Building complex reverbs using ValhallaÜberMod

The original ValhallaÜberMod concept had a fairly sparse Diffusion section, which was intended to smooth out feedback echos and add some density to chorus patches. Somewhere during the development process, the diffusion block was expanded into a much more powerful DIFF section, with each input channel being processed by a dense modulated diffusion block with variable size. The DIFF section proved useful in creating dense nonlinear reverbs, as well as lush ambient reverbs and decent plate simulations. The ÜberMod controls aren’t designed around creating reverbs, so I figured that any reverbs created with ÜberMod were a cool bonus with that plugin.

Flash forward to a few days ago, where I found myself experimenting with ÜberMod, mainly as a way of procrastinating before I get back to work on my next plugin. I started running multiple instances of ValhallaÜberMod in series and parallel, and using the sends of my DAW to control the routing and levels. To my surprise, I found that I was able to create some VERY complex and subtle reverbs using ÜberMod, by allocating different instances of the plugin for different stages of the reverb decay.

EXAMPLE 1: Medium Vocal Reverb, w/early reflections

The first example uses 3 instances of ÜberMod, running on 2 different sends. The first instance is running on its own send, and will cover the early reflections stage of a reverb:

<ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion=”1.0.1″ presetName=”RandomizedEarlyReflections” Mix=”1″ Depth=”1″ StereoWidth=”0.5″ Delay=”0.0476999991″ Feedback=”0″ Spread=”1″ Slope=”0.643999994″ Skew=”0.175999999″ Random=”1″ TapGain=”0.5″ Diffusion=”0.624000013″ DiffSize=”0.0163265299″ DiffModRate=”0.0490490496″ DiffModDepth=”0.5″ LowCut=”0.0351758786″ HighCut=”0.232160807″ SpatialXover=”0.145728648″ DetuneRate=”0.00900900923″ DetuneDepth=”0.851999998″ VibratoRate=”0.298245579″ VibratoDepth=”0″ OverMod=”0.0313131325″ DriveInGain=”0.375″ DriveOutGain=”0.75″ DriveNoiseGain=”0.333333343″ FeedbackRotate=”0.5″ SmoothingTime=”0.0990990996″ ColorMode=”1″ DelaySync=”0″ type=”0.333333343″ DiffEnable=”1″ Drive=”0″ DrivePrePost=”1″ Speed=”0″ InputPan=”0.125″/>

This preset uses the 16Tap mode, in conjunction with the DIFF section, to create a dense early ambience that abruptly cuts off after about 50 to 100 millseconds. The TAP Slope parameter is used to create the perception of a room with a short to medium decay, and the DELAY slider determines the point at which this decay is truncated. Some slow LFO modulation is used in conjunction with the MOD OverMod control to randomize the reflections.

The second instance of ÜberMod is running on a separate send, and provides the input diffusion of the late reverb tail:

<ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion=”1.0.1″ presetName=”InputDiffusion” Mix=”1″ Depth=”0.444000006″ StereoWidth=”0.5″ Delay=”0.00999999978″ Feedback=”0″ Spread=”0.5″ Slope=”0.5″ Skew=”0.5″ Random=”0″ TapGain=”0.5″ Diffusion=”0.703999996″ DiffSize=”0.0653061196″ DiffModRate=”0.0130130127″ DiffModDepth=”0.395999998″ LowCut=”0″ HighCut=”0.387939692″ SpatialXover=”0.145728648″ DetuneRate=”0.0370370373″ DetuneDepth=”0.5″ VibratoRate=”0.298245579″ VibratoDepth=”0″ OverMod=”0″ DriveInGain=”0.375″ DriveOutGain=”0.75″ DriveNoiseGain=”0.333333343″ FeedbackRotate=”1″ SmoothingTime=”0.0990990996″ ColorMode=”0″ DelaySync=”0″ type=”0.0416666679″ DiffEnable=”1″ Drive=”0″ DrivePrePost=”1″ Speed=”0″ InputPan=”0.125″/>

This preset uses the 2TapChorus mode, but most of the work is being done by the DIFF section. A fairly short DIFF size is used, with the idea being to turn impulsive sounds into a “puff” of diffuse energy. This will smooth out any reverb that this preset is placed in front of.

