance if it is there or not. I only use one instance of reverb or something alse per channel from the powercore card.. And i still have other plugins that are dx or vst that i am going to use along the powercore plugins. And a nice bonus for the powercore is the ability to have a virus synth that's comming out this month. It's not gonna be a vsti so you really need the powercore card in order to have it. And Let me tell you it is really one of the best soft synth i heard up to date, and i heard most of them..

Can you still look at it as a softsynth? Always a debate when it runs on DSP chips.

As for reverb, it's a matter of preference. For lush and dense sounding reverbs, Lexicon is king. For precision, I prefer TC. And even more so when you go high end.

In my opinion the Reverb 4000 and M6000 algorhythms blow away anything else I've heard up to now, and yes that includes de Lexi 480 and 960.