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What Are the Best Waves Reverb Plugins?

Nov 05, 2024

Over the years, we've introduced a wide variety of reverb plugins. In this guide, you'll learn how to choose the right ones for your needs, learn what makes each plugin unique, and discover when to use each to achieve the best results.

What are the Best Waves Reverb Plugins

At Waves, we offer a selection of reverb plugins in our catalog, each designed to meet various mixing needs. Over the years, we've pushed the evolution of software reverbs releasing some of the most popular reverb plugins worldwide. However, we understand that not everyone is fully aware of the range of reverbs available on our website and through our Waves Creative Access offering.

This article will guide you through the reverb plugins available in the Waves catalog, helping you understand the key differences between them and which ones are best suited for specific tasks. You'll also discover which plugins you might be missing, whether you have a Waves Ultimate license or prefer to purchase plugins individually.

In This Article

  1. H Reverb
  2. Magma Springs
  3. Renaissance Reverb
  4. Space Rider
  5. Abbey Road Reverb Plates
  6. TrueVerb
  7. Waves IR Series Reverbs
  8. Abbey Road Chambers

H Reverb

Waves H-Reverb plugin

What is it?

H-Reverb is a flagship Waves reverb that draws from algorithmic and convolution reverb technologies, delivering the best of both worlds in a single plugin.

What’s so Good About H-Reverb?

Convolution and algorithmic reverbs are two takes on the same subject: reverb. Both are equally valid and have advantages and disadvantages, of course, but H-Reverb combines both types into a single hybrid reverb unit (hence the name) to draw on what’s great about each.

H-Reverb relies on convolution technology in order to create realistic acoustic spaces that make its reverb gel well and give a great sense of space. It then gives further, algorithmic processing to truly customize the signal, lending a rich character, envelope controls, filtering and EQ.

Another standout feature in H-Reverb is the Delay processing, which adds delay echoes either before or after the reverb component – or both, if you like. There are also over 240 presets to get you started, and modulation controls to really help you get your reverb moving.

Where Can I Try or Buy H-Reverb?

You can get your digital hands on H-Reverb here at waves.com on the H-Reverb page.

Magma Springs

Waves Magma Springs reverb plugin

What is it?

This is, as the name suggests, a spring reverb plugin, offering everything that’s great about early analogue reverb, and more.

What’s so Good About Magma Springs?

Every music producer should have at least one spring reverb plugin in their collection. While it might not be the first choice for every track in a mix, this distinctive effect can be transformative when applied to the right channel at the right moment.

Spring reverbs are known for their vintage sound, often associated with the guitar tones of the 1950s and 60s, particularly in the surf music of the 60s with its heavily drenched reverb.

In its original form, a spring reverb is a mechanical effect designed to replicate natural reverberation using metal springs. When an audio signal passes through the springs, they vibrate, producing a reverberation effect similar to the reflections you'd hear in a physical space. These units are typically built into guitar amplifiers—something you'll recognize if you've ever set an amp down hard with the reverb turned up!

Spring reverbs are prized for their distinctively warm, rhythmic metallic sound. With Magma Springs, you get seven spring types to experiment with, along with Drive, Feedback, shelving EQ, and Pre Delay controls for added flexibility.

Magma Springs is great for guitars in rock-n-roll contexts as well as dub reggae contexts. But the sound of spring reverb can also work wonders on vocals, drums and keys – sometimes you’ve just got to try it and see!

Where to Try or Buy Magma Springs

You can get Magma Springs for yourself from our Magma Springs page.

Renaissance Reverb (aka RVerb)

Waves Renaissance Reverb RVerb plugin

What is it?

RVerb is an algorithmic reverb plugin beloved by many studio producers.

What’s so Good About RVerb?

As an algorithmic reverb, RVerb is a staple in the world of digital reverbs, and Renaissance Reverb (RVerb) is a standout in this category. It offers a wide range of emulated reverb types, from rooms and halls to chambers, giving you plenty of options to shape the space in your mix. One of its key features is the ability to customize early reflections with different sonic signatures, allowing for a more tailored sound.

