[ CLICK HERE TO VIEW A PRINTABLE VERSION ]
SPIRIT REVERB USER MANUAL
Overview
Spirit Reverb simulates vintage spring reverbs and can push the boundaries into exaggerated and unusual effects. It is a highly adjustable system, but one that requires some key concepts to understand fully. Going into the advanced customization options isn't required, you can get many sounds right out of the box. You should start any preset by selecting the desired template from the menu and adjusting from there, saving you the hassle of finding the right parameters for a particular reverb type.
Templates: All Settings (Template Menu)
Picking one of these will select a reverb type and set the suggested parameters, so big spring will give you the tone of a long spring reverb unit, and the longer reverb timing that comes with it. Setting the Reverb Type without selecting a template is fine, but it does not effect the timing or any other settings.
Type (Reverb Type Menu)
As stated, selecting a reverb type changes the Classic Spring, Bright Spring, Exaggerated, and Low Exaggerated are all different spring reverb types, each is good for different things. Echoing, Cosmic, and Digital are special reverb effects that can use the same controls the spring reverb to make some unique effects. They all use the same knobs except Digital, see below in the reverb control section for the digital only controls.
Reverb, EQ, and Preamp
The switches that say Reverb Active, EQ Active, and Preamp Active, will completely enable or disable those controls and effects, so you can get pure tube preamp simulation for example without needing reverb or EQ to be affecting the sound.
Reverb Controls
Feedback
To adjust how long a reverb lasts, adjust the feedback control, but not too high, spring reverbs are best when not at extreme settings.
Pre-Delay
Spring reverb types have a natural pre-delay built in, so it is default to set the Pre-Delay knob to 0. Otherwise it will add to the existing pre delay.
HF-Damping (High Frequency Damping)
This knob lowers the high frequencies when combined with feedback. Setting it to very low levels is normal.
Depth
Some spring reverbs are more airy or "reverby", and that effect can be adjusted with this knob, half way is a good balance.
Stereo Width
You can adjust a multi-spring reverb from mono to a stereo sound, see the mono/stereo section below to understand the stereo effects.
Digital Reverb Controls
These controls only show when you have selected a digital reverb type.
Modulation
How much digital modulation is applied, setting it in the middle is recommended.
Reverb Length
This adjusts how long the reverb tail is, but in a different way than Feedback. For digital reverb, Feedback will be more echoing than Reverb Length, so setting Feedback to 0 is normal.
Audio Mono / Stereo Controls
The menu has 3 settings, Mono, Stereo, and Mono to Stereo. Mono and Stereo pass a mono or stereo signal normally. In the mode Mono to Stereo, spring 1 is sent to the left channel, spring 2 is sent to the right channel, and spring 3 is mixed into both as the center channel. The Stereo Width knob can adjust the stereo spread amount. Even if Stereo Width is set to 0 it will still pass a stereo signal.
About Spring Reverb
A spring reverb device, whether part of an amplifier or a stand alone unit, has a spring reverb tank as it's core component. Leaving aside the details, the reverb tank is a metal box with springs inside. The device will vibrate one end of the spring, then pick up the vibrations on the other end. The effect often seems like a combination of delay and reverb. The frequency effects it causes, often called drip or chirp, are the thing that makes spring reverb so unique. Let's imagine a tank with 3 springs in it. The springs will visibly be a little different, because they have different time values, different speeds at which vibrations get all the way across. These delay times are shown in the interface under springs / Spring Time.
Spring Controls
Spring Time
There are 3 boxes corresponding to the 3 springs. They represent the echo length of each spring in milliseconds. Click a box to highlight it and enter the amount you desire. You can also drag on the arrows next to the box to raise or lower the number.
Templates: Spring Time
There are a few standard timings, and almost all spring reverbs use on of them, you can choose one from this menu to quickly set the spring timing.
Spring Active
You can set it to to use 1, 2, or 3, springs with these switches. Note that with 2 springs you probably want to use the outer two, and with one spring the center one.
Preamp Controls
Amp Gain
This will drive the tubes harder, distortion depends on the gain and the volume coming into the preamp.
Volume
You can adjust the volume independently from the gain, it will not affect the distortion.
Tone
Turning tone up will result in a brighter sound and turning it down will increase the bass response.
Tone Bypass
The tone circuit never produces a flat response so to get a more flat and even tone curve bypass it with this switch.
Amp Bias
This will adjust the tube simulation to add some offset to the signal so it distorts against one of it's bounds more than the other. You may not hear much difference in the output.
Equalizer Controls
Gain
Turn gain to the right for boost and the left for cut.
Frequency
This is the most important EQ setting. In the middle is about 3000 hz, which is a common treble frequency. If you want to adjust a bass frequency set it to the left, if you want to adjust some presence or ultra high frequencies, set it farther to the right.
Width
The width of the parametric EQ band you are adjusting, only takes affect if it is in band pass mode.
Equalizer Mode
You can set the equalizer to shelf or band mode. Band creates a peak or dip in the frequency, shelf adjusts everything above or below frequency, both controlled by the frequency and gain knobs.
Input/Output
The incoming and final volumes.
Reverb Wet/Dry
The wet spring sound of the reverb is mixed with the non-reverbed signal, you can set the level of each.
Routing / MIDI Chart
MIDI CC #
Name
Range
1
In (Level)
0-127 / On/Off at min or max
2
Out
3
Dry
4
Wet
5
Pre-Delay
6
Feedback
7
Reverb HF Damp
8
Reverb Depth
9
Reverb Length
10
Stereo Width
11
EQ 1 Gain
12
EQ 1 Frequency
13
EQ 1 Width
14
EQ 1 type
15
EQ 2 Gain
16
EQ 2 Frequency
17
EQ 2 Width
18
EQ 2 Type
19
Spring 1 (On/Off)
20
Spring 2 (On/Off)
21
Spring 3 (On/Off)
22
Spring 1 Delay
23
Spring 2 Delay
24
Spring 3 Delay
25
Reverb Type
26
EQ Routing
27
Reverb Active
28
Eq Active
29
Amp Active
30
Amp Drive
31
Tone Bypas
32
Tone
33
Amp Bias
34
Amp Output