The third instance of ÜberMod is placed in series after the second instance (i.e. on the same send), and generates a reverb tail with a medium decay:

<ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion=”1.0.1″ presetName=”MediumLateReverb” Mix=”1″ Depth=”0.5″ StereoWidth=”0.5″ Delay=”0.00999999978″ Feedback=”0.612999976″ Spread=”0.5″ Slope=”0.5″ Skew=”0.5″ Random=”0″ TapGain=”0.5″ Diffusion=”0.748000026″ DiffSize=”0.240816325″ DiffModRate=”0.0290290285″ DiffModDepth=”0.5″ LowCut=”0.0954773873″ HighCut=”0.288442224″ SpatialXover=”0.145728648″ DetuneRate=”0.0490490496″ DetuneDepth=”0.5″ VibratoRate=”0.298245579″ VibratoDepth=”0″ OverMod=”0″ DriveInGain=”0.375″ DriveOutGain=”0.75″ DriveNoiseGain=”0.333333343″ FeedbackRotate=”1″ SmoothingTime=”0.0990990996″ ColorMode=”0″ DelaySync=”0″ type=”0.0416666679″ DiffEnable=”1″ Drive=”0″ DrivePrePost=”1″ Speed=”0″ InputPan=”0.125″/>

The above late reverb preset also uses the 2TapChorus mode, with most of the work being done by the DIFF section and the FEEDBACK control. The Diffusion is set to a fairly large size. The DIFF Size, in conjunction with the feedback and filtering, determines the length of the reverb decay. The WARP fBMix control is set to 100%, to create a figure-8 (ping-pong) feedback loop, as used in reverbs by Lexicon & Alesis.

Once you have the basic routing set up, experiment with the send levels being sent to the Early Reflections (instance 1) and the Late Reverb (instances 2 and 3). I have found that it sounds best with the Early Reflections set to a somewhat higher level than the Late Reverb.

EXAMPLE 2: Randomized Hall

ValhallaÜberMod is versatile enough that you can emulate many types of reverb structures, not just the Early Reflection / Late Reverb division of the more “scientific” reverbs. For example, Lexicon’s Random Hall is known for its high echo density, and the soft attack derived from the Shape and Spread controls. To emulate this soft attack using ÜberMod, we’ll use 2 instances of ÜberMod in series. The first is used to approximate the Shape/Spread section of Random Hall:

<ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion=”1.0.1″ presetName=”ShapeSpread” Mix=”1″ Depth=”0.444000006″ StereoWidth=”0.5″ Delay=”0.342900008″ Feedback=”0″ Spread=”1″ Slope=”0″ Skew=”1″ Random=”1″ TapGain=”0.5″ Diffusion=”0.791999996″ DiffSize=”0.134693876″ DiffModRate=”0.0130130127″ DiffModDepth=”0.395999998″ LowCut=”0″ HighCut=”0.975879371″ SpatialXover=”0.145728648″ DetuneRate=”0.0370370373″ DetuneDepth=”0.5″ VibratoRate=”0.298245579″ VibratoDepth=”0″ OverMod=”0″ DriveInGain=”0.375″ DriveOutGain=”0.75″ DriveNoiseGain=”0.333333343″ FeedbackRotate=”1″ SmoothingTime=”0.0990990996″ ColorMode=”0″ DelaySync=”0″ type=”0.375″ DiffEnable=”1″ Drive=”0″ DrivePrePost=”1″ Speed=”0″ InputPan=”0.125″/>

This preset uses the 32Tap mode, with a fair amount of Diffusion, and the TAP Slope set to -100%, to create a nonlinear reverb that fades in gradually over time.  The attack time is determined by the DELAY slider.
The ShapeSpread preset is used in series with a 2nd instance of ÜberMod on the same send, that adds a huge reverb tail to the slow attack:

<ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion=”1.0.1″ presetName=”BigLateReverb” Mix=”1″ Depth=”0.760999978″ StereoWidth=”0.5″ Delay=”0.00999999978″ Feedback=”0.768000007″ Spread=”0.5″ Slope=”0.5″ Skew=”0.5″ Random=”0″ TapGain=”0.5″ Diffusion=”0.843999982″ DiffSize=”0.448979586″ DiffModRate=”0.0730730742″ DiffModDepth=”0.495999992″ LowCut=”0.0502512567″ HighCut=”0.340703517″ SpatialXover=”0.145728648″ DetuneRate=”0.033033032″ DetuneDepth=”0.5″ VibratoRate=”0.298245579″ VibratoDepth=”0″ OverMod=”0″ DriveInGain=”0.375″ DriveOutGain=”0.75″ DriveNoiseGain=”0.333333343″ FeedbackRotate=”1″ SmoothingTime=”0.0990990996″ ColorMode=”0″ DelaySync=”0″ type=”0.0416666679″ DiffEnable=”1″ Drive=”0″ DrivePrePost=”1″ Speed=”1″ InputPan=”0.125″/>

This preset is very similar to the earlier late reverb preset, but with a much greater DIFF size setting. In addition, the WARP Speed is set to 1/2, which doubles the size of the diffusors, to create a HUGE reverb decay.

