ValhallaDSP is a company that makes multiple digital reverberator and delay VST plugins for Macintosh and Windows computers.
ValhallaDSP has made multiple digital reverberator ("reverb"), delay, and sound effect plugins, including Valhalla Vintage Verb and Valhalla Shimmer.
History and Personnel
editValhallaDSP is company with founder Sean Costello[1] handling coding and Kristin Costello handling graphics and marketing.[2] Sean Costello has co-written academic papers about reverberation, including a 2009 paper about using algorithmic reverberation with the Ambisonics system[3] and a paper about implementing a digital simulation of a spring reverb.[4]
Sean previously provided four reverb algorithms for the Audio Damage EOS reverb plugin which was initially released in 2009.[5]
Products
editValhalla DSP makes a combination of reverb, delay, and sound effect plugins.[6]
Reverb-centered plugins
editThese plugins are designed primarily to provide reverberation effects.
Valhalla Room
editValhalla Room is a reverb plugin which mainly simulates the acoustics of realistic rooms and halls, although it can also be used for special effects. It has 12 different algorithms.
One review felt that, while Valhalla Room sounds really good, it sounds more "hyper-real and lush" than "gritty and realistic". They also felt that its user interface could use some improvement.[7]
Valhalla Vintage Verb
editValhalla Vintage Verb is an plugin with the sounds of various late 1970s and 1980s digital reverberators, including ones which sound like Lexicon[8] and EMT[9] reverbs. This plugin has been used in the songs Hello and Water Under the Bridge by Adele,[10] as well as on Lana Del Rey's album "Lust for Life".[11]
It is possible to change the decay rate of different frequencies, and the early and late diffusion can have separate settings.[12]
Algorithms include Chamber, an algorithm described as being "smooth yet dense".[8]
One review feels that while it is excellent for getting the unreal larger than life sound of a classic Lexicon reverb, it does not work as a subtle reverb effect and is not a reverb for every occasion.[8]
Valhalla Plate
editValhalla Plate is a plug in which simulates the sound of a plate reverb or small chamber. It has 12 different algorithms.[2]
Third party reviews of Valhalla Plate have been generally positive[13][14], but one review pointed out that "it won't serve all needs", since it only simulates plates and small chambers, and does not emulate larger spaces.[15]
Delay and sound effect plugins
editThese plugins provide a combination of delay, sound effect, and reverberation effects.
Valhalla ÜberMod
editValhalla ÜberMod is a plugin which is geared towards delay effects, but can also create reverberant effects.[2]
Valhalla Shimmer
editValhalla Shimmer provides a combination of reverberation and pitch shifting, inspired by the sound of some 1980s Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois collaborations.[9][2]
Valhalla Freq Echo
editPrimary a sound effect, the free Valhalla Freq Echo plugin provides a combination of delay and a Bode frequency shifter. This is mainly for making unusual sounds.[2]
Valhalla Space Modulator
editValhalla Space Modulator is a plugin, free with the purchase of any other ValhallaDSP plugin, which simulates some kinds of flanging and pitch shift effects.[16][17]
Valhalla Delay
editValhalla Delay is a plugin which simulates the sounds of a number of vintage delays, including tape based delays (such as the sound of Roland Space Echo, Maestro Echoplex, or reel to reel based tape delay units), "bucket brigade" delays, 1980s digital delays, and delays with pitch shifting.[18]
This plugin can do both classic delay sounds and unusual sound effects.[19]
See Also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Plugin Manufactures: Valhalla DSP". Splice - Royalty-Free Sounds.
- ^ a b c d e Baccigaluppi, John. "Valhalla DSP: ÜberMod, Freq Echo, Shimmer, Room, VintageVerb, and Plate reverb plug-ins". Tape Op. Archived from the original on 2019-11-30.
- ^ Anderson, Joseph; Costello, Sean. "Adapting artificial reverberation architectures for B-format signal processing" (PDF). Ambisonics Symposium 2009.
- ^ Abel, Jonathan S.; Berners, David P.; Costello, Sean; Smith, Julius O. (2006-10-01). "Spring Reverb Emulation Using Dispersive Allpass Filters in a Waveguide Structure". Audio Engineering Society.
- ^ "Eos Screenshot..." Analog Industries. Archived from the original on 2009-05-20.
These algorithms were written by Sean Costello under contract to Audio Damage, and are very, very good.
- ^ Arnold, Lynda. "Review: Valhalla DSP Reverbs". Ask.Audio.
- ^ "ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom: A straight-to-the-point algorithmic reverb workhorse". Music Radar.
- ^ a b c "ValhallaDSP VintageVerb: Time-travelling reverb plugin". MusicRadar. Archived from the original on 2019-11-30.
- ^ a b Sterne, Jonathan. "Space within Space: Artificial Reverb and the Detachable Echo" (PDF). Grey Room. doi:10.1162/GREY_a_00177.
- ^ "Greg Kurstin: "Hello" from the Inside". Apple. Archived from the original on 2016-01-23.
- ^ "Inside Track: Lana Del Rey 'Lust For Life'". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 2017-09-21.
- ^ "ValhallaDSP Reverbs: Quick Start Guide". Loopmasters.
- ^ "Valhalla DSP Valhalla Plate review: A must-have for any effects toolbox". Music Radar.
- ^ "Review – Valhalla Plate from ValhallaDSP". SoundBytes Magazine.
- ^ Dove, Dave. "Valhalla Plate Review – Not Your Average Reverb". AudioNewsRoom.
- ^ Baccigaluppi, John. "Valhalla DSP: SpaceModulator Flanger Plug-In". Tape Op.
- ^ Reed, Steve. "Valhalla DSP Plugins: Shimmer, VintageVerb, UberMod and SpaceModulator". Worship Leader Media.
- ^ Russell, James. "ValhallaDelay Offers Seven Delay Modes Including Reverse Pitchshifting". Electronic Musician.
- ^ Ingils, Sam. "Valhalla Delay: Delay Plug-in". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 2019-11-30.