Pulse
by Wave Alchemy · Reverb · PCM-60-style digital reverb
Not rated yet
Pulse is a reverb plugin modeled on the PCM-60 digital reverb from 1984, using a hybrid of algorithmic and convolution techniques.
Three character modes, gating, ducking and a mid/side EQ add modern control to the 80s sound, for £49 (about $64.91).
Best for: Drums, Vocals, Keys & Synths, Guitars. Genres: Pop, Electronic & EDM, Rock & Indie.
Keywords: 80s, hardware emulation, ducking, modern, punchy, algorithmic, clean, convolution, drums, impulse-response based, mid/side, vocals, lo-fi, digital classic, gritty, room, synths, wide, ambience, creative, gated, lush, mastering, mixing, room mics, smooth, snare, subtle, thick, vintage.
What it does
Pulse recreates the 1984 PCM-60 digital reverb, whose sound Wave Alchemy calls "characterful, punchy and unmistakable." The developer sampled a clean original unit with mastering-grade converters and built a hybrid engine around it, adding modern mix controls the hardware never had.
- Hybrid engine: algorithmic DSP combined with convolution modelling of the sampled PCM-60, with more dynamic range than the original hardware.
- Character modes: Clean, Vintage and Gritty; Gritty takes its inspiration from SP-1200 circuitry.
- Shape: lowers the transient level within the reverb for lusher, thicker tails, without touching the dry signal.
- Smooth: a transient shaper before the reverb that suppresses peaks going in.
- Flux: a custom modulation algorithm that adds movement, diffusion and width, from subtle to strongly lo-fi.
- Mix tools: automatic ducking so the reverb makes room for the dry signal, an advanced gate, stereo width controls and a 4-band mid/side EQ.
A 14-day free demo is available.
Source: Wave Alchemy product page
When to use it
Pulse is the pick when you want the PCM-60's short, punchy rooms and plates specifically, with ducking and gating already built in. Compared with Valhalla VintageVerb, it covers one unit and era instead of 22 modes, but its sampled-hardware engine aims closer to that one box's sound. Unlike Relab's LX480 or Eventide's SP2016, which recreate big high-end studio reverbs, it focuses on a cheaper, grittier 80s unit, and its Gritty mode pushes further into lo-fi. Next to a clean modern reverb like FabFilter Pro-R 2 it has far fewer controls and no long, pristine tails.
- Best for: punchy drum rooms, gated snares, and 80s-style ambience on vocals and synths.
- Genres: pop, synthwave and other electronic styles, rock and lo-fi hip-hop.
- Look elsewhere if: you want long, lush modern tails or detailed control; Pro-R 2 or Valhalla VintageVerb suit that better.
Where to buy
- Plugin Boutique: $23 (regular $61)
- Wave Alchemy: $64.91 (Listed at £49; converted at £1 = $1.3247 (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))
Tutorials and reviews
- Review: Wave Alchemy Pulse Lexicon-Style Digital Reverb
- Pulse PCM 60 Reverb Plugin by Wave Alchemy (No Talking)
- Plate Reverb Plug-in Comparison - Avid "Space" VS Wave Alchemy "Pulse"
- Pulse reverb by Wave Alchemy sound demo no talking
Similar plugins
- Rev LX-24 by Arturia · Vintage digital reverb · $79
- Reverb Classics by Native Instruments · Vintage digital reverbs · $49
- HD Cart by LiquidSonics · Vintage digital reverb emulation · $199
- 80Verb by HoRNet · Vintage 80s digital reverb · $19.29
- 80s Spaces by Nomad Factory · 1980s convolution reverb · $24.99
- BlueVerb DRV-2080 by Nomad Factory · 1980s-style digital reverb · $9
- NeonVerb MV2 by Audiority · Vintage digital reverb (MidiVerb II style) · $29
- Glow by Wave Alchemy · RMX16-style digital reverb · $23
- BM60 by Bettermaker · Digital reverb · $75
- Megaverb by Goodhertz · 1980s-style digital reverb with gate · $79