Empress Reverb - Best Reverb Pedal Ever? In depth, high quality tests.
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- čas přidán 13. 09. 2024
- Today we look at what I believe to be, by far, the best reverb pedal in existence, and show you why I believe it. Includes guitar, percussive instrument, and synth tests along with a breakdown of every algorithm.
![Ideas For Using Reverb On Guitar In Your Band [Spring, Swell, Plate, Hall, Room & More]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/z6d51-oEIEg/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm empressed
Get out
😂
This fucking guy
(Forced laughter) HA HA HA HA!
I came here for this comment
The transient test @ 13:05 is unbelievable. No grainy, metallic artifacts. Just sheer enormity. WOW.
I own this and 100% agree with everything. Best Reverb pedal I’ve ever heard, and it might be the best pedal I’ve ever bought. It makes synths sound like a million currency units
😂
I am crediting this video for my newly purchased Empress Reverb. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I'm confident I'm going to be very happy with this reverb pedal.
This thing sounds gorgeous, definitely had me sold on it until I saw the price. Just can't drop half a grand on reverb....yet. Great video as usual.
If you drop a grand on a guitar on musicians friend this lowers to $300 if you wait a month :) the points system is awesome
@@spawn302 I think because having seen so many synths and eurorack stuff and pedals go for really high prices and sometimes they aren't as powerful as some more affordable options, comparatively this isnt that overpriced for the way it sounds which is super open cave like reverb
I’ve learned to invest in the good stuff. The cheaper options just aren’t as flexible or inspiring, in my opinion. This price is really decent for what it can do and how it sounds.
Me…..no way will I spend $500 on a reverb-but this is pure beauty-warm, natural and organic-I’m imagining all the sounds, textures I could create and experience with it on my Crave, Pro-1-TD-3, Maton guitar, vocals-and the joy and inspiration that will follow! An hour ago I was going to settle for a Digitech polara and a couple of Valhalla reverbs. Would have cost me $300. While sounding very good the Empress is just cascading through my body on another level vibrationally and spiritually. I’m planning to be with one with GOD so pulling the trigger on the Empress😆😀
synth starts at 13:37
@Godzilla Hårddisksson I figure it was as well.....sounded awful. But then again I have a Volca FM too and regard it is a toy but it can do a few nice bass tones. He should have put it through an analogue mono synth with a decent filter for harmonic content and snappy envelopes to hear a bass pluck with a spring reverb emulation followed by a long attack and release with a shimmer or hall with long decay.
Thank you!
So many videos on this pedal on youtube don't do it justice. But your video on the empress reverb is the video making me consider actually buying it. Thank you😍
You just sold me on the Empress. My wife thanks you and so does my wallet
Thanks so much for this video. It's a great recommendation, but also helped answer the 'what to listen for' portion of my previous question. Keep these videos coming! They are immensely useful.
Most thorough video of reverb I've seen. At 11:40 there's the "do or die" test right there. You should make a comparison video with that thumb piano, on the Strymon, Eventide, and BOSS RV-500 as well. That sharp transient is were the distinguishing the cream of the crop lies. No artificats, no "ray tracing delays" or severe modulations going on, but just as straight and clear, with no graininess or "krkrkrdrdrdrdrdr" artifacts reverb. Now for guitar, you don't need that much detail perhaps, just a plate or spring will do, but for synths, vocals and percussion such things are crucial. Anyway, if it can take those peaks and "reverb" them properly, it fits on ANY instrument, and guitars too.
Yep. You're right. That modulation preset is just jaw-dropping. Entire tracks based off that. :O
I am tempted to go ahead and try to like every single video as a thank you to making this channel !
I started making records in early 1970s. At that time in recording history, a studio would spend house money if they wanted the studio’s sound to stand out, to earn them top clients. No rack mount box existed. Building two stereo chambers, installing two EMT plates was $100k and many did so. Singers would cross the ocean to record in your room so, it was worth it. The first electronic reverb was the $25k EMT250, and you had to get a tune up for your air conditioning. After EMT’s several groundbreaking units, we could finally see that a big change was coming. This 14 year old guitar pedal is the apotheosis of that change. To this day, people rent the Lexicon 480, a hundred pound flight case that they know will give them what’s needed.
