Variety of Sound comes with epicPLATEmkII – Free Plate Reverb

epicPLATEmkII is a reverb plugin that emulates the classic sound of plate reverb, its lush and velvety reverberation effect. It’s characterized by a warm, rich sound often described as having a smooth decay and a sense of depth. Two knobs on the interface allow controlling the pre-delay (0 to 300ms) to add space before the reverb kicks in and the decay time (300 to 15000ms) to define how long the reverb lasts.

It also features high-pass (20 to 1000Hz) and low-pass (500 to 15000Hz) knobs that let you decide which frequencies get affected by the reverb, shaping how bright or bass-heavy it sounds. Of course, there’s the essential Dry/Wet knob that lets you blend the original sound with the reverb so that you can dial in just the right amount of dreaminess. Lastly, a Width knob lets you tweak how wide the reverb sounds in your headphones and speakers.

The plugin has a Gate switch for managing unwanted noise and a Quality switch that switches between HQ and ECO settings to save computer resources. Likewise, a Color switch helps either brighten or darken the reverb tone. The Drive knob can add some warmth or distortion, giving your reverb a unique character and flavor.

Regarding the Quality switch, the ECO mode delivers the charm and stereo handling reminiscent of classic hardware plates, ideal for smaller rooms, drum or vocal processing, and all-around mixing tasks. On the other hand, the HQ mode increases the internal processing precision, introducing true stereo reverb processing. Variety of Sound has tailored it for stereo mixing or mastering, meeting the highest quality demands. Notably, the QUALITY setting influences overall processing and impacts the performance within the DRIVE section. 

Right off the hook, I was in awe of how lush and wide the plugin sounded, with characterful warmth. I use this plugin on my synths, guitars, pianos, strings, etc., to make these polyphonic sounds even bigger and wider. It’s equally handy to de-harsh audio, making it rounder and less aggressive. 

epicPLATEmkII plugin feels ideal for psychedelic songs like those by Tame Impala and Pink Floyd. I’d also use it in Lo-Fi mixes, Frank Ocean-style lush R&B tracks, dream pop, Drake-style lounge music, Lana Del Rey-style laidback pop songs, etc.

I rarely pick any one plugin as my go-to choice, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you dedicated epicPLATmkII for your vocal tracks. It adds a sense of space without overwhelming the natural tone, which is solid for vocals. That said, its lush and ambient quality is equally effective on drums, particularly to enhance the presence and sustain of the snare and toms.

Tip: While using the plugin on snare or toms, I typically keep the decay and pre-delay time shorter unless that’s the sound I am going for. 

Here’s what the developer of the epicPLATEmkII has to say about the applications of the plugin:

“epicPLATE delivers a modern recreation of classic plate reverberation. It covers the fast and consistent reverb build-up and that distinct tonality the plate reverb is known for and still so much beloved today. Its unique reverb diffusion makes it a perfect companion for all kinds of delay effects and a perfect fit not only for vocals and drums.”

My favorite feature in epicPLATEmkII is the Width, an impressive feature that imparts accurate and elaborate widening, a rarity for a free plugin. Next, the drive knob at its default 0 dB gain works quite well, but anything beyond it might be overkill for a reverb effect. Lastly, the High Pass filter is a life-saver as it prevents your low frequency from getting washed with reverb.

Tip: Tailor the high-pass filter carefully and ensure that the bass and sub-bass frequencies are kept out of the plugin. Adding reverb to the longer wavelengths of bass may muddy up your mix.

On the other hand, its low-pass filter is a gentle second-order filter (12 dB per octave). It’s handy for creating slowed-down underwater effects like the ones you hear in early 2010s Drake and Fotty’s songs.

epicPLATEmkII by Variety of Sound is only available for Windows (32- and 64-bit) operating systems and works with hosts that support VST2 and VST3 plugins.

Download epicPLATEmkII by Variety of Sound here.