We make digital reverb and analog-inspired delay plugins for musicians, engineers and other audio artists. We're obsessed with creating powerful tools with simple interfaces. Our goal is to inspire you and help your work to flow. Even though every single DAW comes with at least one Reverb plugin, there are still a couple free ones out there which definitely work great. Not only this, but they all have different features, color the sound in a different way, etc. This means that by just having a couple free ones you can enhance Best 15 Free Reverb VST/AU Plugins that Sound Great! “What are the best reverb VST plugins out there in 2020?” Reverb is easily one of the most important sound effects in modern music, across all genres. From large, spacious fade-outs to short, tubular reverberations, it is an incredibly powerful tool for transforming a sound.
In this article, we introduce 5 of the best free reverb VST / AU plugins out there and provide an accompanying demo project and free presets. Top 3 plugins for sidechaining In this video, we showcase three plugins that will help you streamline your sidechaining workflow and achieve some intricate sound design.
Need a reverb plugin that will add that much-needed vintage “sproing” to your tracks?
Or maybe you are looking for a great all-’rounder that can handle everything from drums to vocals, surf guitar jams to spacey Krautrock freak-outs?
Read on to find out which the best spring reverb plugin for you!
Quick answer: we like the Audiority’s XenoVerb for the top pick, but Softube Spring Reverb is also a very popular choice. And though it’s a little bit pricey, PSP Audioware’s Nexcellence offers the most features.
Let’s take a closer look 🙂
Table of Contents
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What is Reverb?
Reverb, in audio engineering, is an artificial audio effect that recreates or approximates the combined effect of sound waves bouncing off surfaces in an acoustic space (Wikipedia definition of reverb at link).
In music or audio production, reverb is typically used on otherwise “dry” or unaffected audio signals in order to create the impression of the sound being present in a particular environment.
Now, reverb actually occurs naturally, and is present in most every environment. But in the confines of a typical recording space, reverberant qualities may be less present than is desired or required, or in fact may be totally absent. So audio engineers employ artificial means for generating reverb.
Before the advent of digital–and even analog–signal processing technology, studio engineers typically added reverb to sounds by placing the source in a highly reverberant or “echo-ey” space. This was typically a large, empty room with high ceilings and hard wooden walls and floors.
But with the advent of signal processing technology and the shift toward smaller studio spaces, most engineers eventually gravitated toward artificial reverb as one of the to go-to plugins to use for music production.
What is spring reverb?
Spring reverbs were among the earliest forms of reverbs. Similar in principle to plate reverbs, spring reverbs utilized metal springs instead of a metal plate. This spring vibrates in response to audio signals directed into the mechanism, producing a characteristic metallic sound.
The sound produced by spring reverbs had little in common with natural reverb sounds. Nevertheless, the highly reverberant–and sometimes jarring–effect produced was quite distinctive, and was an essential element in early rock-and-roll and surf music.
On Choosing a reverb plug-in
For studio engineers who frequently record acoustic instruments, realism is one of the most important considerations in choosing a reverb plug-in.
For these purposes, a particular reverb should approximate the sonic qualities of a particular environment as closely as possible.
But authenticity and realism aren’t necessarily suited to every application. In some cases, recording engineers, music producers, and/or artists may prefer the “artificiality” of a plate or spring reverb, or even the totally unnatural qualities of a more complex modulated reverb. Spring and plate reverbs in particular are often sought after for these unique qualities they impart to the sound.
You can read more about the different types of reverb by jumping to the bottom of the page.
Best Spring Reverb Plugins
Audiority XenoVerb
Audiority’s XenoVerb is a versatile reverb plug-in that brings together the best of classic and modern reverb algorithms. Despite its clean and simple interface, it is capable of delivering a remarkably wide range of useable reverbs.
A lot of thought and research have clearly gone into the development of each algorithm, and the overall design is marked by remarkable attention to detail. Practically any type of acoustic space can be dialed in with the XenoVerb, making it so much more than your typical spring reverb emulation.
