Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Hotone releases super Hi-Fidelity Stereo Convolution Reverb with Instant IR Loader and Dual Reverb ability
So this Hotone Verbera is the diametric opposite to the Crazy Tube Circuits Mirage I featured yesterday - but still at its heart a Dual Reverb. Where the Mirage has 16 fixed algorithms per side, and this one allows you to make use of 200 Presets - with 120 smart IR’s already loaded onto the device from a number of different sources. The are a combination of IR Reverbs and Studio Engineered Presets.
This is not my first rodeo as far as Convolution Reverbs go - my first of that kind was the Poly Verbs - with 56 algorithms onboard and the ability to load you own IR’s (via bursting balloons). And my current incumbent - the Strymon BigSky MX has a Convolution Reverb / IR Loader element - where that makes up the entirety of the Verbera - which obviously gives you the most flavours at your fingertips.
I have just a few quibbles with the Verbera - which include its small screen, lack of bluetooth, and significant power consumption of 1000mA. I feel that all these kinds of devices would benefit enormously from bluetooth connectivity - where devices like the Quad Cortex lead the field on that - and allow you to zap in Presets from your friends and acquaintances - which is just brilliant. No need to go to a download library - you just get the Preset zapped directly across to your device - loaded and ready to use! With the Verbera the business end though is operated via USB-C connection rather than wireless!
With all these Convolution Reverbs, the IR capture element is still overly complicated and involves recording a bursting balloon - which recording you then need to encode to IR standards! I don’t understand why no one has issued an IR Recorder - that simulates the burst balloon - fully accurately captures all the reflections - and then automatically encodes that signal to the appropirate IR standard. Instead you have a very convoluted multi-step process to create your own IR for each space!
So none of those devices have bluetooth - and all function quite differently - while the Strymon has a slightly bigger and better screen - with more legible details. My two existing devices are also rated at 500mA current draw, while the Verbera needs duouble that - or 1000mA - which is actually something of a problem for my already overloaded board - but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
I love the fact that you essentially have 120 flavours onboard by default - as I will detail below from that very detailed manual! Which seems quite a bit more than most other Reverb Workstations.
I will start by listing the controls and then the Feature Set - where I've covered off most of the key features in my main visual!
Controls - Decay, Attack / Pre-Delay, Tone / Modulation, Preset, Mix, IR, ALT/MENU Button, Hi-Res LCD, CLONE Button, Active Footswitch, Freeze Footswitch [Dual Footswitch Modes].
Ports : TS / TRS In, Left-Out TS, Right-Out TS, USB-C, 9V DC [-] 1000mA, MIDI In, MIDI Thru (on front leading edge).
KEY FEATURES & SPECS
- Includes 120 built-in IRs with real-world spaces and original creations
- Stereo input and output with selectable input modes
- Dual reverb: Flexible combination of IR convolution reverb and additional algorithmic reverb (XR)
- Supports reverb tails up to 20 seconds with low-latency performance
- Real-time IR envelope adjustment and Instant IR loading
- Full control over reverb tone with parameters like Attack, Tone, Pre-delay, and Mod
- Trail function switch for tail preservation
- Supports external control via expression pedal (EXP) or MIDI for more parameters
- Reverb cloning function to capture and create custom IRs
- Built-in IR browsing and sorting for easy navigation through a vast library
