Imagine standing in a cathedral and clapping your hands. The initial clap is the direct sound source; what follows are complex reflections that bounce back from the cathedral’s walls, ceiling, and floor. Reverb is this phenomenon of sound reflections that glance off multiple surfaces before reaching our ears.
These reflections reach your ears at different times and varying intensities, creating an effect where the initial sound is lengthened.
In smaller spaces, these reflections are quicker, creating a shorter, more intimate reverb. In larger spaces like cathedrals or caverns, reflections take longer to reach your ears and are less intense, resulting in a rich and layered sound.
Reverb plugins strive to recreate this, simulating the sound of real and non-real spaces. Your DAW will come loaded with a reverb plugin but our list of the 17 best reverb plugins is perfect for exploring the plethora of innovative and realistic plugins available on the market.
In a hurry?
Don’t want to read about every reverb plugin? Here are our five favourites:
| FabFilter Pro-R 2 | Check the current price |
| Eventide Blackhole | Check the current price |
| Relab Essentials Bundle | Check the current price |
Types of reverb
Hall
Hall reverbs emulate concert halls where orchestras typically play. Their large size means they have lots of complex reflections, resulting in long decays that last multiple seconds. These big reverbs are perfect for ambience, adding space to orchestras, making vocals sound epic, and pushing sounds back into the mix. However, hall reverbs can make things sound muddy and cause instruments to lose definition if overused.
Chamber
Chamber reverbs pair the intimacy of a room reverb with the lush ambience of a hall. They’re denser than other reverbs, filled with early reflections for a lively sound whilst providing extra clarity to give instruments space and definition unlike the washed-out effect inherent in hall reverbs. Chamber reverb is great for many instruments from vocals and acoustic guitar but excels in creating powerful drum sounds.
Room
Room reverbs simulate smaller acoustic spaces and purpose-designed recording studios. They’re closer to the natural reverbs we hear in the real-world rooms, characterised by faster earlier reflections, creating an intimate sound.
They’re natural and lively, making them ideal for any instrument. Because of this, they can provide depth to individual instruments or put all elements of your mix into one cohesive space, glueing them together.
Plate
Plate reverbs, one of the first synthetic reverbs, emulate the sound of audio passing through a metallic plate. When developing plate reverb, this technique caused vibrations in the plate, creating a smooth and dense reverb. The timbre was dependent on the material and damping used but remained bright and smooth with a long tail and few early reflections.
More atmospheric but less exciting than other reverbs, they’re great for bringing elements such as background vocals to the front of a mix with minimal smearing.
Spring
Similar to a plate, spring reverb doesn’t model a real-world space. Sound is passed through vibrating springs, creating a reverb sound like no other. A tight and bright sound, spring reverb sounds closer to super-fast echoes than it does smooth reverb. Hailed for how it sounds with guitars, it’s often found on vintage guitar amplifiers because of its non-linear tone, making it a staple of classic rock guitar tones.
Types of reverb plugins
Algorithmic
Algorithmic reverbs use mathematical modelling (algorithms) to simulate the sound of real-world spaces or mechanical reverbs. This can be everything from natural spaces, such as rooms, chambers, or halls, to mechanical plates, springs, and more.
Because of their modelling design, they’re often extremely flexible and feature a full range of parameters to tweak the reverb to your exact requirements, making them ideal for sound designers. Although they aren’t “real” world spaces, they’re still capable of producing extremely convincing results but are also flexible enough to create non-realistic reverbs, such as huge ambience.
Convolution
Convolution reverbs use recordings of real-world spaces to create IRs (Impulse Responses) of that location. An instantaneous test signal (or gunshot) is used to create a loud signal in the location, creating the natural reverb of the space which is then recorded by microphones before being turned into a single IR file.
This IR can then be used in a convolution reverb plugin to apply the characteristics of the recorded space to any sound in your mix. This fixed impulse is less flexible than an algorithmic reverb, using much less CPU power, but produces much more realistic results.
The best reverb plugins
1. FabFilter Pro-R 2
Type: Algorithmic – Sweepable “Space” control
Pros
- Stepless Space control for smooth room size transitions
- Innovative Decay Rate EQ for shaping reverb over time
- Full 9.1.6 Dolby Atmos support with per-channel control
Cons
- Lacks traditional pre-defined spaces that some users may find unintuitive
FabFilter Pro-R 2 is a premium algorithmic reverb plugin designed for total tonal control and pristine sound quality. It blends musical simplicity with deep editing power. The stepless Space control lets you sweep from tight rooms to vast arenas without stepped controls or artefacts for a smooth and seamless user experience.
