Plugging In with TC Electronic's VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb

After a seemingly endless wait as the code was being finalized, TC Electronic has finally released their VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb plug-in. First in a series of upcoming products, this new offering is taken directly from the System 6000 and is currently available for Pro Tools and PowerCore systems. As a big fan of the classic hardware unit, I was looking forward to firing it up and taking it for a spin inside my computer.

Large Warm Halls are our favorite kind of halls. The small, cold halls aren't nearly as nice.

Smells Like 6000 The PowerCore version can be used with any RTAS (via FXpansions VST to RTAS adapter), AU or VST system, but I ran mine as TDM on my Pro Tools HD rig. Installation is painless and authorization is via iLok. Upon opening, the interface looks – well, just like the System 6000 screen. TC noted that the VSS3 algorithms are ported 1: 1 from the ‘6000, so operationally, it’s a no brainer. VSS3 has over 200 presets available, which show up in either a Film or Music folder. The Film folder is further broken out into choices of Bathroom and Toilet, Car, Dialog, Empty Rooms, Garage, Hotel, House, Office, Outside, Public Places, Studio or Very Small. The Music folder features Church, Drums and Percussion, Hall, Instruments, Plate, Room or Vocal sub-folders. GUI GUI... The plug-in GUI is broken down into four different pages: Main, Early Reflection, Reverb Tail and Modulation. I like the fact that a small yellow dialog box quickly pops up when you roll over a parameter (and keep it there for a sec or two), explaining what each does. While most of us are already familiar with many of these controls, its nice to be reminded once and a while. Besides, I wasn’t exactly sure what SpcMod Rate was (Space Modulation Rate Offset). When tweaking, you can either go directly to the chosen value box, such as Decay, Rev. Decay or Hi Cut, OR use the ‘Focus Field’, which lines up the parameters horizontally across the bottom of the screen. These Focus Field boxes are assignable, simply by using the ‘Assign’ button and selecting your choices. This lets you avoid paging through the four Main tabs, allowing for customized speed tweaking.

The VSS3 Early Reflections page. You can create a close-miked vibe, or dial it back for more of a distant 'verb effect. Or something in between. The VSS3 doesn't care how you want to rock. Modulate your reverb in the Modulation page. It seems like the best place to do it.

The Great 'Verb Test A great way to test out any plug-in with Pro Tools, especially with a reverb such as the VSS3, is to open the preset parameter folder. Then check off the ‘Increment Settings Every’ box, and leave the default to 3 seconds. Roll your transport with your chosen track output to the ‘verb, and within a few minutes you’ll have heard every preset in that folder. Doing just that, I discovered my new favorite, the ‘Vintage Snare Room 2’, while doing a Jamaican reggae mix. The sidestick/snare sounded killer in that room, literally exploding with an open, airy crack. Check out ‘Acoustic Gtr Ambience’, even on electrics – it’s just totally ‘correct’. Another of my favorites is ‘Dance Studio’ in the Film > Studio folder. I used it on the lead vocals of the mix and it added just the right amount of depth (along with a DDL). The only negative I found was that each Stereo instance uses up a full chip. However, I’ll gladly take that tradeoff any day for the quality this plug-in provides. Overall, it’s nice to have a new reverb that I will reach for on every session, and TC has stepped up to the plate and scored with VSS3. As mentioned already, the VSS3 is the first in a series of releases. The other recent TC plug-ins for TDM is the MD3 Stereo Mastering Package, and the Harmony 4 Vocal Harmonizer (see below). PowerCore users will soon be seeing the Fabrik R and Fabrik C as well. Be sure to stay tuned because we’ll let you know when we get them. Until then, check out a VSS3 – it definitely rocks.

TC Electronic has more plug-ins for PowerCore and Pro Tools. Above is their magnificent MD3 Multiband Dynamics processor. You get Dual Mono and Stereo dynamics processing in three frequency bands, a true side-chain split structure, separate processing of M and S components of a stereo signal, a Spectral Stereo Enhancer, a Brickwall Limiter, and a partridge in a pear tree. Is that what we think it is? Because it looks like TC Helicon's famous 4-part harmonization technology in a plug-in for Pro Tools. And that, folks, would be very cool. And, in fact, it is!