One of the hardest thing for a mixing newcomer to get a handle on is timing the reverb to the track. Setting the predelay is rather easy, but the decay requires a combination of feel for the tempo of the music and EQ. Some of the newer reverb plugins have responded to this need by adding a ducking capability, but that can also sound artificial more times than not. That’s why the new Silencer reverb reset plugin from Wide Blue Sound is so cool. It actually resets the reverb each time it’s triggered so the reverb tail doesn’t get in the way of the next note.
Not A Reverb
Silencer is not a reverb or an effect in itself. Using a feature called TIMEGATE, it completely terminates the reverb signal on each note, eliminating the reverb wash that blurs multiple notes and ruins the impact of melodies, vocals, drums, chords, arpeggios, etc. You can think of it as a sustain pedal for your reverbs, except that it’s automatically triggered by audio, MIDI, or automation.
As a result, the popular setup of sidechaining reverb so it’s triggered by another mix element is no longer needed. In fact, it won’t work nearly as well as a reverb that’s Timegated.
What’s great is that you don’t have to purchase a new reverb for this to work. It will work with most reverb plugins as long as they have a VST or AU install. Even better, Silencer also unofficially works with many delay plugins as well.
Module Features
If that’s all Silencer did, it would be golden, but the plugin has three additional modules that adds to its versatility. Strip uses the BBE Sonic Maximizer algorithm to add Weight and Air to the reverb. Focus EQ allows you to enhance the critical frequencies of the instrument, by cutting the reverb and optionally boosting the dry signal at the same important frequency at the same time. And Sidechain will compress the reverb based on the dry signal. The Release knob actually changes more than the release, and is tuned to give you a wide range of rhythm and groove.
Silencer is available for a short time for just $49 (normally $99), and as said before, it will work with most reverb and FX plugins that have a VST or AU install. You can find out more here, or watch the video below.