The bottom line, I guess, is this all is how important reverb was and is to music.
Yes, but I find as a plugin the small company PSP in Poland has released an EMT approved reverb, PSP2445, which has only 4 seconds of reverb, some early reflection settings, and a predelay knob that stops at 80 ms. Frankly this small and under-the-radar company has produced one of the best plates sim out there. I use it all of the time and my go to reverb for almost everything, in stereo. It isn't pricey either, and sparse GUI. It does ONLY plate. And ONLY EMT plate. That one in a small pedal at decent price would do my day. And the real EMT didn't have much over 4-5 seconds reverb decay either. No modulation and no "krrr" trails.
@@henkehakansson2004 Thanks for your review of the PSP plate. I’ve been impressed by some of their plug-ins and tend to favor small businesses when possible. I very much appreciate your input.
OMG, finally somebody who like reverb as much as me. Subscribed.
Well, now I need to find a Lexicon PCM vs Empress shootout.
Hey Ben, thanks again for another great video! So after having this for the past five years, is it still your favorite reverb pedal?
Check out his review of the Ventris. In short, yes, though I chose to buy the Ventris for the dual reverb.
I pulled the trigger on this pedal and I'm most pleased with how it sounds as a stereo effects processor for an entire mix - it can generate lots of usable and inspirational textures! Based on this video, I knew it was going to be good, but it far exceeded my expectations. The price tag seems steep at first, but after using it on everything in my studio I can confirm it was worth the plunge.
Can you do a review about the new reverb "sounds" that were added with all kinds of firmware updates? Did they fix what you didn't like before, like the sparkle?
Empress is a very special reverb. The high density in the near field is similar to real chambers and EMT plates and curiously absent in many other verbs. In modern verbs, Lexicon hardware 224 and 480 and Waves H-verb are notable exceptions and I find myself going back to them all the time. That characteristic helps a vocal stand out clearly from other long tail verbs.
If you listen to 40s and 50s Sinatra recordings, which of course were live in the studio, you’ll hear that because real chambers and plates with no predelay were the only reverb available. A really good singer can use that instant flood of sound like an accompanist and I’ll never tire of that trick.
I finally got mine and agree with you 100%. I thought at first I would be intimidated by the controls and want a screen of some sort. My experience last night was totally the opposite. Everything makes perfect sense. I lost track of time playing with all the settings until 2am. Empress could totally ask a higher price for this if they wanted.
Love all your reviews man.
I'm going to pick one of these up soon and I haven't found much on midi control, aside from the manual.
I intend to use my beat step pro to sequence and trigger effects on this thing.
Loopop did a great video on using CV for expression on effects pedals, and I've been doing that with my MF delay for electronic stuff and it has really changed my sound.
Wish you could make a video on that, I think you'd come up with something really worth while.
Anyway, figured it was worth mentioning. Thank you so much for all the information and education.
I just bought this pedal because of this review. Thank you for this video! This is the best reverb I ever heard, so pure and beautiful.
Great video, really good production quality. Wishing you a lot of success with the channel. Subscribed.
Damn dood! Not only did this sound super magical and smooth but the design is super clean looking and it's just surprising that this isnt some hippie expensive nonsense gear, I would say this is actually well priced for what it excels at doing
stuck around till the end & was surprised with your verdict.
Great demo!
So how does this compare to the other big boi reverbs: BigSky, NiggtSky, Eventide Space, Ventris, GFI, Mercury7, Neunaber, Boss RV-500...? How do you figure the Empress is so much better?
Reverb is my favorite effect and I’ve been keeping an eye out for the perfect pedal. This one stood out to me immediately and I purchased it the same day I discovered it online. The reverb is very lush, plus the extra effects like, chorus, flange, delay, modulation, granules makes it a diverse box. Golden reverberator has been on my radar too, it has a great tone.
Honestly I can’t stand the Big Sky. It sounds so washed out and muddy rather than retaining the tone of the notes you play like the presented pedal.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard the Empress. A stomp box with better reverb than my tc M5000, which was my reference reverb at the time.