The unique Decay Rate EQ allows you to shape how different frequencies decay over time, keeping mixes clean and controlled by tweaking certain frequencies to stand out in your mix. Two new algorithms, Vintage and Plate, expand its tonal range beyond previous versions, while the IR (impulse response) import lets you recreate favourite spaces with enhanced control.
With six-band post-EQ, ducking, saturation, and full Dolby Atmos 9.1.6 support, Pro-R 2 suits modern producers, mix engineers, and immersive audio professionals alike.
2. Eventide Blackhole
Type: Algorithmic
Pros
- Delivers huge, otherworldly reverb textures with unique “Gravity” control
- Ribbon and Hot Switch offer multiple parameter adjustments simultaneously for expressive automation
- Comes included with 50 artist presets for instant inspiration
Cons
- Not designed for realistic room emulations
Eventide Blackhole is a creative reverb plugin built for vast, cinematic, and other-worldly spaces. It excels at turning simple sounds into massive ambient soundscapes. The unique Gravity control lets you reverse the reverb’s decay, creating swelling, time-bending effects that feel truly cosmic.
From subtle vocal sheen to endless drones and evolving pads, Blackhole adapts easily thanks to its intuitive layout and 50 artist-designed presets.
Ribbon and Hot Switch controls allow you to morph multiple parameters at once, making it ideal for automation and live performance. If you want characterful, atmospheric reverb rather than strict realism, Blackhole delivers depth, width, and pure creative potential.
3. Relab Essentials Bundle
Type: Algorithmic – Hardware-modelled
Pros
- Three legendary hardware-inspired reverbs in one bundle
- Streamlined interfaces for fast, intuitive workflow
- Wide range of presets covering music and post-production
Cons
- Fewer deep-edit controls than the full flagship versions
This bundle delivers three iconic hardware-inspired reverbs in one streamlined package. Relab Essentials Bundle includes LX480 Essentials, Rev6000 Essentials, and QuantX Essentials, each meticulously modelled on legendary studio units. From lush 480-style halls and plates to cinematic Hollywood spaces and authentic ’80s digital ambience, this bundle covers virtually any mix scenario.
The simplified interfaces make it easy to dial in professional results without slowing down your workflow. With a huge selection of presets and refined DSP algorithms, producers, mix engineers, and composers can quickly add depth, width, and character to vocals, instruments, and full arrangements. It’s a versatile, high-quality reverb toolkit built for modern production.
4. Strymon BigSky Plugin
Type: Algorithm – Hardware-modelled
Pros
- Streamlined interface with unique parameters per mode
- Infinite/Free and Hold functionality for endless ambience
- Unique modes to Strymon, including Chorale, Magneto, Bloom, and more
Cons
- For the price, it lacks customisable parameters
A pretty remarkable feat, the Big Sky Plugin is an identical replica of one of the most famous reverb pedals ever. Though typically used on guitars, the plugin lets you use one of 12 modes on any instrument in a mix, with incredible results.
Known for its massive ambience with modes such as Cloud and Bloom, the simple interface of BigSky Plugin lets you access huge, endless ambiences which can be truly infinite with the Freeze function. It also includes more traditional modes such as Hall, Room, Plate, and Spring for traditional textures and depth in a mix.
5. Strymon Cloudburst
Type: Algorithmic – Hardware-modelled
Pros
- Superb recreation of the revered hardware pedal reverb
- Infinite and Freeze modes for evolving pads and soundscapes
- Revolutionary Ensemble Engine delivers lush, ambient tones with harmonic texture
Cons
- Limited in the style of reverb tones you can produce
Based on the incredibly popular Cloudburst reverb pedal, Strymon have ported over all of the functionality and tones from the hardware to this reverb plugin for your DAW. Cloudburst delivers a lush, ambient reverb tone with unmistakable character that can add infinite sustain and evolving textures to your tracks.