- Stores a large number of IRs and up to 200 presets
- 32-bit high-performance AD/DA conversion
- Pure analog dry-through circuit design
- Dual footswitch modes for preset switching, bypass, and Freeze functionality
- High-resolution LCD screen for quick and intuitive operation
- USB connectivity for firmware updates, preset, and IR management via free PC/MAC software
- AD & DA : 32-bit High-performance
- DSP : 32-bit processing
- SNR : 115dB
- Frequency response : ±0.1dB, 20Hz~20kHz
- Max input level: +13dBu
- Bypass : Analog Dry Thru + Buffer
- Power supply: 9V DC, 1000mA / 1A （Center Negative）
- Dimensions: 125.5mm(W)×84mm(D)×62.5mm(H)
- Weight : 485g
- Street Price : $299
The 120 Included IR's
# | IR NAME | COLLECTION SOURCE
1 | 1985 Hall | Factory Original IR
2 | 80 Foot Drain | Captured from a drain
3 | Abyss Vibe | Factory Original IR
4 | Arena 10000 1 | Captured from a 1000-seat Arena
5 | Arena 10000 2 | Captured from a 1000-seat Arena
6 | Arena 3800 1 | Captured from a 3800-seat Arena
7 | Arena 3800 2 | Captured from a 3800-seat Arena
8 | Arena 5000 | Captured from a 5000-seat Arena
9 | Art Exhibit | Captured from a exhibit room
10 | Astral Shimmy | Factory Original IR
11 | Atrium 54 Ft | Captured from a Atrium
12 | Auditorium 400 | Captured from a 400-seat auditorium
13 | Auditorium 500 | Captured from a 500-seat auditorium
14 | Bed Room | Captured from a Nashville room
15 | Belle Church | Captured from the Belle Church
16 | Blooming Factory | Original IR
17 | Break Beat 130 | Factory Original IR
18 | Brent Church | Captured from the Brent Church
19 | Brent Heaven | Captured from the Brent Church
20 | Brick Plate | Captured from the Brick Plate Reverb
21 | Brit Spring | Captured from the Bandive Great British Spring
22 | Carpet Tube | Captured from a carpet tube
23 | Cathedral | Captured from a cathedral
24 | Cave 1 | Captured from a cave
25 | Cave 2 | Captured from a cave
26 | Cloudy Tail | Factory Original IR
27 | Concrete Room | Captured from a concrete cavern
28 | Control Room | Captured from a controling room
29 | Cross Freq | Factory Original IR
30 | Cryo Circuit | Factory Original IR
31 | CTKCC Side | Captured from a Catholic Church
32 | Cyber Wave | Factory Original IR
33 | Dance Studio | Captured from a studio room
34 | David‘s Church | Captured from the St David’s Church
35 | Destin Office | Captured from a office
36 | Dome 50 | Captured from a 50-feet Dome
37 | Dome 50 Turf | Captured from a 50-feet Dome
38 | Dream Hall | Factory Original IR
39 | Echo Shift 1 | Factory Original IR
40 | Echo Shift 2 | Factory Original IR
41 | Echo Space | Factory Original IR
42 | Echo String | Factory Original IR
43 | Echoing Hall | Factory Original IR
44 | Episco Church | Captured from a Episcopal Church
45 | Ether Hallway | Factory Original IR
46 | Fat Plate | Captured from the Lexicon 480L
47 | Flat Land | Factory Original IR
48 | Fort Hallway | Captured from the Fort Barr Hallway
49 | Fort Outside | Captured from the Fort Barr Hallway
50 | Future Impact | Factory Original IR
51 | Garage 1 | Captured from a parking garage
52 | Garage 2 | Captured from a parking garage
53 | GMC Truck | Captured from a GMC Truck
54 | Hallway Slap | Factory Original IR
55 | Heavenly Space | Factory Original IR
56 | Hudson Hall | Captured from the Hudson Hall
57 | Illusion Echo | Factory Original IR
58 | Ivy League Hall | Captured from the Ivy League Hall
59 | Joseph Church | Captured from the St Joseph Church
60 | Kaleidoscope | Factory Original IR
61 | Lake Slapback 1 | Captured from the State Park Tennessee
62 | Lake Slapback 2 | Captured from the State Park Tennessee
63 | Leaf Bedroom | Captured from a Nashville room
64 | Luth Church 1 | Captured from the Luth Church
65 | Luth Church 2 | Captured from the Luth Church
66 | Meeting Room | Captured from a conference room
67 | Metal Surface | Factory Original IR