Thank you @Benn Jordan for doing this review. Super helpful & honest. I am curious how deep & customizable the SD card algorithm/firmware updates are.. like, can I just change certain things, leave others as is? Also wondering about the midi functionality, do we really need the Empress Midi Box? I'll look into this further. This unit seems worth digging in for.
I was lucky enough to find one of these locally and man, I couldn't be happier. The tones are lush, organic, and atmospheric. I love that it has some really useful tweaks you can find on pedals like the Afterneath or Slo, but mostly just love how good the *key* reverb tones are. Best pedal on my board.
I just ordered one of these today and I can't say how incredibly excited I am. I'm using a Joyo Space Verb combined with the onboard reverb on my AC-15, which is okay for the soupy ambient stuff, but the quality of the Empress is beyond gorgeous.
Very very impressive! I too am a reverb lover, and was leaning to the Eventide Space. Your demo has really made me re-think this. The Empress is just an incredible sounding pedal. Thanks for sharing!
So, did you finally go for the Empress?
I can’t remember if it was before or after I’d bought the used MXR Reverb pedal. The MXR does not have the ethereal sounds to use in a movie soundtrack or abstract rock album, but does excel at creating several great reverbs for the songs I write. Jaw dropping hall for an intro, plate for even, not over the top jams, studio reverb, slapback, and an absolutely wonderful chorus / synth like effect that takes clean guitar to the stratosphere. $100 used and polished up my sound immensely. But, still thinking of an AB pedal and a second reverb, such as the Empress or Strymon Big Sky. Creatively, those two are on a completely different level, but around $500.
Very well made video, congrats! So well made that you became my main source for good reverbs. I'd like to see some comparison with VSTs, or between them, what's the best reverb you know that's worth the price, or the best cheap reverb. That modulation preset on the Empress is mindblowing.
Please compare this to the Specular Tempus, or just a straight up review of the Tempus would be great. Thanks!
Dammit, I've been on the fence for this pedal for so long and now I think you've sealed the deal Benn :)
You kind of breezed past how it completely outclasses the eventide space... I would be curious as to a more in-depth explanation of this? Is this just a subjective assessment, eg "it sounds better/I like it better" or is there some technical aspect in which the reverb algorithms outperform the eventide?
I have the empress reverb and love it so much!! Do you have any experience with the Kilpatrick Redox? Thoughts?
Hey Benn. If u could only choose one, which one would u choose between the Empress Reverb or the GFI Specular Tempus? I really can't decide between the 2
Thanks for posting! I recently got the Echosystem and love it. What do you think of the Ventris Dual Reverb that just came out? Have you compared it with the Empress?
Dude… The Casper is my favorite algorithm. If you put the decay to high it will start feeding back. But thing two also has a really great stutter delay thing that it does that adds a nice texture. I think you should spend some more time with it
OK is this just for acoustic guitar or what? What are some high quality reverbs that have all the different types of reverbs, plate, spring, hall, room, cathedral,shimmer, and do them all very well? Can you post up some about that? What goes real well with a Fender Stratocaster and classic Fender or Marshall tube amps, like a Twin or 1965 Bassman, or Marshall combo, etc?
empress makes amazing stuff, i switch from Keeley compressor to empress and just wow , i love how indepth your review is , makes u something different and alot more sci vs just oh this sounds pretty
I just bought one of these because theyre your favorite.
Incredible sounds, Benn!
I've been wondering, is there a digital, vst equivalent with such algorithm? The closest I could get was with the vallhalla shimmer. (But it sounded like the spark, not the modulation algorithm) Convolution reverbs are quite fun too but require a good impact sample, so it's rather useful for experimental sound fusion.
Subs. Finally found a video playing with an acoustic guitar. Thanks for doing this. Awesome))
I'm waiting for stock to come in on this, I've been crushing on it hard for over a year now but I'm going to pull the trigger as soon as they arrive.
I can see why people like the Big Sky, Boss and Eventide but for me they are too complex, it feels like Empress put time into making a few genuinely natural sounding reverbs with some 'out there' options thrown in, as opposed to trying to give you every crazy sound under the sun with a thousand parameters to change.
