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Review

2005.06.30

Altiverb V5 - MusicTech review July 2005 

MUSICTECH RATED 10/10!!!!

The original convolution reverb is back - and it's never sounded so good!

Altiverb, a ground-breaking convolution reverb, gets its biggest makeover yet.
Audio Ease's fifth revision leaves Mark Cousins spaced out!

Although Audio Ease can't lay claim to having invented convolution processing, they can take the honour of spotting its potential and being the first developer to bring it into the software domain.

When Altiverb was first released in 2002 (initially as a MAS plug-in for Digital Performer) it caused quite a stir, not only because of its price (in comparison to the hardware-only units that were available at the time), but also because of the sheer quality of its output. Even
so, Audio Ease couldn't rest on its laurels, as other convolution reverbs such as  Apple's Space Designer or Waves IR-1 were quick to join the fold.

In a bid to remain the kings of convolution, Audio Ease has done a good job of steadily updating Altiverb and building an increasingly large library of impulse response files. The
release of Altiverb 5, however, sees the biggest jump for the plug-in so far.

Nowadays, we expect far more from convolution reverb than mere wet and dry controls, as found on the first version of Altiverb. Happily, version 5 now includes a list of editing options that would put many 'modelled'  reverbs to shame: 3-band damping, room-resonance controls, stage positioning, Baxandall EQ and so on,  enough to keep any knob-twiddling
reverb enthusiast busy for hours. So, are these new features enough to set new standards in convolution reverb?

The art of convolution
Altiverb now supports all the principal audio applications for the Mac  HTDM, RTAS, MAS, VST and Audio Units. Sadly, the plug-in has long since left the realms of OS9 (version 2 was the last update developed for this OS) and, of course, it's clear that Audio Ease has little intention of developing Altiverb for Windows PCs.

Installation was painless, with the included IRs taking up about 1GB of our hard drive capacity. Booting up the plug-in takes a little time (Altiverb 5 needs to scan the IR
folder to familiarise itself with the contents), but once you?ve set up an instance and routed through some sound, you'll soon realise the awesome potential of Altiverb 5. Altiverb's
strength lies is the included IR library, no other developer has lavished so much time and effort in painstakingly recording and documenting such a range of acoustic spaces. What's
more, Audio Ease seems to have refined the process of impulse collection to a fine art. In our humble opinion, these are some of the finest IR samples money can buy.

Impulsive decisions
Altiverb 5 uses a combination of presets to display the impulses and organises them into various sizes (small to XXL) and applications (Vocals or Orchestra, for example) alongside
the IR responses (separated into folders for the respective spaces). This makes browsing for the right treatment quick and easy as you can either find a sound based on what you're
processing, or just leisurely explore Altiverb 5's immense IR library. A particularly good feature of the IR menu are the small graphics that indicate input and output configurations (including options for surround reverb), alongside illustrations of the room and its respective
microphone positions. Once loaded, the Info screen also presents a series of images and, in many cases, a spinning, virtual-reality movie of the room you've selected.

Another major improvement to Altiverb 5's visual operation is the time-frequency waterfall display, providing a complete 3D overview of the impulse in question. The display
illustrates the progression of the reverb tail over time (each cycle of colours representing a period of one second), enabling you to instantly visualise the timbre and high-frequency damping that occurs. More than being just appealing to the eye, both the Info screen and waterfall diagram really help to make sense of the current IR, something that is important for getting the best from convolution reverb.

Take your positions
Of all the additional editing features built-in to Altiverb 5, none is more appealing than the Stage Positioning controls. This is one area that often seems to challenge those working with
orchestral samples namely, positioning virtual instruments on the sound stage with appropriate reverb to match. In theory, an instrument placed stage-left will have a different reverb profile from that of an instrument placed stage-right. Gigapulse was the first convolution reverb to introduce the notion of multiple placements by sampling a room in up to 18 different positions. In the example of Altiverb, however, Audio Ease has developed
a unique algorithm to virtually place the speakers in any location in the room, a great way of widening the reverb or setting an instrument anywhere on the soundstage.

Other, more conventional controls include the option to modify the damping of three frequency bands and a general-purpose EQ, both of which are useful where natural reverb
appears too dark in comparison to the bright digital reverb our ears are so adjusted to. You
can also control relative balances between the three stages of reverb: the direct sound, early reflections and the tail. An included PDF file illustrates the use of this feature (and the stage positioning) on some orchestral mock-ups, using multiples instances (set to just the early reflections with the appropriate stage positioning) and one 'general' tail applied across the mix. Reverb time, room size and reverse features complete the main controls, with all
modifications being updated on the waterfall display.

The CPU drain
All of these editing features are of little consequence, however, if your computer is struggling to run even a single instance of the plug-in. Thankfully, Altiverb 5 is one of the
most CPU-efficient convolution plug-ins around, without any significant compromise in sound quality. All of Altiverb 5's added editing features (damping, stage positions and
EQ) can be disabled, plus there are several CPU-preserving features you can utilise, including a high-latency mode and a tail cut to avoid convoluting long reverbs that would
otherwise get lost in the mix.

Many Altiverb users have had to wait a long time for their favourite reverb to be brought in-line with other parameter-laden convolution plug-ins, but the wait has been well worth it.
Finally, Audio Ease has matched the finesse of its IRs with an innovative convolution plug-in packed with a set of features (including stage positioning controls) that will be of great benefit to its many fans. If you've yet to take the jump to convolution reverb, then
Altiverb 5 couldn't be a more tempting proposition. Indeed, it's hard to imagine a better-sounding, more versatile reverb.

WALK ON BY
IR samples can be used only in Altiverb
Convolution can still push a slower Mac to its limits

WHY BUY
Fantastic collection of IR samples
Detailed editing parameters
Ability to position 'virtual' speakers and performers
Efficient CPU usage (relatively speaking)

VERDICT
The original convolution reverb is back and it's never sounded (or looked) as good. Audio Ease continues to delight with exquisite IRs and an elegantly designed convolution engine.

MUSICTECH RATED 10/10!!!! REVIEW

Measuring Up
Altiverb's biggest competitor is Waves IR-1, which for a long time contained some of the most comprehensive editing features available in a convolution plug-in  until Alitverb 5 came along.

Despite joining the game late, Waves has made impressive progress with its IR library (as documented on the company's www.acoustics.net website), including some prestigious UK
venues such as The Barbican and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Getting your hands on a convolution reverb doesn't have to be expensive. Logic Pro 7 includes its own Space Designer plug-in; the IR library isn't as good as Waves or Audio Ease's, but you do
(intriguingly) get the option to synthesise your own. Alternatively, if you're a PC user, take a look at Christian Knufinke's SIR, which is a freeware VST plug-in. Generally speaking, however, the more you pay for the plug-in, the better its IR library.

Since its first release, Altiverb's IR library has grown to encompass an impressive range of
rooms, halls, studios and cathedrals. Using the new Stage Position feature you can
arrange instruments on your virtual soundstage, with corresponding pan and reverb assignments.

METHOD SPOT