Third-party FX plugins are created by external developers or companies that can be integrated into digital audio workstations (DAWs). These plugins are designed to enhance the capabilities of the DAW by providing various audio effects and other audio processing functions. In this tutorial, we will discuss about how to install and apply them in Reaper.
Acon Digital Verberate Basic
The first third-party plugin I will introduce you is a free reverb plugin called Verberate Basic. Now, please open your project featuring an audio track with two Neural Amp Modeler plugins in the FX Chain. The top NAM plugin is loaded with Xotic EP booster model and the bottom NAM plugin is loaded with Fender Bassman Amp model and IR.
Verberate Basic is a free plugin that offers highly praised audio quality. The plugin offers four reverb presets: Plate, Room, Hall, and Lush Hall. The interface includes buttons for the four reverb presets and a mix knob, allowing you to adjust the levels of dry and reverb signals. Verberate Basic's interface closely resembles a traditional guitar effect pedal, catering to the familiarity of most guitar players.
The following are a few sound clips to demostrate the Verberate Basic's reverb effects.
Dry Guitar Sound without reverb ↓
Guitar Sound with Verberate Basic's Room Reverb effect ↓
Guitar Sound with Verberate Basic's Lush Hall Reverb effect ↓
This is the first discussion about a third-party plugin in this tutorial. Maybe you are not sure how to install a third-party FX plugin in Reaper. I will use Verberate Basic plugin as an example to demonstrate the installation process. This involves the following steps:
- Download the plugin installation package.
- Execute the installation package.
- Prompt Reaper DAW to rescan the newly installed plugin.
- Add the recently installed Verberate Basic plugin into the FX chain.
Detailed instructions for each of these steps will be provided in the following.
1 Download Verberate Basic Plugin Installation Package
Verberate Basic installation package can be freely downloaded from Acon Digital's official website below.
https://acondigital.com/products/verberate-basic2 Execute the Installation Package.
Upon completion of downloading the installation package, please execute it to install the plugin on your computer. During the installation process, you will see the following window prompting you to select the types of plugins to be installed. Ensure that "VST3" is checked to be installed on your computer.
VST3 is a plugin format developed by Steinberg, and it is designed to be platform-independent. VST3 plugins can be used on various operating systems, including Windows (both 32-bit and 64-bit), macOS, and Linux.
Once the installation process is complete, please ensure that the Verberate Basic VST3 plugin file is correctly located in your computer's default VST3 folder. You should find a folder named 'Acon Digital' in the following location on your computer:
- - Default VST3 plugin folder on Windows computers: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
- - Default VST3 plugin folder on MAC computers: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3
Inside the above folders, you should find a folder with the name 'Acon Digital'. And inside 'Acon Digital' folder, you should find the Verberate Basic VST3 plugin file 'VerberateBasic2.vst3'.
The above checking steps hold significant importance as the proper placement of the Verberate Basic plugin file within the default VST3 folder is crucial for Reaper. If the plugin file is not accurately stored in the default VST3 directory, Reaper will be unable to locate it on your computer. Consequently, you won't be able to apply the Verberate Basic plugin within your FX chain. Ensuring the correct storage location is vital to guarantee the plugin's accessibility and functionality within the Reaper digital audio workstation.
If you are unable to locate the Verberate Basic Plugin file in the specified folders mentioned above, you may need to run the installation package again for a reinstallation. Ensure that throughout the reinstallation process, you refrain from modifying any default settings. The Verberate Basic installation package is designed to automatically place the plugin file in the default VST3 folder, so no manual adjustments are necessary.
3 Prompt Reaper DAW to rescan the newly installed plugin
To prompt Reaper DAW to rescan newly installed plugins, follow these steps:- Open Reaper:
Launch the Reaper digital audio workstation on your computer.
- Access the Preferences:
- On Windows: Go to "Options" in the top menu, then select "Preferences" at the bottom of the dropdown menu.
- On macOS: Click on "Options" in the top menu, and choose "Preferences" at the bottom of the dropdown menu.
- Choose VST:
- Under the "Plug-ins" section, you'll find an option labeled "VST" Click on it to open the VST settings window. This is shown in the following image. ↓
- Under the "Plug-ins" section, you'll find an option labeled "VST" Click on it to open the VST settings window. This is shown in the following image. ↓
- Initiate Rescan:
- Click the Re-scan button to access the submenu. Then, choose the 'Re-scan VST paths for new/modified plugins' option. This action prompts Reaper to search for and recognize any newly installed plugins. This is shown in the following image.
