We've always been fans of creating unique effects by building them from the ground up using plug-ins you already have, but we have to concede that there's only so much you can achieve that way and, while it's a fantastic way to learn, if you want the best results it worth at least checking out off-the-shelf solutions, rather than dogmatically ‘rolling your own’.

In this article, we check out six reverbs which rather than pursuing the lush, glossy, expensive sounds we associate with quality reverb, instead take more of a character route to creating reverb with everything from distorted munge through to crackly chiptune. Here is our choice of six reverbs which have never wanted to sound like a revered 1980s studio classic, but still sound very cool.

Softube Wasted Space

Years ago I loved Softube’ Tsar-1 reverb and while this plugins doesn’t sound like Tsar-1 it still feels like it. This is the most digital of digital reverbs and it embraces all the aliasing and distortion of digital done ‘wrong’. The results are straight from the budget end of the 80s, you can wind it up to excess, which in itself would be a very 80s thing to do, or dial it back for a good vintage digital effect. And the name of this plugin is inspired!

Waves Retro Fi

Waves Retro Fi has a wider brief and covers more than just reverb. It covers the more characterful end of reverb from the 50s through to the 80s. But it does more than just reverb. With sections which create and shape the tone to mimic hardware before finally placing it in a space it packs a lot into its cartoonish user interface. With features to replicate tape’s idiosyncrasies this is a comprehensive way to drag audio back to whichever decade you desire, or to do something more original.

UAD BX20

We associate spring reverbs with guitar amps these days. Those of us old enough to remember the days when digital reverb was either yet to be invented or impossibly expensive might be familiar with springs intended for the studio like the drainpipe-based Great British Spring reverb but ’proper’ studio springs did exist and while yet to make the transition to UAD’s native Spark platform the BX20 plugin, which is only available on UAD’s DSP platform is a recreation of a quality spring reverb manufactured by none other than AKG.

This reverb oozes darkness and thickness and while it is clearly a spring, it suffers little of the giveaway ‘sproinginess’ of it less elevated relatives. If you want moody reverb and you’re a UAD user try this one.

Safari Pedals Flamingoverb

We’ve been really impressed by the plugins from Safari Pedals and their dedicated reverb offering is every bit as unusual as the rest of their plugins. There is a drive control in this reverb, a hint if one were needed that this isn’t trying to take the transparent/lush reverb route. The interesting thing about this plugin is that its time control, as well as controlling the reverb time, also switches it between different reverb types. For example the reverb changes between a short room reverb to a plate and then to very coloured spring when the reverb is set above around 2 seconds, and changes again to a hall for really long reverbs.

All the sounds are character reverbs though. Something which will shout their presence rather than being something which you only notice when you turn it off!

Half Light Taped Spaces

This reverb isn’t rejoicing in sonic trashiness like some lo fi reverbs do (and there’s nothing wrong with a little trash now and again) but instead brings the character of magnetic tape to the fore. In fact Half light like tape so much they used it twice on this reverb. This reverb is presented simply and stylishly and should appeal to people with a similar aesthetic. The plugin UI is so simple that the provision of a system of presets seems over the top. But the seven reverb types have been curated with care and the results are every bit as warm and rich as you would expect with this tape-heavy recipe.

Audio Damage Ratshack Reverb 3

A bonus entry, and the first electronic reverb I ever had. This Tandy/Radio Shack reverb was, for want of a better word, dreadful. The delay line resonated horribly, it distorted easily and not in a good way and was at its heart a short analogue delay line with feedback control housed in a flimsy case which couldn’t (and in my case didn’t) survive being dragged off an amplifier onto a hard hall floor. There is a legacy free version but check out version 3, which is a currently supported product and is available in AAX, and is very inexpensive. I can’t think of a better candidate if someone asks for a really nasty reverb!