ZVERB

The ZVERB is a digital reverb module from Tip Top Audio.

General Controls

70s, 80s, 90s	Effects are divided into 3 banks. To select a bank, press and hold the relevant button. The currently selected effect will be briefly indicated by the pattern of lights on the buttons. After a few seconds, only the selected bank's button will be lit. To scroll between the effects in the bank, click the selected bank's button. To view the currently selected effect, click one of the inactive bank's buttons.
FIDELITY	Changes the frequency of the internal clock controlling the processing speed of the DSP chip. Altering this can result in anything from pitch shifting to degraded digital noise
IN	Exponential gain control on the audio
MIX	Dry/wet mix

Links

ZVERB Home
ZVERB Manual

Mode

Description

A version of the classic 70s ‘Hall’ style reverb. This has a dark, dense yet clear sound. The Time control is optimized for longer times up to several minutes.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	No function

Mode

Description

The sound is brighter than ‘Hall’ with a faster attack but is also quite dense. With lower Modulation settings a more metallic sound is possible. The Time control is optimized for medium-sized times up to several seconds.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Rate and intensity of internal modulation

Mode

Description

Like the previous Plate program but with a high pass filter and tuned for a shorter and brighter sound overall.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	High pass filter
MOD	Rate and intensity of internal modulation

Mode

Description

A mono tape echo is placed before the Plate algorithm. The echo has saturation and limiting plus a bandpass filter which can give some crunchy sounds to feed into the plate. The Mod delay time and Time reverb decay also control the tape echo feedback - increasing those controls feeds more back into the echo.

Controls

TIME	Decay time of the space + echo feedback
FILTER	Bandpass filter
MOD	Tape Echo head delay time + echo feedback

Mode

Description

Based very loosely on the first commercial reverb box. The Mod control changes the ‘Size’ of the reverb which is not the same as changing the Decay Time control. This has a smaller overall size than the Hall.

Controls

TIME	Decay time of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Size of the space

Mode

Description

What? This isn’t a ‘reverb at all! True, this algorithm is a multi-tap delay based on a very early digital processor called the Ursa Major Space Station. The Mod control changes the taps used in the output and feedback. Filter adjusts an independent mono ‘Echo’ delay that also factors into the feedback. Try it on percussive tracks and loops, crank the feedback and sync the taps and echo for some robotic rhythm effects.

Controls

TIME	Feedback
FILTER	Time of Echo channel delay
MOD	Tap selection

Mode

Description

As the name suggests, this predates any commercial products by many years, but the algorithm was a starting point for all research into artificial digital reverberation. The space is small and can be quite ringy with low Mod settings, but crank up Mod and it becomes quite chorused.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Rate of internal modulation

Mode

Description

This is the largest of all algorithms in ZVERB and at maximum Time settings it becomes practically infinite. Based on the Hall program but with much higher and adjustable modulation amounts.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Modulation

Mode

Description

Based on the design of 80s lower cost multi-effects units. This has a simpler structure than the ‘Hall’ or ‘Plate’ algorithms but it still creates a very spacious and rich sound. The sound of the internal delays are more prominent than the 70s algorithms. The Mod parameter controls the overall delay length and creates a longer but more obvious echo effect as it increases. The modulation is high and the Time control is tilted to very long and large spaces up to about a minute in time.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Length of internal delay loop

Mode

Description

A small space that can go from phone booth to living room to long hallway or city alley in size. The Mod parameter sets the basic size of the space and the Time adds more depth to the decay.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Pre-delay and Early Reflections scaling

Mode

Description

A Gated Reverb based on a Plate algorithm popular on percussion in the 80s (the button says 80s for a reason!). The Gate follows the input signal and has a quick, clean attack and release. The Fidelity control does slow down the envelope as well as the onset of the reverb.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Rate and intensity of internal modulation

Mode

Description

A multi-effect mono delay line into a modulated Hall reverb. The delay line can be modulated with CV for additional echo effects before hitting the reverb. The feedback of the delay line increases with both delay time and reverb decay time controls.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space. Delay feedback
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Delay time and feedback