- Click the Re-scan button to access the submenu. Then, choose the 'Re-scan VST paths for new/modified plugins' option. This action prompts Reaper to search for and recognize any newly installed plugins. This is shown in the following image.
By following these steps, you should be able to prompt Reaper DAW to rescan and recognize any newly installed plugins.
In the image below, you'll notice a highlighted box that contains a list of paths. These paths represent the locations where Reaper scans for FX plugins. As previously mentioned, the Verberate Basic plugin file is stored in the default VST3 folder on your computer. Upon closer inspection, you'll be able to identify this specific folder listed within the box.
4 Add the Verberate Basic plugin into the FX chain
Adding the Verberate Basic plugin follows a process similar to adding the NAM plugin. Follow these steps to integrate Verberate Basic plugin into your FX chain (A brief video clip is provided below to demonstrate this process.):
- Click the "Add" button at the bottom of the FX chain window.
- In the left column of the FX browser, select "All Plugins."
- Enter "Verberate" in the "Filter" input box. (Please make sure the plugin's name is correctly entered.)
- Check "VST3: Acon Digital Basic 2 (Acon Digital)" is shown in the search results.
- Click on "VST3: Acon Digital Basic 2 (Acon Digital)" to select it.
- Click the "Add" button in the lower right corner of the FX browser window.
- You will see Verberate plugin added to the bottom of the FX chain as shown in the following picture.
After the above steps, the Verberate Basic plugin interface should now be visible, as depicted in the following image.
The Verberate Basic plugin offers several parameter settings enabling you to manipulate the attributes of the reverb effect. Below, you'll find explanations for these parameters:
1. Plate: Plate reverb emulates the sound of a vibrating metal plate. It has a brighter and more colored character compared to room reverb, providing a unique tonal coloration.
2. Room: Room reverb emulates the acoustics of a room. It typically produces shorter reverberation times and is suitable for creating a sense of space without overly long decay.
3. Hall: Hall reverb simulates the reverberation characteristics of a large hall or auditorium. It tends to have longer decay times, creating a spacious and immersive sound.
4. Lush Hall: Lush Hall is a variation of the hall reverb with additional richness and density. It often includes a lush and smooth tail, providing a more atmospheric and expansive sound.
5. Reverb Mix Knob: This knob allows you to control the balance between the original (dry) guitar signal and the reverberated (wet) signal. When turned towards the "dry" side, it emphasizes the clean, unaffected guitar sound. Conversely, turning it towards the "wet" side increases the presence of the reverb effect, adding a spacious and ambient quality to the electric guitar tone.
6. A / B comparison buttons: The A / B comparison buttons allows you to quickly compare different parameter settings. You can maintain two distinct sets of parameter configurations, namely A and B settings, and seamlessly switch between them using the corresponding buttons. The arrow button serves to copy settings from A to B or vice versa, depending on the active parameter set.
For saving or loading plugin settings, please consult the instructions in the provided image. This functionality is a universal feature for Reaper FX Plugins, allowing you to save and load settings for all FX plugins using the same method.
With its versatile reverb options and user-friendly interface, Verberate Basic offers a powerful toolset for enhancing the spatial and atmospheric characteristics of your guitar recordings. Whether you're aiming for a subtle touch or a more pronounced reverb effect, the intuitive controls and A/B comparison features empower you to sculpt the perfect sonic landscape for your compositions. Experimenting with different settings and exploring the creative possibilities of Verberate Basic will undoubtedly contribute to a richer and more immersive listening experience, making it a valuable addition to your arsenal of audio processing tools in Reaper.
Change the Order of FX Plugins in the FX Chain
In Reaper, the order of FX plugins in the FX Chain is crucial as it determines the sequence in which audio signals are processed.In the previous article of this tutorial, I have explained how to change the order of FX plugins in the FX Chain. If you want to find out how to achieve this, please refer to the previous article of this tutorial.
This marks the end of this article. In the next installment, we will delve into additional effects that work wonders for polishing our guitar tone. Stay tuned for more!