Specs and features
- Ten reverb algorithms: Room, Hall, Plate 1 and 2, Springy, Glass, Flow, Shimmer, Bode, and Formant
- Eight controls for each algorithm
- “Active” bypass switch
- “Freeze” feature for creating loops
- “Limiter” control for attenuating the wet signal
- Vintage LED display with a drop-down algorithm menu
- Knob value meter for precise tuning of tones and pre-delay times
User impressions
Among the most common praises for XenoVerb are its flexibility and high-quality algorithms. Capable of delivering an exceedingly wide range of reverbs from the traditional to the futuristic, it is nevertheless remarkably easy to operate. Many users have in fact expressed amazement at how so much capability has been packed into such a reasonably-priced reverb plug-in.
Bottom-line
Perhaps the one thing that XenoVerb lacks to push it over the edge is a width knob. With the addition of this somewhat ubiquitous feature, what is an already tremendously versatile reverb processor would be even more useful and flexible. As it is, few reverb plug-ins come close to the combination of simplicity and state-of-the-art features that XenoVerb provides, and it is definitely a winner in our books.
Demonstration
Softube Spring Reverb
Softube’s Spring Reverb aimed at providing as close to an authentic, vintage spring reverb effect as possible with this unit. Gritty and full of character, it contrasts sharply with the slick and polished “studio-quality” reverbs that have inundated the market as of late.
The plug-in makes no pretenses of being anything other than a thick and juicy approximation of the dripping-wet reverb sound that has graced countless classic tracks over the years. It even has a “shake” control that approximates the harsh “clang!” produced by a guitar amplifier when kicked by an over-jubilant rock star!
Specs and features
- Tension control for spring character and reverb length
- Adjustable number of spring pairs
- Tube driver simulation with bass and treble controls
- Shake control for classic “clanging” effects
- Low CPU requirements
User impressions
Softube’s Spring Reverb has quite a bit of accolades from hobbyist as well as from seasoned pros. It has been used by producers and engineers on the projects of such artists as Adele, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and U2.
One producer in particular pitted the Spring Reverb head-to-head against an AKG BX20, considered by many to be the holy grail of spring reverbs. After logging hundreds of hours comparing the two, this producer retired his venerable BX, and now uses the Softube Spring Reverb exclusively.
Bottom-line
Softube Spring Reverb is a deceptively simple and yet effective reverb that brings that coveted vintage flavor to any production. Some users have complained about the exaggerated quality of the spring reverb approximation, but reviews tend to be generally positive.
Demonstration
PSP Audioware SpringBox
Developed by PSP Audioware, SpringBox is a plug-in emulation of a hardware spring reverberator device. Its features aim to replicate some of the most recognizable characteristics of spring reverb units, among them the “boing” effect on transient signals.
It also has a repeat control for musical resonance, with a separate presence control. The SpringBox can be configured with two to six springs, with the stereo spread and pan/balance control providing utmost flexibility for use in insert and send applications.
Specs and features
- Can be configured with two to six springs
- Stereo spread and pan/balance make it suitable for a variety of applications
- Two-channel (A and B) setup
- Factory and user presets slots available
User impressions
Many users have lauded the SpringBox’s ability to provide the classic character of a spring reverb with the precise parameter control of a plugin. It has been used by producers working in a wide variety of styles, although interestingly, it seems to be surprisingly popular among hip-hop producers.
In any case, many users have noted the SpringBox’s usefulness not just on guitar, but on most other instruments and sound sources as well.
Bottom-line
The SpringBox is an easy to configure spring reverb plug-in with effective stereo routing and versatile spread and diffusion controls. Equally capable of processing drums and guitars, it is somewhat let down by the inability to custom tailor each spring individually and by the less-than-useful A/B option.
Demonstration
SpringAge Overloud
Overloud’s SpringAge represents a significant departure from now-familiar spring reverb simulation with its combination of convolution and algorithmic technology. Merging the best qualities of both signal processing approaches, it aims to replicate the tone and dynamics of an authentic spring reverb device.
SpringAge comes with three spring models, each inspired by some of the most iconic reverb units in recording history. Suitable for use with vintage and modern equipment, it is equally effective on guitars, vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, and drums.