ROLL YOUR OWN SOUNDS

The above examples are just 2 quick demos of the complex reverb responses that can be generated with multiple instances of ValhallaÜberMod. For example, a longer gated reverb could be used in parallel with a reverb that incorporates DRIVE in the feedback loop, to create a reverb that starts off clean, then turns nasty after a certain amount of time.

ÜberMod is also useful in extending the capabilities of other reverb plugins. For example, the InputDiffusion or ShapeSpread examples from above can be used in series with ValhallaRoom, to create a super lush reverb that has more “standardized” reverb controls. The RandomizedEarlyReflections example can be added in parallel to ValhallaShimmer, to add early reflections to the modulated Shimmer late decay. Or combine ÜberMod with any other reverb plugin, algorithmic or convolution, as you see fit.  The low CPU consumption of ÜberMod makes it easy to use it in conjunction with other plugins.

It is worth noting that the same process can be used in the construction of all sorts of complicated sonic events, not just reverbs. ValhallaÜberMod excels at choruses, ensembles, multitap delays, echos, and so forth. By combining different settings of ÜberMod in series and parallel, all sorts of weird and wonderful sounds can emerge. I encourage people to use ÜberMod as a modular building block for creating all sorts of complex effects.

Comments (13)

  • This is an awesome tip. The patch sounds great. Who needs Room now? (j/k – buy Room, it kicks ass also.)

    Reply
  • Chris

    Kinda interesting to see how your mind works when it comes to stuff like this. I don’t know enough about the general topology of old reverb units to even begin to think about how I could approximate them using Ubermod, but it’s cool to get an insight into your process.

    I’m still holding out for a day in the distant future when I’ll see the release of ValhallaModular and I could do the same kind of weird routing using Valhalla modules in a single, Reaktor like interface. I can’t imagine how huge of a work effort that would end up being (especially managing the UI), but God do I imagine it would be the coolest plugin ever.

    Reply
  • fran_ky

    Highly appreciated and very inspiring!
    Thanks

    Reply
  • klemperer85

    As the northern winds came, I found this tip (er^^). A really great read, even if I understand about as much about the general pros and cons of old reverb units as Chris above. Highly inspiring!
    I’ll try out how many ubermods and rooms and even shimmers (if that doesn’t blur things too much then) will work on my old 2008 laptop. Maybe enough to get some fine result.

    Reply
  • pete

    Amazing. Thanks for sharing concept and the presets to get started with!

    Reply
  • Jo

    What, there’s a 1.01 version out? Where’s the link?

    Reply
  • UberMod mini-review and guitar preset examples:
    http://igneousflame.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/valhalla-ubermod-mini-review/
    A fantastic plug-in !

    Reply
  • Sam

    These reverbs sound really beautiful but the quotes are wrong. I fixed it:

    I really like how Sean shares this kind of deep knowledge about how to make a really beautiful reverb. Posting how to make a reverberant field at this level of detail is just about posting the full source code to a beautiful sounding reverb.

    Reply
  • Sam

    Here they are fixed for real:

    <ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion=”1.0.1″
    presetName=”RandomizedEarlyReflections” Mix=”1″ Depth=”1″ StereoWidth=”0.5″ Delay=”0.0476999991″ Feedback=”0″ Spread=”1″ Slope=”0.643999994″ Skew=”0.175999999″ Random=”1″ TapGain=”0.5″ Diffusion=”0.624000013″ DiffSize=”0.0163265299″ DiffModRate=”0.0490490496″ DiffModDepth=”0.5″ LowCut=”0.0351758786″ HighCut=”0.232160807″ SpatialXover=”0.145728648″ DetuneRate=”0.00900900923″ DetuneDepth=”0.851999998″ VibratoRate=”0.298245579″ VibratoDepth=”0″ OverMod=”0.0313131325″ DriveInGain=”0.375″ DriveOutGain=”0.75″ DriveNoiseGain=”0.333333343″ FeedbackRotate=”0.5″ SmoothingTime=”0.0990990996″ ColorMode=”1″ DelaySync=”0″ type=”0.333333343″ DiffEnable=”1″ Drive=”0″ DrivePrePost=”1″ Speed=”0″ InputPan=”0.125″/>

