Having invented digital reverb in 1978, Lexicon is synonymous with top quality digital ambience creation. In the 1980’s, every top studio had some sort of Lexicon reverb. In 1984, the first affordable digital reverb was introduced by Lexicon. The PCM 60, at $750 street price, quickly became the go to reverb for everyone that wanted Lexicon quality.
While most plug-in companies have ignored the PCM 60, Wave Alchemy UK has released their version of this iconic reverb that captures the character of the original unit, and enhanced it with some modern tweaks. Pulse is a modern take on the classic PCM 60 sound. Available in AU, VST3 and AAX plugin versions for macOS and Windows, whatever DAW you are using, Pulse will fit right in.
One of the selling points of the PCM 60 was its ease of use. It had no sliders or dials, just pushbuttons that made the two reverb programs, Plate or Room reverb, larger or smaller, brighter or darker, and longer or shorter. Pulse provides this ease of use in a similar fashion and takes it a few steps farther.
New controls that were not on the PCM 60 are Delay, Smooth, Duck, Flux and Tweak.
Delay offers an adjustable amount to delay the onset of the reverb.
Smooth is a pre-reverb transient shaper, specifically designed to suppress transients going into the reverb, without affecting the dry signal. This allows for softer and darker sounding reverbs that sound very natural. Think of this as a compressor prior to the reverb that allows a smoother sound.
Duck is an automatic volume ducker that minimizes the reverb by an adjustable amount when the direct signal is present, and allows it to swell after the dry signal ends. This technique can provide clarity when the dry signal is present, and more effect following to dry signal.
Flux creates space and movement through level-dependent filtering and modulation. Used subtly it can add a gentle sense of 3D movement and depth. At extreme levels it offers lush chorus-like modulation and lo-fi textures.
Tweak offers three character modes that allow you to change the reverb tail characteristics. Clean mode offers a crystal clear sound. Vintage mode adds a subtle warmth, or for a tasteful sonic destruction, use Gritty mode, an emulation of the 12 bit EMU SP-1200 sound.
Pulse is an incredible value and is available individually or in a bundle that includes RMX16, EMT 250 and EMT 140 Plate Reverb emulations. MSRP: $25.00