Its standout Ensemble Engine analyses your input and generates layered harmonic content, transforming simple parts into string-like, atmospheric textures. Infinite and Freeze modes make it easy to build ambient pads and cinematic swells, while onboard modulation adds movement from subtle shimmer to more experimental tones. The single Decay control intelligently scales multiple parameters at once, keeping workflow fast and intuitive.
6. Sonible Smart:reverb 2
Type: AI-powered – Adaptable reverb types
Pros
- Perfect for beginners, takes the guesswork out of your settings
- Instrument-specific modes help to get more accurate reverb tones
- Sleek and ultra-modern interface makes it easy to make adjustments
Cons
- Non-specific reverb types might catch professional producers off guard
A first of its kind, Smart:Reverb makes reverb easy. Automatically create a tailored reverb for your sound in seconds, with no manual movement necessary (unless you want to adjust afterwards). It has an excellent sound but can be forgiven for being a little bit “samey” across some of the modes.
Though it’s automatic, you can still customise your reverb – and it’s incredibly easy with the simple interface, which lets you control crucial parameters, like the decay and envelope density, and frequency response over time.
7. Lexicon MPX Native Reverb
Type: Algorithmic – Seven modes include: Small Plate, Large Plate, Small Hall, Large Hall, Small Chamber, Large Chamber, and Room
Pros
- The exact sound of legendary Lexicon hardware in a plugin
- Plenty of tweaking options to adjust the reverb to your taste
- Nice addition of a frequency response graph for the reverb
Cons
- Potential to be CPU-heavy on lower-powered machines
The Lexicon MPX Native Reverb puts the sounds of classic Lexicon hardware into your DAW. With seven types of reverb included in all the categories you’d imagine, it’s a fantastic all-around choice at a very low cost.
A simple interface presents all 10 parameters you could ever need on one screen to make it incredibly easy to find a sound that will sit in your mix. At this price, the addition of the frequency response graph is a very nice touch!
8. Slate Digital Verbsuite Classics
Type: Convolution
Pros
- Eight legendary hardware reverbs in one plugin
- Fusion IR technology lets you expand on the original hardware while retaining the core tone
- Huge preset library for fast, mix-ready results
Cons
- Browser could offer more refined search terms to find what you’re looking for quicker
Forget spending your life’s earnings on hardware reverb units. The Slate Digital Verbsuite Classics brings eight iconic studio reverb units into a single, powerful plugin. Built with LiquidSonics’ Fusion IR technology, it captures the modulation, movement, and depth of classic hardware with remarkable realism.
Unlike static convolution reverbs, Fusion IR preserves evolving decay characteristics, so tails feel alive and natural in a mix. From punchy ‘80s gated drums to pristine halls and modern atmospheric spaces, it covers a huge sonic range. A comprehensive preset browser speeds up workflow, while onboard controls, including three-band EQ, pre-delay, and filtering, give you detailed shaping options.
9. Soundtoys Crystallizer 5
Type: Algorithmic
Pros
- Hugely creative effect that takes inspiration from H3000-style repeats and ambience
- Massive range of tonal shaping with filters, gating, ducking, and more
- Over 200 presets from subtle shimmer to extreme effects
Cons
- More of a creative ambience effect than a strict reverb
Though not strictly a reverb, you can achieve unique spaces and ambience with Crystallizer. Inspired by classic H3000-style hardware, it recreates the iconic ‘Crystal Echoes’ effect that defined countless ‘80s productions. It excels at transforming simple sounds into evolving, atmospheric layers, whether you want subtle harmonic shimmer or glitchy, pitch-bending madness.
Updated for modern workflows, it includes integrated Gate and Duck controls for tighter mix placement, plus high- and low-pass filters for tonal shaping. With over 200 presets covering everything from ambient washes to warped delays, Crystallizer is ideal if you’re looking to add movement, sparkle, and experimental depth to guitars, vocals, synths, and drums.
10. Arturia Rev PLATE 140
Type: Algorithmic – Hardware-modelled
Pros
- Circuit-accurate recreation of the original EMT 140 Plate reverb
- Three selectable modes offer a range of unique plate tones
- Expanded beyond the function of the original hardware with pre-amp gain, EQ, modulation and more
Cons
- Only one reverb type included
The original reverb, Arturia’s PLATE 140 is a circuit-accurate recreation of the legendary EMT 140 plate. It delivers the rich, smooth, and dense plate tones heard on countless classic records. Using Arturia’s advanced analogue modelling, it captures the depth and warmth of the original hardware while adding modern flexibility.