It's just my opinion but this pedal seems like the perfect mix of keeping it simple and quality over quantity.
Totally sold.
eventide space still does everything for me though the thought of ditching menus for something like this entices me.
Absolutely great video. I’m sold
Hey Benn, great video. Definitely on my list now. I was wondering if you have reverb plugins you recommend as well. Would love to see a video on your fav plugin and how it compares. Cheers.
thanks for great videos. Always on point and honest.
I am looking for few pedals to add to my synth setup + Digitakt as main drum and be able to use it for live and studio. Empress reverb absolutely a great choice. What else would you recommend? Would you suggest any multi effects unit?
Thanks Ben
Modulation and ghost were fantastic.
Actually one pretty cool video would be how to “synthesize” reverb. I would very like to understand why anything sounds so great through reverb, even ;)
Great demo
Hey awesome demo! I'd reallly like to see you review the EarthQuaker Transmisser Reverb! Also love to see your impression of the Chase Bliss Tonal Recall Red Knob Mod Delay. Keep up the good work!!
Are you still a big fan of the empress? Just ordered one as well as an echosystem to go on a Quantum. Still searching for a Specular Reverb v3 too.
Do you like reverb?
2 words: Meris Mercuryseven. Love the channel! Something about granular synthesis could be awesome! Greetings from Argentina!
Excellent review...What are the notes you play on the modulation reverb section. It seems like you are striking two notes at once. Ive heard you use that combination of notes in another piece you did. Well its beautiful sounding and I want to play those notes and run out and buy the Empress reverb pedal ASAP! Can you share your secret notes? Love your channel, keep up the good work!
loooove your videos. thanks! years on, is the Empress still one of your favorites? have you tried the Gamechanger Light Pedal? curious on your thoughts on that one.
I owned one of these for about 3 months before selling it out of frustration. 2 big problems with this pedal. 1) the mix slope was out of whack, so it was impossible to dial in subtle reverb sounds. It would go from zero to what I would consider a 3 or 4 instantly. If you like super wet reverb all the time I guess this would work for you. 2) the spring reverb... didn't sound like a spring. totally useless.
Great feedback actually, something missing in a lot of reviews lusting to maximise the effect
did the probs with mix knob have been resolved?
Would you say this was an ambient style of reverb?
What is that cool Brown string box Called ?
Nice intro of the reverbs😊
I worked the last two days for one of these pedals. No regrets.
Souvlaki space station. Am i right?
Sugar for the Pill
Your cigarette still burns... your messed up world still thrills me....
Thanks for nice video! Considering this pedal or the h9 max, use with synths. Cant decide, both seem exellent.
hard choice...... the h9 will be more versatile tho....... but both do give great reverb
Awesome video! I was thinking about buying the EchoSystem from Empress sometime in the next few months myself. Have you messed around with one of those yet?
This was so great! Would you ever do a video on building a spring reverb unit?
I hadn't even watched this video before I requested the stream on designing reverbs with all pass filters. Now I am even more sanguine!
Ry X sounding. Beautiful reverb.
My reference point remains the lexicon pcm81. Does this approximate those reverbs well?
Man, your guitar playing is really quite beautiful.
This vs Oto Bam ? Anybody have experience with both?
Can we hear this on the Mother-32? :D
Awesome video, whats your favorite delay pedal?
Very nice to see and hear this video, and also your opinion on this reverb. I'm glad to have a review of a magnificent reverb that is not the Blue/Big Sky ofStrymond or the Eventide Space.. Have you tried them? How would you compare them?
OK, I watched the end of the video, and you won't answer my question. That's cool!
To some people reverb is just reverb. I can't understand that. To me, reverb is one of the most important things in music production. It's the space the music exists in. And there's such a huge difference between reverbs - even those of the same type (f.e. plates) and at similar size/decay settings.
Some reverbs are great for drums, but horrible for synths - and vice versa. And some are good for voice, but not for other stuff.
I'd love to see you do a review of the Source Audio Dual Reverb! In my opinion it has the potential to best even this!
Hey Been. Empress? Yeah, Baby! My suggestion, given how WELL you got on with NYMPHES, I’d love to see what you could do with TYPHON.
