In Summary

The release of Pro-R 2 brings a raft of new goodies to audio plugin giant FabFilter’s established space maker. With new sounds, algorithmic takes on real impulse responses and more, we dive in and hear what it can do.

Going Deeper

When it comes to audio plugins, one name that looms large is FabFilter. With a whole toolkit of processors and effects for audio pros working in music or post production, the Dutch alchemists have something for everyone. With their dynamics and equaliser offerings perhaps getting most of the attention, the company has also long offered their own algorithmic reverb in the shape of Pro-R. This has found a home with Fab fans as well as those seeking a reverb that isn’t trying to be anything other than itself.

FabFilter Pro-R 2

In November 2023 the company extended their reverb’s reach with the release of Pro-R 2. This takes the Pro-R concept and adds some of the things seen in other reverbs that were absent before Pro-R 2. As well as immersive channel format support with Dolby Atmos up to 9.1.6, the rest of Pro-2 R’s add-ons mark new sounds for anyone working in plain old stereo as well…

In the video we check out Pro-R 2’s brand-new reverb algorithms using the Vintage mode on snare drum as well as its Plate on vocals. We also explore other features including its easy-to-use Ducking control as an alternative to pre delay for cutting through wetter productions, Thickness for adding saturation and density, as well as Freeze for sound design and beyond. We also take a look at the improved visual feedback in Pro-R 2 before going back to the Modern mode to inject stunning realism into a guitar stem.

New Version 2 Features In Full:

• Full immersive / Dolby Atmos functionality, with channel layouts up to 9.1.6.

• Two brand-new reverb algorithms: Vintage and Plate.

• Ducking control, offering a fast and easy way to get better separation between wet and dry signals.

• Thickness control, which applies an intuitive combination of density and saturation.

• Auto Gate functionality, including a gate time and host sync options.

• Freeze button.

• Impulse response import feature.

• Speakers options for Decay Rate and Post EQ curves in surround/immersive layouts, offering much more control over decay times in a room model.

• Mid/side and L/R option for the output EQ curves.

• Output level metering.

• Optional piano display scale for the interactive reverb display.

• Fully-featured, tagged preset browser.

Final Thoughts

FabFilter’s new space maker takes their family look and predecessor’s sound, conjuring even more familiar spaces thanks to its two new algorithms. The modern mode can still deliver a range of short and long ambiences for fans of Pro-R, and for newcomers and old-hands alike the Plate and Vintage modes offer yet more flavours coupled with simple controls to duck, freeze, thicken, or otherwise customise sounds quickly.

Some will point out that blending early reflections and reverb into a different control set could compromise on realism and disorientate users of other reverbs, however for others its twist-and-go MO will work well after a few minutes making their own presets. Although Pro-R 2 is now immersive and speaks IR, it should be said that mono or coincidently captured IRs cannot return surround reverb in the same way that surround IRs can. Pro-R 2’s Speakers function and Tilt Controller should however go a long way towards getting involving immersive sounds that serve a mix.

Back in Stereo-land, the Modern mode from the Pro-R is great for natural sounding small spaces on things like guitars, drums, or other sources that need some life injecting into them. For those who like their reverb to be simple in use, Pro-R 2 takes FabFilter’s previous ‘verb’s MO with sparse parameters on the surface; others will be pleased to see that it keeps other Fab touches such as the blue line Decay Rate EQ for the Tweakheads…

A Word About This Article

As the Experts team considered how we could better help the community we thought that some of you are time poor and don’t have the time to read a long article or a watch a long video. In 2023 we are going to be trying out articles that have the fast takeaway right at the start and then an opportunity to go deeper if you wish. Let us know if you like this idea in the comments.