Three selectable plate models let you tailor decay and damping characteristics, while the analogue-modelled tube preamp adds subtle drive and character.
Integrated pre-filtering, two-band EQ, chorus, and stereo width controls provide detailed shaping options. With adjustable pre-delay up to 250ms and decay times exceeding six seconds, Plate 140 is ideal for vocals, drums, guitars, and lush vintage-inspired mixes.
11. SSL Native FlexVerb
Type: Algorithmic – Room, Hall, Plate, and Chamber
Pros
- Complete control over the dimensions and character of the virtual space
- Excellent six-band EQ
- Ducking possibilities with side-chained input compressor
Cons
- No level fader for the modulation
A do-it-all reverb, FlexVerb is a great all-around reverb option. It has four of the five main reverb types, letting you adjust the virtual character of the space with independent control over the late and early reflections, and the six-band EQ is perfect to fit it into any mixing style.
The modulation controls work really well and blend naturally with the reverb tone, though a level control would be great here. Even better, the sidechain input is great for ducking the reverb out of the way of important tracks such as lead vocals.
12. Universal Audio Lexicon 224
Type: Algorithmic – Three Halls, Three Plates, One Chamber, One Room
Pros
- Goes beyond the features of the original
- Hardware quality sounds across any instrument in a mix
- Comes loaded with presets from industry veterans to get started straight away
Cons
- The interface can be confusing if you have no experience with the hardware
A fantastic reverb plugin that puts the sound of studio hardware into your DAW, the Lexicon 224 has a lush, thick, and spacious tone. The slider-based interface can be confusing if you’ve not used it before, but it rewards you with lots of flexibility to customise the sound however you want.
Bass and Mid-Reverb Time let you fine-tune the reverb decay response to fit any kind of mix, whilst controls for the Crossover deliver natural crosstalk between stereo channels for enhanced realism.
13. Baby Audio Crystalline
Type: Algorithmic
Pros
- Cutting-edge Transient detector responds to your audio in real-time
- Goes beyond physical spaces to help you create unique reverb that blends perfectly with your track with tempo-sync
- Huge range of settings to adjust the reflections, modulation depth, shape and clean-up
Cons
- Some terminology used for parameters might not make sense to newcomers
There are reverbs that aim to deliver ultra-realistic real-world space simulation, and then there’s Crystalline by Baby Audio, a reverb plugin that sends your sounds into another realm. Crystalline delivers ultra-clean reverb reflections with advanced control over decay, tone, and stereo imaging for transparent and expansive ambience.
The unique Transient Detection adapts the reverb response to incoming audio in real-time to ensure that all the punch and definition from your audio is not lost, even in heavy mixes. You can tempo-sync decay and pre-delay to your track, ensuring reverb tails move naturally with the groove. Flexible filters, ducking, modulation, shimmer, and freeze modes expand its sound design potential beyond traditional spaces.
Designed for contemporary producers and engineers, Crystalline offers pristine fidelity and deep control without sacrificing workflow speed.
14. Antares Auto-Tune Vocal Reverb
Type: Convolution – AI assisted
Pros
- AI-assisted processing offers incredibly fast and musical results
- Perfectly tuned frequency response with Auto-EQ, powered by Auto-Tune’s Pitch Tracking technology
- Built-in pre and post-effects for complete tonal shaping
Cons
- Focuses specifically on vocals rather than general mixing
Antares Auto-Tune Vocal Reverb is an AI-powered reverb plugin built specifically for vocals. It removes the guesswork by analysing your voice and generating optimised reverb settings with its Reverb Assist feature. Powered by Auto-Tune’s Pitch Tracking Technology, the integrated Auto-EQ helps your vocal sit naturally in the mix. Choose from Hall, Plate, and Room algorithms, then enhance depth with Mono or Ping Pong delay.
A suite of pre- and post-effects, including compression, de-essing, saturation, gating, and width control, gives you complete tonal shaping in one interface. For producers seeking polished, professional vocal ambience quickly, it delivers speed and precision.