I don’t yet own a Typhon (I may by the end of the day), but…IMHO…it might be the answer to the question, “Why on earth would I need another Monosynth??”
Is there any way you can tell me the notes that you just picked from 43 seconds on in that sequence of notes that was incredible really happy I found your channel mate you do awesome reviews and this is a pedal am going to be purchasing in the same coming months thank you so much!
Wow. The kalimba sounds amazing. I need that reverb !
excelent! i will try to get it in the future. What is your opinion about the bitquest reverb? thanks!
I'd love to see/hear you review the OTO Bam reverb - it's one of those mythical machines that somehow doesn't have (m)any proper reviews out.
That 'gated reverb' preset is probably meant for drums more than guitars, something with a tight, short envelope and fast decay/release, so the gate closes quickly after the note hits. Guitar notes have long, slow tails and that's gonna produce awkward, unpredictable timings based on when that tail falls below the gate threshold.
Loving these videos! Any reverb plugins you'd recommend that give a similar sound to the first "modulation" algo?
Absolutely. I plan to do a piece on a few that stand out.
Nice Video! I made a video with the BlueSky compared with the Empress Reverb myself. Love these pedals.
4:20 hmmmmm I love ambient sounds ☺️
Does a cheaper effect do the same ? Does the Strymon bluesky is capable of that?
The Empress sounds a lot like a basement in China. It was cement, about 100’ x 75’ x 9’. I had the pleasure of playing music in that cool place for a few minutes before being ushered out. The reverb was dark and lasted the longest I’ve ever heard in an acoustic space. Maybe it’s time I buy this pedal.
Thank you for doing this video. I own it and this helped me understand it a bit more. Does it have a cab simulator? If so, i wonder how it sounds?
Yes it has a cab sim... 3 different algorithms: Bright 4x12 cab, Dark vintage cab, Balanced modern cab. All sound pretty passable.
They need release this with a digital menu…. Saving and recalling presets looks like torture
I wish Ben would do more reverb demos/reviews Like the new NeuNaber Illumine etc...
Excellent review ... this might be the first digital reverb I buy ... like it better than the Big Sky fo sho
Is it possible you can make another video with the same empress reberb padel with just synth like the volca fm. By the way great video .. thank you.
Thoughts on Source Audio Ventris Dual Reverb? Mostly interested how it compares to the Empress since this is your favorite reverb pedal ever.
Never knew much about the Empress but I've got to say that it sounds quite lush.
How do you think the Empress stacks up against the Erbeverb?
Cheers for putting these videos up.
I wouldn't compare the 2. The Erbe is a very unique reverb, more of a "metal tank" sound that is highly manipulable in a modular environment. If you used the Erbe for an "infinite hall" ambient sound, you'd just get a bunch of feedback.
Hello Benn, my name is Damian, I'd love to hear your opinion of the "Source Audio Ventris Dual Reverb" I have just listened to it and think it is magnificent.
Same here. I'm stuck between the two.
Have you ever tried Ventris Audio Reverb? I can't decide between Empress and Ventris
Would you consider using a pedal like this as one might a studio reverb unit, ie. used on an effects send/return for mixing etc? Presumably it's unbalanced but that's no big issue.
not considering price or gimmicks, just the reverb alone, which sounds better, the Empress or the CXM 1978?
sure makes the volca sound good,. wonder what it could do to my stuff,.
Love the review and how they're conducted in general. The only thing the Empress Reverb lacks imo is MIDI, unless there's another way to external trigger presets
empresseffects.com/products/midibox
@@kzm4275 discontinued
Awesome video, is this an electric guitar amp? If not, how would an electric guitar amp work for making these kinds of sounds?
Does anyone know what kind of amp to use to get this kind of sound?
Hello! Would you guys recommend this reverb over a complete mix to glue it together? So far I reeeally like the general character of this one.
Some info:
I currently make modular synth compositions, recording 1 track at a time. Love using intense analog waveforms, but there could be added bellike/ organic stuff also. And fieldrecordings. Searching for "the right sound". Thinking of using 2 tape compression pedals for "asymmetrical" and stereo stuff after the mix, and a subtle stereo reverb with good character.