[Next-generation reverb] HOTONE VERBERA The era of capturing spatial pedals has finally arrived [Sound demo and reviews]

Verbera comes preloaded with 120 IRs that capture the sounds of legendary spaces from around the world, from symphony halls and cathedrals to aerospace facilities. In addition, it also includes impulse responses from spring reverb and plate reverb, classic studio machines of the past, covering everything from retro to modern reverb. This rich IR library alone is impressive enough, but it is also worth mentioning that the user can import and save up to 1024 IRs that they have recorded or obtained themselves. Being able to capture and carry around the sounds of your favorite spaces and classic machines is truly revolutionary.

The most innovative feature of Verbera is the IR clone. You can import the sound of other reverb pedals and effects into this unit and save the clone as a custom IR. You can even "import" your favorite vintage reverb sound or the sound of a reverb VST plug-in on your computer into Verbera and reproduce it at your feet. However, according to current information, it seems that it is difficult to clone reverbs that contain special effect components such as shimmer reverbs. Nevertheless, it is surely a dream feature that allows you to aggregate the sounds of your pedal collection and plug-ins. The actual clone performance is awaiting further verification and user reviews, but depending on the purpose, it has the potential to be hailed as a **one-stop solution for reverb pedals**.

Despite its complex functions, Verbera is designed to be user-friendly. A highly visible LCD screen is located on the top of the unit, allowing you to check the current parameters and preset names at a glance. The main control knobs are Decay (reverberation time), Pre-Delay/Attack (attack),Tone/ModulationYou can intuitively adjust the key elements of reverb sound creation, such as the above. In addition, the flexible UI design allows you to adjust parameters in more detail and change settings by operating the knobs while holding down the Alt/Menu button.

Live-oriented users will appreciate the multi-function features of the two foot switches. The right switch is for bypass on/off, while the left switch can be assigned to preset switching or hold operation, and by pressing and holding it"Freeze function"The Freeze function makes it easy to hold a sound indefinitely, creating sustained sounds like ambient pads. By combining this function with the algorithm engine, you can achieve advanced expression, such as creating a mysterious drone of reverberation in the background while you play.

Verbera supports stereo input and output, allowing it to be used flexibly in a variety of situations, from connecting to mono equipment to stereo environments. When using mono, only the L input needs to be inserted, and the input mode switching function allows you to select the optimal operation according to the connection method, such as series or parallel. The back also has a MIDI IN/THRU terminal, allowing you to remotely control preset switching and parameter operations via MIDI. The EXP pedal terminal also allows you to continuously control the reverberation amount and decay time in real time with your feet. It is also equipped with a USB-C terminal, allowing you to manage IR data, presets, and update firmware via the free PC/Mac software "Neon Collector". These expansion functions allow you to fully utilize the pedal's performance not only as a standalone pedal, but also as part of a DTM or large system.

With digital reverbs, the concern is the sound quality, but Verbera is designed for high-quality audio that can withstand professional use. The internal processing is 32-bit floating-point calculation and 192kHz sampling, a DAW-level resolution, clearly reproducing even the most minute reverberation components. Furthermore, the original sound is mixed with an analog dry-through, so the original vivid texture of the guitar is not lost even when the pedal is on. In addition, it achieves ultra-low latency operation, so there is no sense of incongruity when playing. It smoothly generates a reverb tail of up to 20 seconds, while the trail function can be switched on/off to leave the reverberation natural when bypassed, and you can feel the careful consideration that has been given to both sound creation and practicality.

As mentioned above, Hotone Verbera is a pedal that combines cutting-edge reverb technology and ease of use at a high level. Although it is a "small box at your feet", it has both power and sensitivity as if you were operating a huge reverb black or plug-in.