Megaverb
by Goodhertz · Reverb · 1980s-style digital reverb with gate
Not rated yet
Megaverb is a reverb inspired by 1980s digital hardware units, with a classic gated reverb section and lo-fi analog and digital degradation.
It has filters, a ducking mode and presets like Let's Dance, and costs $79.
Best for: Drums, Vocals, Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Pop, Electronic & EDM, Rock & Indie, Lo-Fi.
Keywords: 80s, lo-fi, ducking, gated, synths, vocals, digital classic, drums, sidechain input, smooth, snare, pads, ambience, bright, cathedral, classic, dark, experimental, external sidechain, inspired by, minimal controls, mixing, non-linear, room, sound design, wide.
What it does
Megaverb calls itself "incredibly good bad reverb." It aims for the grainy, gated sound of 1980s digital reverbs, but with controls and precision those units never had.
- Four algorithms: Verb Mode A to D, from quick and resonant (A) and weird, nonlinear (B) to smooth and big (C, the default) and an even larger cavern (D).
- Decay and predelay: decays up to about 25 seconds, predelay up to 500 ms in milliseconds or synced to note, dotted or triplet values, plus a Damping control that darkens or brightens the tail as it fades.
- Filters: sweepable low-cut (20 Hz up) and high-cut (down from 20 kHz) on the reverb, smooth enough to automate.
- Lofi: separate Analog (clipping) and Digital (lower bit depth and headroom) amounts, each 0 to 100%, for overdriven or crumbling tails.
- Gate+: gate or duck mode, sensitivity, attack, hold time (free or synced), release and range, three detection types (Transient, Classic, Dynamic), a choice of target (wet, dry or both) and an external sidechain input.
- Stereo+: crosstalk before the reverb, early-reflection bias, and separate bass and treble width up to 200% after it.
- Presets: including Small Room (Far), Let's Dance and Extreme Fuzz.
Goodhertz's downloads page lists version 3.14.1 (June 2026) for its plugin line (the online manual covers 3.13). It runs mono, mono-to-stereo or stereo, and every control automates without clicks. A 30-day free trial is available.
Source: Goodhertz product page
When to use it
Megaverb is the pick when the reverb should be an obvious 80s effect rather than a realistic space. Compared with VintageVerb, which also draws on that era, it has fewer algorithms but adds a full gate with ducking and sidechain, plus Lofi clipping and bit reduction for deliberately rough tails. SP2016 Reverb and LX480 recreate specific hardware with a polished sound, while Megaverb leans into the grit. Unlike Pro-R 2, it offers no detailed decay EQ or visual display, just a few broad controls.
- Best for: gated snares and toms, ducked vocal reverbs, 80s-style synths and pads, and lo-fi ambience.
- Genres: pop, synth-pop, synthwave, electronic, indie and lo-fi.
- Look elsewhere if: you want clean, realistic halls and plates; VintageVerb, LX480 or Pro-R 2 suit that better.
- Tip: set Gate Mode to Duck so the reverb drops away while the singer is active and blooms in the gaps.
What producers say
The few reviews are very positive, praising its character and ease of use; none list real faults.
- Mix (Rich Tozzoli, 2019) called it "an incredibly useful tool to achieve unique reverb effects," praising the few controls and how well it worked on snares, guitars, synths, pads and drum loops.
- KVR users rate it 5 out of 5 from 1 review, praising the sound, the GUI, the stereo controls, the duck/gate and synced predelay.
Where to buy
- Goodhertz: $79
Tutorials and reviews
- Megaverb — Incredibly good bad reverb
- Grammy-Winning Mixing Plugin They Don’t Want You to Know! *Goodhertz Megaverb*
- Goodhertz: Megaverb and Trem Control (" FANTASTIC")
- Stone In Focus by Aphex Twin using Arturia Prophet and Goodhertz Megaverb (only)
- Boards of Canada's Echus and Tears from the Compound Eye synth sounds using Serum and Megaverb
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