Benson Tall Bird

Name: Benson Tall Bird
Price: 89 USD
Author: MixWave

by MixWave · Reverb · Tube spring reverb model

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A model of Benson's all-tube Tall Bird spring reverb, using convolution responses matched to the spring tank, including its clipping.

Two tank models give stereo use, from clean ambience to overdriven reverb, for $66.75 on sale (normally $89).

Best for: Guitars, Keys & Synths, Vocals, Drums. Genres: Rock & Indie, Ambient & Cinematic, Lo-Fi.

Keywords: spring, tube, ambience, clean, convolution, impulse-response based, cathedral, electric guitar, keys, drums, lo-fi, mixing, oversampling, snare, vintage, vocals.

What it does

Benson Tall Bird recreates the Benson Tall Bird, an all-tube spring reverb unit. MixWave used convolution response techniques to match the original tank, including the way it clips and distorts when driven, so it ranges from "polite and clean" ambience to cavernous, overdriven reverb.

Dwell: sets how hard the tank is driven, adding saturation and harmonics as it goes up.
Tube bypass: switch the tube stage out of the path.
Gate: a gate control for cutting off the spring tail.
Filters: high-pass and low-pass filters to shape the reverb's tone.
Two tanks: two separately modelled reverb tanks, so the plugin works in stereo.
Mix and quality: wet and dry level controls and an oversampling option.

A 14-day fully working trial is available. It is also included in the Benson Chimera and Monarch collections.

Source: MixWave product page

When to use it

Benson Tall Bird is for one sound: a tube spring tank that can be pushed with Dwell from clean ambience into dirty, cavernous spring. Compared with VintageVerb and Pro-R 2 it offers no halls, plates or decay shaping, but it has the drive and drip of a real spring unit that those algorithmic reverbs do not try to copy. Valhalla Room and Cinematic Rooms Professional aim for realistic spaces, while Tall Bird is a coloured effect. It is not the same plugin as MixWave's Benson Studio Tall Bird, which models the rack version with switchable Short and Long tanks.

Best for: surf and vintage guitar reverb, drippy springs on keys and snares, and driven reverb effects.
Genres: rock, indie, surf, dub, ambient and lo-fi.
Look elsewhere if: you want halls, plates or clean modern reverb (VintageVerb, Pro-R 2), or the rack Tall Bird's Short and Long tanks (Benson Studio Tall Bird).

Where to buy

MixWave: $89

Tutorials and reviews

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