HoRNet SpringVerb

SpringVerb 1.0.4 is available, this update is free for owners of our algorithmic spring reverb and includes:

• Added Apple Silicon compatibility to AAX

• Fixed potential crash in some DAW while resizing UI

Algorithmic spring reverb plugin

SpringVerb is an algorithmic reverb plugin that recreates the physical interactions of a spring reverb.

How a spring reverb works

This kind of reverb is very peculiar since it’s obtained through electro-mechanic stimulation of springs at different tension, this movement is then converted back into electrical signal by some pickup.

The spring reverb was born together with plate reverb as a mean to create  artificial reverberation in the 30s and was made popular by Hammond organs which adopted this kind of reverberation due to its small size. This factor also lead to the adoption of spring reverbs from many guitar amplifier manufacturer and since then the sound of this kind of reverb has been part of recording history.

We approached the recreation of this peculiar sound implementing a mix of research papers and adding our own twist, with SpringVerb you can change every aspect of the spring themselves like the intrinsic vibration time (which determine the length of the reverb)  the damping of the springs (which affect the decay time of the reverb). With the resonance and brightness controls you can change the self resonance point of the spring and the highest frequency it can reach (both of this control also affect how the reverb propagates inside the spring)

We also added a handy dry / wet  mix control and a diffusion control (which is not a specific physical part of the spring behavior but help us in getting different sounds, from more lush to more metallic ones)

Of course you can change the number of springs and this in turn changes the behavior of the reverb, in fact with one spring you only have a mono reverb and a very bouncy sound, with two springs you have a stereo reverb and with three springs you get a full and nice shimmering sound.