Specs and features
- Combined algorithmic and IR reverb
- Three reverb emulations: AQTX (classic spring, best suited for guitar and vocals), S201 (intended for keyboards, synthesizers, and lead instruments), and ANGEL (channel reverb applications)
- “Boingy” control
- Brightness control
- Tension control
- Flexible EQ
- Tube preamp can be overdriven
User impressions
SpringAge seems to have garnered quite a following with its unique approach to spring reverb emulation. Many users have compared it favorably to Softube’s Spring Reverb, highlighting the added advantage of its versatile and detailed parameter control. The flexibility of unit clearly seems to have won fans over, with many appreciating the ability to overdrive the preamp section.
The two-band parametric EQ has also been praised for its ability to tailor the reverb for specific guitar or vocal applications.
Bottom-line
SpringAge score points for its realistic spring reverb approximation, with the added control over the drive being the icing on the cake. Some users have complained about the relatively limited range of sounds possible, and the inability to push the boingy and tension controls to the extreme.
Nevertheless, the general consensus is that SpringAge provides very reasonable value for the money.
PSP Audioware Nexcellence
Already having garnered rave reviews for the SpringBox, PSP Audioware came out another contender in the spring reverb plug-in arena. Called Nexcellence, this new plug-in draws inspiration from the “necklace-type” spring reverb mechanisms fitted into Hammond organs in the 1960s. With the addition of a whole new set of features such as two spring processor engines, extended parameter control, and an opto-limiter circuit, Nexcellence is just as suited to modern applications as it is to classics-oriented projects.
Specs and features
- Two spring set processors (can use either or both) simultaneously
- Precise parameter control over spring reverb characteristics
- Input gain knob for boosting or overdriving the input signal
- Built-in opto-limiter circuit
- Feed switch cuts the signal to the reverb, leaving the ‘wet’ signal on
- Up to 250 milliseconds pre-delay
- Input width control pulls down side gain
User impressions
One of the most common praises directed toward Nexcellence is its ability to bring forth the best qualities of plate, room, and spring reverbs. Closer to an all-purpose reverb than to the typical spring reverb emulation, it is equally capable of adding depth and subtle warmth to electric guitar and drums. As compared to the SpringBox, some users have claimed that Nexcellence is “cleaner” and “more hi-fi”.
Bottom-line
Nexcellence is almost like having two spring reverbs in one, with Set I providing a brighter, yet deeper and more sustain-ey flavor to the dark and vintage-ey character of Set II. Each Set can be used individually, but combining the two definitely provides even more tonal possibilities.
Considered remarkably rich, vibrant, and complex, the Nexcellence is equally at home acoustic, vocal, electric, and electronic tracks.
About the only faults we could find with it are the somewhat high price tag and the absence of a bypass switch for the “feed” feature.
Demonstration
Final Thoughts
Five quality reverbs, one or two of which are about as different from the others as can be…so how do you choose which is the best spring reverb plugin to add to your arsenal?
When making your decision, it might be helpful to first define your sonic goals. Are you looking for the classic “boing”-ey drip of vintage spring reverb?
If so, Softube’s Spring Reverb, PSP’s SpringBox, and Overloud’s SpringAge are all worthy of consideration. If all you want is thick swathes of wet reverb coupled with a relatively simple user interface, you really can’t go wrong with any one of these.
On the other hand, if you want a bit more versatility for contemporary musical stylings and acoustic recordings, the simplicity of those units might leave you wanting. If that is the case, PSP’s Nexcellence and Audiority’s XenoVerb might be more to your liking.
Both up the ante in terms of versatility and features, and yet remain very easy to use. In addition, they both sound excellent over a wide variety of applications, making them capable of so much more than your livening up your surf rock guitar tracks.
Top pick: Audiority’s XenoVerb
Considering that all these reverbs sound pretty darn good, were going to have to go with features and capabilities. This time around, Audiority’s XenoVerb beats out the competiton due to its sheer flexibility, comprehensive set of useful features, and its ability to sonically measure up to the best hardware reverbs on the market.
Addendum: The Different types of reverb
Over the years, a number of different types of hardware reverbs were developed, with names that reflected their form, function, or supposed sonic qualities. These different types of reverbs were later replicated or approximated in software.
Among the most common types of reverbs are:
Room
Room reverbs are descended from the actual echo chambers used to create the earliest artificial reverb effects. Most such reverbs attempt to simulate the effect of a sound existing in an enclosed space.