15. Soundtoys SuperPlate
Type: Convolution – 300 different impulse responses
Pros
- Five legendary plate reverbs modelled with exceptional realism
- Three analogue flavours including Tube and solid-state
- Auto-Decay ducking to keep mixes clean and controlled
Cons
- Focused exclusively on plate reverbs rather than multiple reverb types
One of the most versatile reverb types is a plate-style reverb. It’s suitable for vocals, keyboards, drums, and if you drench your sound in enough of it, it can transform any sound into a pad-like soundscape. With Soundtoys SuperPlate, you get recreations of the EMT 140, EMT 240, Audicon, EcoPlate III, and Stocktronics RX4000, each delivering distinct tonal character and depth.
With a range of decay from 0.5s to infinite decay time, SuperPlate allows you to meticulously tune your reverb to your songs tempo.
You can further shape your sound with three analogue colour modes – Tube, solid-state, and clean – plus authentic EMT-style preamp modelling. Enhanced modulation controls add movement, while the built-in EQ and filters provide detailed tonal sculpting. The unique Auto-Decay ducking mode helps prevent masking by dynamically adjusting the tail.
16. Cherry Audio Stardust 201
Type: Algorithmic – Hardware emulation
Pros
- Full modelling of a world-renowned hardware reverb/delay unit
- Pairs perfectly with most instruments and sounds in a mix
- Stereo compatibility puts your sounds in a wide soundstage
Cons
- Only one reverb mode
If you’ve ever wanted the classic reverb and delay sound of ‘70s prog, pop, and rock for your synths, vocals, and guitars then this is a must-have. A complete end-to-end emulation, the Cherry Audio Stardust 201 gives you the full reverb soundscape tone for droney ambience and so much flexibility to tweak to your liking.
With only one reverb mode, the bulk of the plugin is the BBD delay circuit which blends perfectly with the reverb for a huge, vintage sound.
17. Spitfire Audio AIR Studios Reverb
Type: Convolution
Pros
- The world’s only convolution reverb of the iconic AIR Studios
- Position sounds anywhere with proprietary Virtual Positioning Technology
- Customise reverb with adjustable Canopy Height, Material, and Damping
Cons
- Limited to one location for the convolution impulse responses
The only convolution reverb of the iconic Lyndhurst Hall at AIR Studios, Spitfire Audio AIR Studios Reverb lets you put sounds from your mix into the room that spawned some of the greatest movie soundtracks ever recorded. Sampled with 67,000 unique impulses, AIR Studios Reverb delivers the depth, scale, and realism of one of the world’s most celebrated recording spaces directly into your DAW.
Using proprietary Virtual Positioning Technology, you can place instruments anywhere in the hall and even adjust their direction for precise spatial control. Blend between eight True Stereo microphone signals and customise canopy height, material, and damping to shape the room’s response. With independent control over direct sound, early reflections, and tail, it’s ideal for orchestral production, film scoring, and immersive, natural mixes.
How many reverbs do I need?
Do you need multiple reverb plugins to get the best sound? Not really. You can get by with just a few high-quality reverbs or, in some cases, just one. The more you dive into mixing and mastering, working with different instruments and different genres, the more reverbs you’ll need.
Once you master how to use different reverb types to change the character of your sound, you’ll be able to pick the right reverb for the job, helping you get better mixes. Reverb plugins come with vastly different features, so it’s worth considering how much tweaking you want to do when putting your sound in a virtual space.
FAQs
Which is the best reverb plugin?
The best reverb plugins to use for music production are:
- FabFilter Pro-R 2
- Eventide Blackhol
- Relab Essentials Bundle
What is the most popular reverb of all time?
The most popular reverbs of all time include the EMT 250, AMS RMX 16, Lexicon 224, and the Lexicon 480L. These early studio hardware reverb units are algorithmic reverbs and have been featured on countless albums. Many have been recreated as plugins for modern producers to use in their DAWs.
What is the best-sounding reverb for vocals?
Chamber reverbs are the best-sounding reverbs for vocals. Chamber reverbs marry the intimacy of room reverbs with the lush decay of hall reverbs. Although not as natural as other reverbs, they’re often bright, small rooms with lots of early reflections to thicken the sound and make it more lively.
Final thoughts
Reverb is an essential tool for production. Your DAW will come loaded with its own reverb plugin, but these are often limited and not as high in quality as the options that are available externally.
In my opinion, it’s a good idea to explore what third-party developers have to offer, such as the ones on our best reverb plugins list, in order to upgrade your production.
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