Much to everyone’s delight, Variety of Sound has been on a roll with updated releases and has now released epicPLATE mkII, a FREE classic plate reverb plugin for Windows.
Earlier this month, we covered NastyDLA mkIII, a plugin that might be one of the best free delays around for Windows users.
This time, we have epicPLATE mkII, a plugin that offers a modern recreation of classic plate reverb.
We first covered epicPLATE in early 2022, when it was released as a successor to the discontinued epicVerb. By all accounts, users seemed to love the first version of epicPLATE, which we’ve come to expect from any Variety of Sound plugin.
So, what’s new in epicPLATE mkII?
Thankfully, not too much, nothing that changes the character of the plugin, at least. Rather than significant changes, epicPLATE mkII brings some important upgrades, including VST3 support and higher-quality processing.
The new release also sports an upgraded interface with a sleeker, modern look. To be fair, the previous interface was fine; the new one is just much sharper, which should enhance the user experience.
The controls remain almost entirely the same, albeit in slightly different positions.
The interface starts with the Pre-Delay and Decay knobs right above the filter controls. One slight departure from the previous format is that you now get dedicated high-pass and low-pass filter knobs instead of the single knob from version one.
Next, we have a Width control, Dry/Wet mix, and Quality, Gate, and Color switches.
The Gate switch is an instant 80s hit that should be called Phil Collins Mode. I was about to say Genesis Mode, but that sounds too much like something that might be futuristic and cool.
All joking aside, the gated reverb effect is pretty cool, and despite being such an 80s icon, it’s still uber-slick in the correct use.
The Color switch lets you toggle between Bright and Dark modes. Plate reverb generally sounds bright, making it an ideal way to add brightness without becoming harsh.
epicPLATE mkII allows you to go a little darker while maintaining other typical characteristics of a classic plate reverb.
Previous users will be glad to see the Drive knob has gone nowhere, as it was a defining feature of the original plugin.
Plate reverb sounds awesome on many things because it has a distinctive character that’s more than simply adding space. Whether you throw it on some vocals, your snare, or something more creative, epicPLATE mkII is an excellent reverb and a must-have freebie.
epicPLATE mkII is available in 32/64-bit VST2 and VST3 formats for Windows.
Download: epicPLATE mkII (FREE)
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