68 | Metro Sync | Factory Original IR
69 | Multi Echo | Factory Original IR
70 | Nash Aud Side | Captured from a Nashville auditorium
71 | Neon Relic | Factory Original IR
72 | Net Drifter | Factory Original IR
73 | Neuro Link | Factory Original IR
74 | Oil Can | Captured from the Gibson A-4RE Oil Can (Tel Ray)
75 | Out Ambient 1 | Captured from a open architectural complex
76 | Out Ambient 2 | Captured from a open architectural complex
77 | Out Ambient 3 | Captured from a open architectural complex
78 | Out Ambient 4 | Captured from a open architectural complex
79 | Pan Gate | Factory Original IR
80 | Peach Church | Captured from the Peach Church
81 | Phantom Loop | Factory Original IR
82 | Ping Pong Fun | Captured from the Peavey Dual DeltaFex Multi Effects processor
83 | Plate Unit 140 | Captured from the EMT 140
84 | Prayer Room | Captured from a cathedral’s prayer room
85 | R-1 Spring | Captured from the Vesta-Fire RV-1
86 | Regen Field | Factory Original IR
87 | Reverse Echo | Factory Original IR
88 | Rotary Records | Captured from the Rotary Records Main Studio Room
89 | Shatter Pulse | Factory Original IR
90 | Small Barn | Captured from a small barn
91 | Small Orch Hall | Captured from a Orchestra Hall
92 | Smooth Cloud | Factory Original IR
93 | Space Facility 1 | Captured from the Space Station Processing Facility
94 | Space Facility 2 | Captured from the Space Station Processing Facility
95 | Space Facility 3 | Captured from the Space Station Processing Facility
96 | Space VAB Ctr | Captured from the Vehicle Assembly Building of a Space Center
97 | Space VAB Frt | Captured from the Vehicle Assembly Building of a Space Center
98 | Space VAB Rer | Captured from the Vehicle Assembly Building of a Space Center
99 | Space VAB Sd | Captured from the Vehicle Assembly Building of a Space Center
100 | Specter Echo | Factory Original IR
101 | Speed Up | Factory Original IR
102 | Spiral Descent | Factory Original IR
103 | Spring 100 | Captured from the Unicord Univerb
104 | Spring 2600 | Captured from the ARP 2600
105 | Spring 636 | Captured from the Soundgas Type 636 Grampian
106 | Spring 844 | Captured from the Olson RA-844
107 | Spring Box 10 | Captured from the Vintage Kay Model 710
108 | Spring Plus | Captured from the Alamo Fiesta 2573
109 | Spring Pro V | Captured from the Univox U3R Proverb
110 | St Hen Bapt | Captured from the St Hen Baptistry
111 | Synth Haze | Factory Original IR
112 | Time Slip | Factory Original IR
113 | Tunnel Flash | Factory Original IR
114 | Underwater | Captured from a underwater
115 | Warm Spring | Captured from the Orban 111-b
116 | West Cylinder | Captured from the Middle School Nashville
117 | Whiring In Rags | Factory Original IR
118 | Whisper Room | Captured from a Nashville room
119 | White Hole | Factory Original IR
120 | Wils Hall 66 Ft | Captured from the Wils Hall
Final Thoughts
I really love Spacey / Sci-Fi Reverbs - and is sounds like there are some promising candiate algorithms on this device - certainly plenty of variety to get your teeth sunk into - and seemingly all the main food groups catered here! Hotone should send me one for a deep-dive.
It's certainly rather pedalboard-friendly in its relatively compact dimensions - and packs a lot of flavour for just $299 outlay - this compares to the Poly Verb @ 399, and the Strymon BigSky MX @ $679 - so the Verbera has a significant price advantage - while it does require twice as much current for it to be powered - which may be a challenger for some!
I'm genuinely fairly well predisposed towards this device - and would definitely like to get one in for a deep dive - hopefully Hotone are listening! I may even nudge them.
Should never available fairly imminently in all the usual places - and you can read up moree on the Hotone Website as you process how much you want one of these!
Demos
