Polaris echo and reverb plugin interface by Audiority

Polaris: Early Digital Echo and Reverb Plugin by Audiority Free Download

Rated 4.6/5 on Plugin Boutique (2,303 ratings)

Polaris is an echo and reverb plugin by Audiority, inspired by early hardware digital reverbs of the late 1970s. It produces echo, ambience and reverb from a single multitap delay line.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

Polaris is built around a single multitap delay line, a design borrowed from early hardware digital reverbs that needed to stay affordable. Early Reflections and a modulated Diffusion section are mixed together, and the Echo tap can recirculate into Diffusion to produce longer tails. The developer also describes the Echo, Diffusion and Early Reflections taps as editable, so you can shape your own room responses, resonant combs or tuned delay lines. Shimmer, Swell and an internal sample rate reduction add further options for ambient and vintage-digital textures.

Best for

Ambient guitar textures
Long pads and drones
Vintage digital reverb
Tuned delay effects
Vocal space and ambience
Chorus and flanging

Developer: Audiority
Category: Reverbs
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Single multitap delay line for echo, ambience and reverb
8 programmable Early Reflections taps
16 programmable modulated Diffusion taps
Echo recirculating into Diffusion for longer tails
Echo timing in milliseconds, sync, tuned or long
LFO with sine, triangle and random shapes, Hz or sync
Shimmer effect
Internal sample rate reduction for vintage digital sound
Swell with attack time matched to delay time
3 Band Feedback Equalizer and Pre-Delay (v1.5)

03In depth

Early digital reverb character from a single delay line

Polaris starts from a simple idea: mixing unmodulated taps (Early Reflections) with modulated taps (Diffusion) can create a convincing reverb without the cost of comb and all-pass filter chains. Audiority extends this by feeding the Echo tap back into the Diffusion section, which allows longer reverb tails.

The Early Reflections section offers 8 programmable taps and Diffusion offers 16 programmable modulated taps. The Echo section can be set in milliseconds, synced to tempo or tuned, and includes a Long option. An LFO with sine, triangle and random shapes, in Hz or synced mode, drives the modulation.

Shimmer, swell and sample rate reduction

Shimmer and internal sample rate reduction are included for vintage digital colors. Stereo Width adds a ping-pong style delay option. Swell smooths the transients of the incoming signal, with its attack time automatically matched to the delay time, which suits ambient guitars and long pads.

Version 1.5 added Pre-Delay, Modulation Boost and a 3 Band Feedback Equalizer on the Echo editor page, giving more control over how repeats and tails build up.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Audiority
Type	Plugin
Category	Reverb
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is Polaris?

Polaris is an echo and reverb plugin by Audiority. It is inspired by early hardware digital reverbs and produces echo, ambience and reverb from a single multitap delay line.

What formats and operating systems does Polaris support?

Polaris is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS, and is 64-bit only, so it will not work on 32-bit systems.

What do I need to use Polaris?

Polaris needs a 64-bit host that supports one of its plugin formats, such as a VST2, VST3, AU or AAX compatible DAW. Minimum requirements include an Intel i5 or higher (or Apple M1 or higher on Apple Silicon), 2GB RAM and a 1024×768 screen resolution. Pro Tools 11 or higher is required for AAX.