Supermassive introduces 2 new reverb modes to what is already a very cool and high useable FREE reverb.
This month marks the 2.5 year anniversary of Valhalla Supermassive. To celebrate the occasion, Valgalla are releasing the 2.5.0 update, with two new reverb / delay Modes: Scorpio and Libra.
Scorpio
The Scorpio mode is similar to the Gemini mode in many ways: fast attack, rapid build of echo density, more of a “conventional” reverb. The feedback path in Scorpio is very different than Gemini with lower DENSITY settings, and can sound like a complex ping-pong delay. The Low EQ and High EQ filters in Scorpio are included within the feedback paths, versus outside the feedback path like in the Gemini mode.
These are seemingly subtle changes, but they make a HUGE sonic difference. The complex feedback path in Scorpio creates a lot of stereo width, as well as a more “open” frequency response. By incorporating the High EQ filters into the feedback paths, the Scorpio mode can create far more realistic reverb sounds, where the high frequencies decay away over time. The Low EQ filters can be used to take out a little bit of the low frequencies for a less boomy reverb decay, or can shave off a lot of the low end for a reverb that gets thinner sounding as it decays away.
Libra
The Libra mode in ValhallaSupermassive has a somewhat slower attack than Scorpio, and can sound like a delay at 4X the displayed DELAY length when WARP and DENSITY are both at zero. Turn up the WARP control, and Libra quickly transforms into a very lush reverb, with balanced modulation. The DENSITY control will start to bring in shorter recirculating delays, and is very useful in smoothing out the reverb attack and decay. Every delay within the Libra mode is filtered by Low EQ and High EQ filters within the feedback paths.
The upshot of all of the above: the Libra mode is the best mode in ValhallaSupermassive for lush modulated reverbs with a natural decay. The Low EQ is useful for filtering as much low frequency content as you do or don’t need. The High EQ creates organic high frequency damping. The balanced modulation results in smooth sounding chorusing.
Valhalla have included a bunch of presets that use the Scorpio and Libra modes in the LATE 2022 preset folder. You can use them as is, or as a starting point for your own curiosity journey into Supermassive!
More about Supermassive
ValhallaSupermassive was originally released on May 19th, 2020, with 8 original echo / reverb modes. Since that time, Valhalla have added 10 additional modes, for a total of 18 as of today. They added 4 modes added in 2021 (Cirrus Major, Cirrus Minor, Cassiopeia and Orion) that tended towards the weird and experimental. In contrast, the 4 modes they have added in 2022 (Scorpio and Libra, plus Aquarius and Pisces in May 2022) have extended Supermassive into more practical and eminently useable directions. We feel that these last 4 algorithms stand with any algorithms they’ve released in any Valhalla plugin, free or paid.
Supermassive is available to PC and Mac users (VST2, VST3, AU and AAX).
For more information on Supermassive, click here:
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