RVerb goes beyond the basics by offering flexible control over reverb properties such as Time, Size, Diffusion, and Decay, with the added benefit of PreDelay to further refine the effect. It also introduces damping and EQ adjustments, giving you even more precision to control how the reverb sits in your mix. Check out the video below which shows you how many of the settings in RVerb sound

What makes Waves' RVerb particularly special is its ability to blend warmth and depth without overpowering the mix, making it incredibly versatile for a range of genres. Its intuitive interface and rich sound make it accessible for beginners while still offering the advanced control that professionals need. Whether you're after a subtle ambiance or a lush, immersive space, RVerb delivers high-quality reverb with minimal CPU load, ensuring it remains a favorite among producers.

Where to Try or Buy Rennaissance Reverb

You can grab your RVerb license from our dedicated RVerb page.

Space Rider

Waves Space Rider plugin

What is it?

Space Rider is more than just a reverb; it's a multi-effect powerhouse. Combining a reverb processor with both Chorus and Delay, it allows you to create a rich, spacious sound with layered echo and modulation. This versatile tool lets you craft intricate effects chains, soaking your tracks in expansive, atmospheric textures.

Space Rider

Space Rider lets you build your own signal chain out of the three processors (chorus, delay and reverb), sending them into each other or not BUT the key feature in this plugin is the Rider itself – the horizontal fader at the bottom.

The Rider is used to blend between Alpha and Beta states of the plugin’s parameters, morphing from one setup to another, either quickly between sections or slowly during a build-up. What sets the Rider apart is its ability to operate dynamically, reacting to the input signal like an envelope follower. This means the plugin adjusts in real-time, moving between states as transients hit or the overall volume increases, creating a fluid and responsive effect.

What all of this means is that Waves' Space Rider enables you to craft evolving soundscapes that react organically to the music, making it an ideal choice for adding movement and depth to your mixes. Whether you're looking for subtle modulation or dramatic shifts in sound, Space Rider provides a unique level of control and creativity, setting it apart from typical reverb choices or modulation plugins.

Where Can I Buy Space Rider?

You can get your copy of Space Rider from the Space Rider page here at Waves.com.

Abbey Road Reverb Plates

Waves Abbey Road Plates Reverb plugin

What is it?

Need some plate reverbs? How about the sound of these truly legendary models?

What’s so Good About Abbey Road Reverb Plates?

The plugin gives you a selector for the four plates, a Damper, Treble control and Bass Cut, and then PreDelay and Drive controls. They’re great on Vocals, Drums, Guitar and much more… but you already knew that, didn’t you?

The Abbey Road Plates plugin gives you the most faithful recreation of all four legendary reverb plates at Abbey Road Studios, which you’ve undoubtedly heard on countless records by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead or Adele. Developed in partnership with Abbey Road Studios, this plugin has been meticulously modeled to capture the authentic sound and feel of these historic plates. This attention to detail ensures that you’re working with reverb effects that sound as close as possible to the originals.

What makes Abbey Road Plates so special is the legacy of the original plates themselves. These massive metal plates, housed in the famous studios since the 1950s, were used to create some of the most famous reverb effects in recording history. The size, tension, and placement of these plates contribute to their unique sound, offering smooth, dense reverb with natural warmth. The distinct tonal qualities of each of the four plates allow for a wide range of applications, from lush vocals to dynamic drum reverbs, adding character and depth to any mix.

This plugin goes beyond simple reverb control by offering Damper, Treble, and Bass Cut controls, along with PreDelay and Drive options. These added controls allow you to fine-tune the reverb to your specific needs, making it incredibly versatile across various instruments, such as vocals, drums, and guitars. The combination of historic authenticity and modern flexibility makes the Abbey Road Plates plugin an invaluable tool for producers looking to add a touch of class and magic to their tracks.

Where to Try or Buy Abbey Road Reverb Plates

Get your copy of Abbey Road Reverb Plates here.

