Pulse reverb plugin by Wave Alchemy interface

Pulse: PCM-Style Reverb Plugin by Wave Alchemy Free Download

Rated 4.6/5 on Plugin Boutique (1,570 ratings)

Pulse is a reverb plugin by Wave Alchemy that recreates the punchy, tight character of the 1984 PCM-60 digital reverb. It is available as VST3, VST2, AU and AAX for macOS and Windows.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit
AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique
Free trial available from the developer
01Overview

Pulse is a modern reverb built around the sound of the PCM-60, a 1984 digital reverb that became a fixture in many high-end studios and is associated with tight, punchy 1980s reverb. Wave Alchemy describes Pulse as a reinterpretation of that sound with updated DSP and workflow features. The plugin is aimed at producers who want a classic digital reverb character with controls that make it quick to place in a mix.

Best for

  • Punchy vocal reverb
  • 80s-style drum reverb
  • Lush pads and textures
  • Insert-based mixing
  • Songwriting and vocal demos
  • Subtle stereo movement
Developer
Wave Alchemy
Category
Reverbs
Store
Plugin Boutique
02Key features

What you get

  • Modern reverb modeled on the 1984 PCM-60 digital reverb
  • Shape control reduces transients to thicken the reverb tail
  • Flux control adds subtle movement or chorus-like modulation
  • Duck control automatically ducks the reverb under the dry signal
  • Designed for use as an insert without complex send routing
  • Hybrid emulation combining algorithmic DSP and sampled reverb variations
  • Available as VST3, VST2, AU and AAX
  • Free trial available
03In depth

Shape, Flux and Duck: Sound and Control

Pulse centers on three controls. Shape reduces the level of the initial transient before the reverb, which the developer says helps the tail sound thicker, lusher and darker without altering the dry signal or requiring a separate send.

Flux adds level-dependent filtering and modulation. At gentle settings it adds a sense of movement and depth. At higher settings it moves toward chorus-like modulation and lo-fi textures.

Duck is an automatic volume ducker that keeps the reverb tail relative to the incoming dry signal, so the reverb stays out of the way of the source. Together, these controls let you use Pulse as an insert on a track rather than setting up a parallel send.

Reverb Character for Mixing and Songwriting

Wave Alchemy notes that the original PCM-60 was often used as a send on a mixing console, with EQ and compression applied to shape the result. Pulse includes its own tone shaping, so that processing can happen inside the plugin.

The developer describes the controls as easy to dial in, which suits producers who want a usable result quickly as well as songwriters working on their own vocals. The emulation combines algorithmic DSP with convolution-based sampling of the original unit's reverb variations, according to the developer.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

DeveloperWave Alchemy
TypePlugin
CategoryReverb
FormatsVST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systemsWindows, macOS
Architecture64-bit
Free trialYes
05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Pulse support?

Pulse is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on macOS and Windows, and the plugin is 64-bit.

What operating systems do I need for Pulse?

Pulse supports macOS 10.12 and later and Windows 10 and later, both 64-bit. The VST3, AU and AAX versions are native on Apple Silicon Macs.

Is there a trial version of Pulse?

Yes, Pulse offers a trial.

What is the PCM-60 sound that Pulse is based on?

The PCM-60 is a 1984 entry-level digital reverb known for tight, punchy 1980s reverb. Wave Alchemy says Pulse brings that character into a modern plugin.

07Developer

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