Mode

Description

Dual pitch shifters tuned one octave down (-12 semitones) and one octave up (+12 semitones) are inside the Hall delay algorithm. The Mod control adjusts how much of octave up or down is present in the sound.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Mix of octave up and down pitch shifters

Mode

Description

A single pitch shifter with a range from one octave down (-12 semitones) to one octave up (+12 semitones) is inside a modulated Hall algorithm. The Mod control sets the pitch and the Filter control adjusts how much of the pitch shift is added to the reverb decay.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Amount of pitch shift added to reverb
MOD	Pitch of shifter

Mode

Description

Another one inspired by a very popular 80s budget box. This is really just a set of delays set up to sound ‘reverse’. At low Mod and Time settings it recreates the classic inside out sound while increasing those controls brings in a more wobbly wash. It likes to be fed sounds with slightly percussive attacks and solid pitch (ahem, guitar).

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low Pass Filter
MOD	Rate and intensity of internal modulation

Mode

Description

A pair of pitch shifters on the output of the Plate program add some weight or air to the reverb tone. The shifters are not in the reverb tank so the pitch is stable and quantized to four intervals: -12, -7, +7 and +12. This one works quite well with percussive sounds as well as pitched ones.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Amount of pitch shift added to reverb
MOD	Pitch of shifter

Mode

Description

A ‘Room’ type algorithm that uses a multiple delay line structure popularized in the 90s. At short Times with low modulation this can have a sharp ringing sound like a tiled room and increasing the Time and Modulation will result in denser and more chorused spaces.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Rate and intensity of internal modulation

Mode

Description

Very different design from the other algorithms, this idea originated in high end rack units from the 90s and continues to be very popular in the 21st century. At lower Time settings it almost has a reverse sounding response, while increasing the Time and Modulation creates a very unnatural but lush sound.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Rate and intensity of internal modulation

Mode

Description

Based on the previous ‘Void’ algorithm but with a pair of slightly detuned pitch shifters inside the reverb. The Mod control sets how much detuning and thus how quickly the pitch of the decay spirals down. Also, apparently the title of a popular record of the decade - who knew?

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Rate the pitch spirals down

Mode

Description

Based on the Hall algorithm but with lots of randomization inside the reverb. At low Mod settings this makes a nice way to break up the decay of percussive sounds, while higher settings and longer decays will start to wobble pitched instruments quite noticeably.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Amount of Randomization of internal parameters

Mode

Description

A set of multi-tap delays fed through diffusion. The taps ‘ping-pong’ left to right. At low Decay settings and longer Mod delay times the effect is like a stutter. Longer Decay times start to create a reverberant wash that can sometimes sound almost backwards

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Delay time of each tap

Mode

Description

A pair of pitch shifters with 4 sets of intervals (-12/-5, -5/+3, +4/+7, +7/+12) run into a modulated Hall algorithm. The pitch effect is not in the decay of the reverb so the pitch remains stable. Good for making tritone chords from mono oscillators.

Controls

TIME	Decay size of the space
FILTER	Low pass filter
MOD	Intervals of pitch shifters

Mode

Description

A mono delay into single pitch shifter into stereo chorus with diffusion makes for an unconventional reverb effect inspired by a high end 90s rack unit. The delay, pitch shift and chorus are all in the complex feedback path so the pitch will glide up or down as the decay increases. Pitch is unquantized from one octave down (-1200 cents) to one octave up (+1200 cents). Works best with pitched sounds with slow attacks like pads.

Controls

TIME	Decay time of the space
FILTER	Pitch shift
MOD	Delay time of each tap

Mode

Description

A set of bandpass filters create an ‘Ahhhh’ sound that feeds a Hall type reverb. The Tune control moves the center frequency of the filters from male to female ranges.

Controls

TIME	Decay time of the space
FILTER	Center frequency of formant filters
MOD	No function