Hall/Chamber
Hall and chamber reverbs are often simply ‘larger’-sounding versions of room reverbs, with other tonal qualities possibly emphasized or de-emphasized. They may have more high- or low-frequency content (“bright” or “dark”, respectively), for example, or they may exhibit other sonic characteristics.
Plate
Plate reverbs are approximations of the EMT 140 reverb unit that was introduced in 1957. Fixtures in many big-name commercial studios in the 1960s to the 1970s, plate reverbs utilize a system of transducers attached to a large sheet metal ‘plate’.
This plate vibrates in response to audio signals directed through the transducers, producing a distinct reverb effect. Plate reverbs typically produce a bright and clear sound, and are stilled favored for their unique sonic imprint to this day.
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Imagine creating music with no reverberation whatsoever, you hear the audio directly with no simulation of the sound of space (a room, hall, or a sound-reflective space), this would give you a dry signal, which is unnatural to the human ear, and this is because we are used to getting the illusion of the simulation of a real space in a mix.
Reverb is one of the tools and effects used by music producer/engineer to extract selective clarity, size, richness, wideness, etc. from the various elements of a multitrack production.
It can be used to create all sorts of effects, and can greatly make your music or mix stand out if used properly, but it can easily be misused too, typically, reverb effects can be used to…
- Create depth in a mix; pushing elements further back in a mix
- Multitrack projects are often crowded with 24, 36, and often more tracks filling the arrangement simultaneously (fighting to be heard), adding long reverb times can make certain element uncluttered in the mix
- It can be used to bring coloration to a sound
- You can use it to create drama in a track, for example, the intro can bring in a lush sound, and when the first verse begins, you can automate or dial back the lushness aggressively, making it sound not only dramatic but also pleasing to the ear.
- To create a reverse reverb, the original sound is reversed in time (flipping back), and you then add a duplication of the original track to the next bar, which when played together snap back to its original place in time, using this can be used to create suspense in a track, super useful
A before and after of a simple melody I just created, one with no reverb, and the other with a classic reverb:
You see how the reverb added more clarity and depth to the melody, wish I could show more example, I’ll leave that in your hands.
Since we know the importance of using reverb, I would be recommending some of the best reverb effects plugins in the music production scene right now.
Let’s get going…
1.) MangledVerb by Eventide
MangledVerb combines reverb and distortion to give you a stunning effect, it sends a stereo reverb into distortion, and when that is done, you get a plugin that is capable of creating lush reverbs, ripping distortion leads and sound-sculpting musical chaos.
This plugin is especially great if you are a guitarist, and if you are performing live, you’ll enjoy the RIBBON, you can program two settings for any combination of the controls and seamlessly transition between them.
The way the RIBBON work is you click on the white dot at the tip of any knob and drag it to the desired setting for the left-hand side of the Ribbon. This will program the knob and draw a blue arc from the initial knob position to the new, programmed knob position.
►Key Features:
- Create out-of-this-world soundscapes by increasing the Size and Overdrive.
- Use it as Mono-In/Mono-Out, Mono-In/Stereo-Out or Stereo-In/Stereo-Out for ultimate flexibility.
- Smoothly move from Softclip distortion to Overdrive for ripping transitions.
- Use the Wobble control to create spooky detuning effects.
- Use The Ribbon control to easily manipulate multiple parameters in a live situation.
- Program the HotSwitch to instantly change multiple parameters at once.
- Optimized for live use with MIDI control of The Ribbon and Tap Tempo for quick meta-control on the fly.
- Use Mix Lock to scroll through presets while keeping the wet-dry mix constant.
►System Requirements:
- Windows 7 or higher // 32-64bit
- macOS 10.7 or higher // 64-bit only
- 64-bit only
- AAX, VST2 & VST3 Formats for Windows, and
- AAX, AU & VST2 Formats for mac
2.) MorphVerb by United Plugins
MorphVerb is a multipurpose reverb plugin, whether you need a chamber, hall, algorithms for spring, ambience place, and a plethora of reverb effects.
The beauty of this plugin is the fact that it supports multiple reverb types, it features a lush algorithm for Spring, Ambience, Echoes, Room, Chamber, or Plate. It also features great spaces like Hall or Cathedral and your reverb can even be Infinite.