    Reply
  • Sam

    WordPress screws up the quotes, so let’s use the HTML entities to try and bypass that:

    <ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion="1.0.1"
    presetName="RandomizedEarlyReflections" Mix="1" Depth="1" StereoWidth="0.5" Delay="0.0476999991" Feedback="0" Spread="1" Slope="0.643999994" Skew="0.175999999" Random="1" TapGain="0.5" Diffusion="0.624000013" DiffSize="0.0163265299" DiffModRate="0.0490490496" DiffModDepth="0.5" LowCut="0.0351758786" HighCut="0.232160807" SpatialXover="0.145728648" DetuneRate="0.00900900923" DetuneDepth="0.851999998" VibratoRate="0.298245579" VibratoDepth="0" OverMod="0.0313131325" DriveInGain="0.375" DriveOutGain="0.75" DriveNoiseGain="0.333333343" FeedbackRotate="0.5" SmoothingTime="0.0990990996" ColorMode="1" DelaySync="0" type="0.333333343" DiffEnable="1" Drive="0" DrivePrePost="1" Speed="0" InputPan="0.125"/>

    <ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion="1.0.1" presetName="InputDiffusion" Mix="1" Depth="0.444000006" StereoWidth="0.5" Delay="0.00999999978" Feedback="0" Spread="0.5" Slope="0.5" Skew="0.5" Random="0" TapGain="0.5" Diffusion="0.703999996" DiffSize="0.0653061196" DiffModRate="0.0130130127" DiffModDepth="0.395999998" LowCut="0" HighCut="0.387939692" SpatialXover="0.145728648" DetuneRate="0.0370370373" DetuneDepth="0.5" VibratoRate="0.298245579" VibratoDepth="0" OverMod="0" DriveInGain="0.375" DriveOutGain="0.75" DriveNoiseGain="0.333333343" FeedbackRotate="1" SmoothingTime="0.0990990996" ColorMode="0" DelaySync="0" type="0.0416666679" DiffEnable="1" Drive="0" DrivePrePost="1" Speed="0" InputPan="0.125"/>

    <ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion="1.0.1" presetName="MediumLateReverb" Mix="1" Depth="0.5" StereoWidth="0.5" Delay="0.00999999978" Feedback="0.612999976" Spread="0.5" Slope="0.5" Skew="0.5" Random="0" TapGain="0.5" Diffusion="0.748000026" DiffSize="0.240816325" DiffModRate="0.0290290285" DiffModDepth="0.5" LowCut="0.0954773873" HighCut="0.288442224" SpatialXover="0.145728648" DetuneRate="0.0490490496" DetuneDepth="0.5" VibratoRate="0.298245579" VibratoDepth="0" OverMod="0" DriveInGain="0.375" DriveOutGain="0.75" DriveNoiseGain="0.333333343" FeedbackRotate="1" SmoothingTime="0.0990990996" ColorMode="0" DelaySync="0" type="0.0416666679" DiffEnable="1" Drive="0" DrivePrePost="1" Speed="0" InputPan="0.125"/>

    <ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion="1.0.1" presetName="ShapeSpread" Mix="1" Depth="0.444000006" StereoWidth="0.5" Delay="0.342900008" Feedback="0" Spread="1" Slope="0" Skew="1" Random="1" TapGain="0.5" Diffusion="0.791999996" DiffSize="0.134693876" DiffModRate="0.0130130127" DiffModDepth="0.395999998" LowCut="0" HighCut="0.975879371" SpatialXover="0.145728648" DetuneRate="0.0370370373" DetuneDepth="0.5" VibratoRate="0.298245579" VibratoDepth="0" OverMod="0" DriveInGain="0.375" DriveOutGain="0.75" DriveNoiseGain="0.333333343" FeedbackRotate="1" SmoothingTime="0.0990990996" ColorMode="0" DelaySync="0" type="0.375" DiffEnable="1" Drive="0" DrivePrePost="1" Speed="0" InputPan="0.125"/>

