Craft Your Ideal Vintage Spring Reverb
Add some vintage spring to your tracks with the Spring-636 Reverb plug-in from Arturia. Channeling effects originally made famous by the Grampian 636 unit of the '50s and '60s, Arturia has leveraged their TAE and Phi modeling technologies to re-create and expand upon that authentic “boing” that has become so iconic. Driven by the classic crunch of a Germanium transistor, you’ll dig into a wonderland of springiness, thanks to Mic and Aux Mega Ohm preamp inputs. Mix in your desired decay lengths and mono/stereo balance, then use the Blend control to tap into just the right amount of wet/dry signal for your input and output. The possibilities truly become endless once you start utilizing the Arturia Advanced Panel below the 636 unit, where you have free reign over pre-delay time, equalization, pre-filter mode controls, and individual spring tanks. And that’s before you even get into the comprehensive list of stellar presets! Take it from our vintage gearheads here at Sweetwater: this Arturia plug-in is big bang for your buck!
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The heart of a real vintage 636
Arturia didn’t just overload this plug-in with spring reverb, they took the time to do it right. The company employed their patented TAE and Phi modeling to emulate the original spring of the Grampian with astounding precision and character. Starting from the top of the unit, you’ll find a Power switch to bypass the plug-in altogether. Beside it sits the Germanium-powered dual preamp input setup, featuring a mic preamp delivering a hotter, harsher, and crunchier appeal. The Aux Mega Ohm preamp sounds just as groovy, but with a cleaner, more reserved spring for when you want a more dialed back sound. Use the Input knob to increase or decrease each preamp’s intensity and find the perfect gain level for your ideal spring reverb sound.
Moving on down the line, an array of knobs let you adjust the effects of your chosen spring with impressive depth. Lengthen the decay of the spring for a grander fade, and then customize your stereo balance — you even have the option to go full mono for a truly old-school effect! The final control on the 636 itself lets you blend your wet and dry signal ratio, with an additional Output level knob that can be conveniently linked to your Input gain via the microswitch just beside it.
Advanced Panel: get as specific as you want
By simply dropping down the resizable window, you’ll instantly gain access to Arturia’s intuitive Advanced Panel. Here, the sound shaping really begins! Starting from the left side, a digital meter reads back your selected pre-delay time that can be lengthened all the way up to 250 milliseconds. And whether you’re after a tamed and simple sound, or you are looking to get a little more adventurous, the Pre-Filter panel houses nine different modes that can all be varied by your desired level of cutoff and resonance.
Your next job is to narrow down which vibe you’re going for with your spring via the spring tank. This is arguably one of the more telling choices for your sound, and it can also be a great place to begin before you even start sound shaping. Choose from eight spring tanks, each individually equipped with different spring effects. Go for the Original, Alternate, and Vintage settings if you really want to channel the classic 636, or get a little more experimental with the Space Echo and multiple spring number options. And once you’ve established the spring reverb that fits your mood, you can use the post-equalizer to adjust your spring’s high- and low-shelf cutoffs.
Use presets to channel your favorite iconic springs
Arturia’s Spring-636 Reverb plug-in also unlocks a ton of helpful preset options. Sift through featured presets including “King Tubby,” “Boing,” “Thin Room,” and “Evil Curse of the Vampire Dub” to find some pre-created combinations to inspire your songwriting. Arturia also includes some integrated tutorials to help you get the most out of your time with the Spring-636 Reverb.
Arturia Spring-636 Reverb Plug-in Features:
- Arturia TAE and Phi analog modelling emulates the effects of the original 636 unit with tremendous accuracy
- Germanium-powered dual preamp Input control featuring Mic and Aux Mega Ohm preamps
- Decay, Width, and Blend controls allow for extra spring customization
- Pre-delay time adjustment expands up to 250ms
- 9 Pre-Filter modes can be adjusted to cater to your desired level of cutoff and resonance
- 8 spring tanks let you choose from a variety of spring foundations for your sound
- Post-equalizer provides high- and low-shelving cutoff options for contouring your reverb
- Expansive preset lists and tutorials will help maximize your sound-shaping experience
