FabFilter Pro-R 2 reverb plug-in: features and spec-based rating

FabFilter’s Pro-R 2 is a reverb plug-in whose “Space” knob moves smoothly through room models from a small room to a cathedral. It also offers a Decay Rate EQ that changes the decay time by frequency, Vintage and Plate algorithms, IR file loading and Dolby Atmos support.

A reverb adds the sound of a room or hall to a recording. For vocals, it adds space and helps the voice sit in the mix with the backing track.

In this article we compare Pro-R 2 with 12 reverb plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Image: from the FabFilter official press kit

Summary

Among the 12 reverb plug-ins, Pro-R 2 is rank S. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and S is the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 4.8.

Strengths

• Vocal-friendly sounds (5 points): it has the reverb sounds commonly used on vocals, so it is easy to use on a voice.
• Easy to blend (5 points): you can fine-tune the reverb so it stays out of the way of the voice.
• Speed (4 points): clear controls and automatic settings get you to the sound you want quickly.

Who it suits: people who want one reverb that covers everything from natural room sound to plate, with clear controls.

Main features of Pro-R 2

A Space knob that changes room size smoothly

Pro-R 2 has a dozen or more room models, from a small room to a large hall and a cathedral, and one Space knob moves smoothly between them. As you turn it, a decay time that suits the room size is chosen automatically. You can decide “a little bigger” or “a little smaller” without thinking about technical numbers.

Two more sounds: Vintage and Plate

Version 2 added Vintage, which recalls digital reverb units of the 1980s and 90s, and Plate, which recreates a plate reverb that vibrates a metal sheet. Plate is the bright, dense sound often used on vocals. You can switch between natural room sound and classic hardware character in one plug-in.

Decay Rate EQ changes decay time by frequency

In a real room, low and high frequencies ring for different lengths of time. Decay Rate EQ lets you change the decay time for each frequency with a six-band EQ-style control. For example, you can shorten only the low-frequency decay so that adding reverb does not make the sound muddy. Of the 8 products we compared, only Pro-R 2 lets you set this in six bands.

Ducking and Post EQ help it blend

With ducking, the reverb gets quieter while a voice or instrument is playing and returns in the gaps. This is useful for keeping lyrics from being buried in the tail. There is also a six-band Post EQ that shapes the tone of the whole reverb, and it can be adjusted separately for M/S (the center and the sides).

Video: “Introduction to FabFilter Pro-R 2” (official FabFilter YouTube channel; narration in English) Watch on YouTube

Where it is useful

• Adding plate reverb to a vocal to make it brighter and bring it forward
• Using ducking so that fast lyrics stay intelligible through the reverb tail
• Loading your own IR files (recordings of how a space sounds) and building a similar sound as a preset

Rating by criterion

Vocal-friendly sounds: 5 / 5

We check whether it has the reverb types vocalists use most (plate, hall and room).

You can choose models such as room, hall, Vintage and Plate.

Easy to blend: 5 / 5

We check whether you can adjust the reverb so it does not get in the way of the voice and sits well with the backing track.

It has ducking, the Decay Rate EQ that changes decay time by frequency, and a reverb EQ.

Speed: 4 / 5

We check whether it has features that get you to the sound you want quickly, such as automatic settings or controls that work by feel, like distance.

You can build the sound with controls that work by feel, such as Space, Distance and Brightness.

How we score (Reverb plug-ins)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Vocal-friendly sounds	Whether it offers the reverb types vocalists rely on (plate, hall and room)	Three or more standard sounds to choose from, including plate	Two or more including plate, or several plate models	Two or more standard sounds other than plate	One standard sound	Mainly special-effect sounds
Easy to blend	Controls for blending the reverb into a mix and a voice	Ducking, per-band decay time and reverb EQ are all included	Two of those, or a feature that adjusts automatically to the sound	One or two controls such as pre-delay or EQ	—	Not mentioned on the official page
Speed	How quickly you can reach the sound you want	AI builds the reverb automatically to suit the sound	Easy-to-understand controls, such as distance	Just pick a mode	Standard controls	—

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: adding a natural sense of space to a vocal and blending it into the backing track. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Vocal-friendly sounds" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

Pro-R 2 system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows / Mac (an iPad version also exists)
Plug-in formats	VST, VST3, AU, CLAP, AAX
Trial	30-day trial available
OBS (streaming)	Works as it is (VST2 is listed)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.

Compared with other reverb plug-ins

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• smart:reverb 2: features and rating (rank S)
• SP2016 Reverb: features and rating (rank S)
• VintageVerb: features and rating (rank A)
• RAUM: features and rating (rank B)