    <ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion="1.0.1" presetName="BigLateReverb" Mix="1" Depth="0.760999978" StereoWidth="0.5" Delay="0.00999999978" Feedback="0.768000007" Spread="0.5" Slope="0.5" Skew="0.5" Random="0" TapGain="0.5" Diffusion="0.843999982" DiffSize="0.448979586" DiffModRate="0.0730730742" DiffModDepth="0.495999992" LowCut="0.0502512567" HighCut="0.340703517" SpatialXover="0.145728648" DetuneRate="0.033033032" DetuneDepth="0.5" VibratoRate="0.298245579" VibratoDepth="0" OverMod="0" DriveInGain="0.375" DriveOutGain="0.75" DriveNoiseGain="0.333333343" FeedbackRotate="1" SmoothingTime="0.0990990996" ColorMode="0" DelaySync="0" type="0.0416666679" DiffEnable="1" Drive="0" DrivePrePost="1" Speed="1" InputPan="0.125"/>

    Reply
    • Fix mine

      Fix mine:
      ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion=”1.0.1″ presetName=”BigLateNoise” Mix=”1″ Depth=”1″ StereoWidth=”1″ Delay=”0.00999999978″ Feedback=”1″ Spread=”0.5″ Slope=”0.5″ Skew=”0.5″ Random=”0″ TapGain=”0.5″ Diffusion=”0.843999982″ DiffSize=”0.448979586″ DiffModRate=”0.15″ DiffModDepth=”1″ LowCut=”0.0502512567″ HighCut=”0.340703517″ SpatialXover=”0.145728648″ DetuneRate=”0.033033032″ DetuneDepth=”1″ VibratoRate=”0.298245579″ VibratoDepth=”0″ OverMod=”1″ DriveInGain=”1″ DriveOutGain=”1″ DriveNoiseGain=”0.333333343″ FeedbackRotate=”1″ SmoothingTime=”0.0990990996″ ColorMode=”0″ DelaySync=”0″ type=”0.375″ DiffEnable=”1″ Drive=”1″ DrivePrePost=”1″ Speed=”1″ InputPan=”0.125″

    • Fix mine

      Actually:
      ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion=”1.0.1″ presetName=”BigLateNoise” Mix=”1″ Depth=”1″ StereoWidth=”1″ Delay=”0.00999999978″ Feedback=”1″ Spread=”0.5″ Slope=”0.5″ Skew=”0.5″ Random=”0″ TapGain=”0.5″ Diffusion=”0.843999982″ DiffSize=”0.448979586″ DiffModRate=”0.15″ DiffModDepth=”1″ LowCut=”0.0502512567″ HighCut=”0.340703517″ SpatialXover=”0.145728648″ DetuneRate=”1″ DetuneDepth=”1″ VibratoRate=”0.298245579″ VibratoDepth=”0″ OverMod=”1″ DriveInGain=”1″ DriveOutGain=”1″ DriveNoiseGain=”0.333333343″ FeedbackRotate=”1″ SmoothingTime=”0.0990990996″ ColorMode=”0″ DelaySync=”0″ type=”0.375″ DiffEnable=”1″ Drive=”1″ DrivePrePost=”1″ Speed=”1″ InputPan=”0.125″/
      I just fixed the low detune rate.

  • I edit preset code!

    Fixed
    ValhallaUberMod pluginVersion=”1.0.1″ presetName=”BigLateReverbCorrupt” Mix=”1″ Depth=”1″ StereoWidth=”1″ Delay=”0.00999999978″ Feedback=”1″ Spread=”0.5″ Slope=”0.5″ Skew=”0.5″ Random=”0″ TapGain=”0.5″ Diffusion=”0.843999982″ DiffSize=”0.448979586″ DiffModRate=”0.15″ DiffModDepth=”1″ LowCut=”0.0502512567″ HighCut=”0.340703517″ SpatialXover=”0.145728648″ DetuneRate=”0.033033032″ DetuneDepth=”1″ VibratoRate=”0.298245579″ VibratoDepth=”0″ OverMod=”1″ DriveInGain=”1″ DriveOutGain=”1″ DriveNoiseGain=”0.333333343″ FeedbackRotate=”1″ SmoothingTime=”0.0990990996″ ColorMode=”0″ DelaySync=”0″ type=”0.375″ DiffEnable=”1″ Drive=”1″ DrivePrePost=”1″ Speed=”1″ InputPan=”0.125″

    Add the “” to the end.

    Reply

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