TrueVerb

Waves TrueVerb Reverb plugin

What is it?

TrueVerb is an algorithmic reverb plugin divided into three sections: Direct, Early Reflections, and Reverb. With these controls you have all the flexibility you need to fine-tune each aspect of the effect to suit your mix’s needs.

What’s so Good About TrueVerb?

TrueVerb may not be the newest reverb in our lineup, but it offers features that still set it apart from many modern reverbs. Its core strength lies in the way it separates Direct sound, Early Reflections, and Reverb Tail, giving users precise control over each element. This unique structure allows for highly customizable reverb shaping, which is hard to achieve with many other plugins.

TrueVerb includes dedicated sliders for adjusting the gain and level of each component, enabling precise balancing within your mix. Additionally, both the Early Reflections and Reverb Tail sections feature EQ controls, allowing for distinct sonic character in each. This advanced customization makes TrueVerb ideal for creating detailed and nuanced reverb spaces.

Controls like Room Size, Distance, PreDelay, and Density make it easy to create realistic sound environments without needing complex settings. Its user-friendly design makes it popular among those looking for powerful reverb effects without a steep learning curve, making it an efficient and practical choice for any mix.

Where Can I Try or Buy TrueVerb?

You can get TrueVerb from us at Waves at the TrueVerb page.

Waves IR Series Reverbs

Waves IR Series Reverb plugin

What is it?

You get three plugins that handle convolution reverb – each with its own spin on the concept. Convolution reverb, for the uninitiated, is a type of reverb processing where an Impulse Response (IR) recording of a real space is used to mimic that space on the input signal to the device.

IR-L Convolution Reverb is a very simple convolution reverb for those who want a host of impulse responses (over 2000) but haven’t got many ambitions to customize them. Having said that, IR-L does offer parameters like Reverb Time and Dry/Wet for rudimentary control.

Moving up, IR1 Convolution Reverb gives you the same 2000+ impulses responses, but adds more ways to customize them (Size, Density, Resonance) and some processing for the output (Damping, EQ) for those who feel more confident with convolution.

IR360 Convolution Reverb heads up the gang of three, providing 5.1 surround sound output options and processing for working on immersive audio projects.

What’s so Good About the Waves IR Series Reverbs?

Convolution reverb is often viewed as more natural and realistic than algorithmic reverb because it uses recordings of real spaces to create its effects. In this case, over 2,000 locations are used to generate reverb responses, capturing the actual acoustic characteristics of each environment. Unlike algorithmic reverb, which simulates spaces using mathematical models, convolution reverb replicates the authentic sound of real spaces, which can reduce the guesswork producers face when dialing in reverb sounds. This can help deliver a more organic, lifelike feel that better mirrors real-world spaces.

Where to Try or Buy IR Series

You can grab IR1 Convolution Reverb, IR-L Convolution Reverb and IR360 Convolution Reverb from their respective product pages.

Abbey Road Chambers

Waves Abbey Road Chambers Reverb plugin

What is it?

A reverb chamber is an old-school solution for adding space and gravitas to any channel of the mix. Abbey Road Chambers does just that! It’s an amazing reverb choice, no matter what you throw it on.

This plugin doesn’t just get you the sound of a real reverb from a large room – it gets you arguably the most famous large reverb in musical history. Short of getting into Abbey Road Studios yourself, there’s not many other ways you’ll get the sound of this reverb signal on your recordings.

There’s a lot of scope for customizing the response of your sound in Abbey Road Chambers, too, with three chambers to choose from, modification of their delay time, speaker type and direction, and mic type and position. Then there’s further functions like feedback and feedback filters, top cut and bass cut, and an EQ node. It’s one of those reverb types you’ve got to hear for yourself…

Where to Try or Buy Abbey Road Chambers

You can get the Abbey Road Chambers plugin here.

Hopefully by now, you have a good idea what to expect from our best reverb plugins when diving into our plugin offerings. Check out our full catalog of reverb plugins for more information on each plugin featured and to discover more creative effects to mix with.

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