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Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 4:53 pm
by Dollywitch
I'm looking for a good verb for ambient, shoegaze but a bit stuck as to what to get.
My main options are the OBNE Dark Star & Sunlight, Walrus Audio Slo & EHX Ocean's 11. I've also been looking at some of the Matthew Effects pedals, EQD, and the HOF2.
The main feature I want outside of having big warm long tails would be some kind of Hold function. I've wanted an EHX Freeze for a long time but never been able to justify spending money for an effect I'll only use sometimes. The Sunlight has a really good one, but unfortunately i don't see myself using most of the sounds on the Sunlight(which is a shame because the base reverb sound is nice and it's visually a very cool pedal). The Dark Star I preferred for a while but the reverb effect sounds more cold and "digital" to me now. The broken pitch effect is cool but I'm not sure it's $200, it sounds more like something I'd get a VST for.
I like the vibe of the Slo but it seemed a little less exciting than the OBNE stuff at first - now I'm not so sure. Out of all the verbs it seems to have the warmest sound of them.
The HOF2 has affordability and customisability, but I'm not sure I like the base reverb sound as much. It is stereo though which most at this price point aren't. The Mash function is cool, but many of the other pedals have something similar(Sunlight particularly). Matthew Effects verbs let you switch between two with the knobs visible, which is very cool.
The main draw of the Ocean's 11 is probably it also having one of the few good spring effects available at this price point, and it's overall affordability & versatility.
I am looking for a more "effect" reverb but being able to do more usable regular reverb sounds would also be handy, I could do with a dedicated reverb box for my synths in particular. Battery operation is super useful here too as I can just throw it on with a synth without worrying about power supplies.
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 5:14 pm
by camilonava27
Dollywitch wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 4:53 pm
I'm looking for a good verb for ambient, shoegaze but a bit stuck as to what to get.
My main options are the OBNE Dark Star & Sunlight, Walrus Audio Slo & EHX Ocean's 11. I've also been looking at some of the Matthew Effects pedals, EQD, and the HOF2.
The main feature I want outside of having big warm long tails would be some kind of Hold function. I've wanted an EHX Freeze for a long time but never been able to justify spending money for an effect I'll only use sometimes. The Sunlight has a really good one, but unfortunately i don't see myself using most of the sounds on the Sunlight(which is a shame because the base reverb sound is nice and it's visually a very cool pedal). The Dark Star I preferred for a while but the reverb effect sounds more cold and "digital" to me now. The broken pitch effect is cool but I'm not sure it's $200, it sounds more like something I'd get a VST for.
I like the vibe of the Slo but it seemed a little less exciting than the OBNE stuff at first - now I'm not so sure. Out of all the verbs it seems to have the warmest sound of them.
The HOF2 has affordability and customisability, but I'm not sure I like the base reverb sound as much. It is stereo though which most at this price point aren't. The Mash function is cool, but many of the other pedals have something similar(Sunlight particularly). Matthew Effects verbs let you switch between two with the knobs visible, which is very cool.
The main draw of the Ocean's 11 is probably it also having one of the few good spring effects available at this price point, and it's overall affordability & versatility.
I am looking for a more "effect" reverb but being able to do more usable regular reverb sounds would also be handy, I could do with a dedicated reverb box for my synths in particular. Battery operation is super useful here too as I can just throw it on with a synth without worrying about power supplies.
EHX ocean’s 11 is a great pedal for that sound you’re going for, but if you have a couple extra dollars to spare, I would highly recommend the EHX Cathedral. They can be had for $150 used.
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 5:52 pm
by marqueemoon
Don’t rule out the Boss RV-6. Doesn’t have a hold function, but is expression compatible. I prefer the spacier options to the more vanilla reverbs it has, but spring, plate, etc… are there too.
The Slö looks cool, but at this point I’ve gotten pretty comfortable using a volume pedal for swells.
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 6:14 pm
by Nico
I use oceans 11. love the verbs and the trem/verb preset, you'll most likely add delays from another pedal too for spacial soaked effects anyways... I'd go for a cleaner, versatile pedal like the EHX
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 6:47 pm
by Dollywitch
i have a memory boy for delay which is very good for spacey ambient stuff. i could maybe do with a dedicated digital delay but i have an M5 and the copycat echo on my Zoom unit is actually pretty good.
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 9:33 pm
by cestlamort
Maybe the dedicated Eventide Black Hole pedal? It can do some lovely modulated reverbs and can do the freeze stuff too (based on my experience with an H9).
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:30 pm
by sal paradise
TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 has added shimmer alongside normal & modulated verbs. Plus 3 toneprint slots. The Mash thing sounds like an expression pedal attempt by the sound of it.
It’s cheap, probably bargain 2nd hand. If I went back to a board, it would be that or the Oceans 11.
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:34 am
by del
The discontinued Digitech Supernatural, from their Hardwire series, is an underrated pedal that might hit a lot of what you’re looking for. It was very much designed for ambient music and has lots of options for a small footprint, four knob pedal. And it’s easily available used n reverb or other online marketplaces.
https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/revi ... dal-review
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 6:24 am
by lastactionhero12765
You'd have to look on the used market, but both the Walrus Mako R1 & Shift Line Astronaut III would be up your alley! Both have multiple, spacey reverb algorithms that sound wonderful alongside solid-to-fantastic sounding "base" algorithms as well as the ability to hold/freeze reverbs. These are both at the higher end of the price range (and the R1 typically goes for a little over $200, though I've seen it sell in the high-$100 range) but you get quite a bit.
That said, I don't think you can go wrong with the Ocean's 11. I've only putzed around with it briefly but it is certainly a workhorse!
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 1:07 pm
by Dollywitch
Isn't the Polara very similar to the older Digitech verb?
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 10:55 pm
by thenewromance
Dollywitch wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 1:07 pm
Isn't the Polara very similar to the older Digitech verb?
It is. I believe they share several algorithms. Its upside is that it has ambient verbs, but also great classic sounds like spring and plate. On the downside, there's no extra functions like hold or the like.
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2022 5:33 am
by ManFromMars
Zoom MS-70CDR is a great multi-effect with several good reverb options. Blackhole, Particle, Modulated, Shimmer, and Reverse models as well as more standard reverbs. No "hold" mode, but you can get very long decay times.
Will second the Eventide Black Hole suggestion. With a little patience you could probably find a used one in your budget.
Best budget verb would probably be the Joyo Atmosphere, but again, no Hold function.
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:34 am
by s_mcsleazy
mr black supermoon is still the one i'd go for.
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2022 8:42 am
by N0_Camping4U
Check out Catlin bread adineko too. It's different, but has some cool features.
Re: Ambient verbs under $200?
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 9:00 am
by Shadoweclipse13
N0_Camping4U wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 8:42 am
Check out Catlin bread adineko too. It's different, but has some cool features.
OBNE Black Fountain or the now-discontinued EQD Space Spiral are also both based on the old oil-can delays and sound phenomenal. I tried both and prefer the Space Spiral, but both are awesome.