Another interesting feature of this plugin is that you can blend smoothly between any two neighboring reverb types. So you can get 20% Chamber and 80% Hall. MorphVerb fills the gaps between reverb styles and gives almost infinite possibilities.
►System Requirements:
Mac
- macOS 10.10 and newer
- 64-bit only
- Intel/AMD processor with SSE2 support
- VST2, VST3, AAX, or AU compatible host
Windows
- Windows 8-10
- 32-bit or 64-bit
- Intel/AMD processor with SSE2 support
- VST2, VST3 or AAX compatible host
3.) XenoVerb by Audiority
XenoVerb is a superb Multi-Algorithm Reverb plugin with a sleek and intuitive GUI, I really love the interface of this plugin but it doesn’t only thrive in that aspect. It also features both classic and creative reverb algorithms delivering a wide range of reverbs with a clean and simple interface.
►Key Features:
- 10 Reverb Algorithms:
- Room, Hall, Plate 1, Plate 2, Springy, Glass, Flow, Shimmer, Bode, Formant
- Over 250 presets
- Pre Delay
- Diffusion
- Modulation
- Tone Control
- Reverb Freeze
- Soft Limiter
►System Requirements:
PC
- Windows XP SP3 or later
- Intel i3 or higher
- 2GB RAM
- Screen resolution: 1024×768
- VST2, AAX 32-bit or 64-bit host
MAC
- OSX 10.7.5 or later
- Intel i3 or higher
- 2GB RAM
- Screen resolution: 1024×768
- VST2, AU, and AAX 32-bit or 64-bit host
4.) Perfect Room by denise
Perfect room plugin is a re-implementation of the classic algorithmicreverb, denise ditched the method of using a combination of short feedbacking delays to create the illusion of reverberation, they instead created TXVerb™ technology.
This technology doesn’t use delays for the tail and will enhance the character and coloration of any audio you run through it in an extremely natural way, whether you are using it for drums, vocals, and any other instrument, you’ll absolutely enjoy the mechanism and sound quality of this plugin.
►System Requirements:
Mac:
- OSX 10.7 to macOS 10.14 (64-bit only)
- VST, VST3, AU, AAX
Windows:
Best Reverb Plugins
- Windows 7 or newer (64-bit only)
- VST, VST3, AAX
5.) GrainSpace by Audiority
GrainSpace is a granular processor by Audiority that focuses on real-time granularization and reverberation of the incoming audio signal.
GrainSpace provides dynamic grain generation (up to 32 per channel), 7-grain parameters, 4-grain modulators (including two 11 waveforms LFO), smearing, chord resonator, and reverb to create crazy sound effects, rich textures, and much more.
System Requirements:
- Windows XP SP3 or later // OSX 10.7 or later
- Intel i3 or higher
- 2GB RAM
- Screen resolution: 1024×768
- VST2, AAX 32-bit or 64-bit host
6.) Spring by Eventide
Eventide Spring is an easy reverb that models the sound and character of the popular artificial reverb found in guitar amplifiers, with an additional tube amp style tremolo.
It doesn’t only model the sound and the character, but also allows you to make a further tweak to physical parameter controls not readily available in the real unit.
One thing that struck me with this plugin is the intuitiveness and play-ability. You can easily adjust the knobs or specifically, you can use the RIBBON to program two settings for any combination of the controls and seamlessly morph to any sound between them.
► Key Features:
- Artist presets by Matt Lange, Nick Hook, and Nu-Trix.
- Tempo Sync reverb decay to your DAW
- Craft original sounds by changing the number of springs and damping frequency
- Alter overall resonance by selecting the size of the spring tank
- Tube-amp-style tremolo that can be routed pre- or post-reverb
- Create chorus-like effects by altering Modulation Level
- The Ribbon controller allows for dynamic modification of several knobs at once to easily morph between settings
- Programmable Hotswitch provides the ability to jump instantly to an alternate sound at the push of a button
- Mac/Windows plug-in version works as VST, AU, AAX
Top Reverb Vst Plugins Download
► System Requirements:
- Windows 7 or higher
- macOS 10.7 or higher
- 64-bit only
- AAX, VST2 & VST3 Formats for Windows, and
- AAX, AU & VST2 Formats for mac
Reverb Vsts
Note: Eventide tests their plugins in Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and Studio One. However, their plugins should work with any compatible host.