Soundtoys SuperPlate plate reverb plug-in: features and spec-based rating

Soundtoys’ SuperPlate recreates five plate reverbs: the EMT 140, EMT 240, Audicon, Stocktronics RX4000 and EcoPlate III. It has three preamp modes (tube, solid-state and clean) and Auto-Decay, which shortens the reverb only while the input is loud.

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 SuperPlate 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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Summary

Among the 12 reverb plug-ins, SuperPlate is rank A. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and A is second from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 3.8.

Strengths

• Vocal-friendly sounds (4 points): it has the reverb sounds commonly used on vocals, so it is easy to use on a voice.
• Easy to blend (4 points): you can fine-tune the reverb so it stays out of the way of the voice.

Who it suits: people who want the sound of vintage plate reverbs on vocals and snare.

Main features of SuperPlate

Five classic plate reverbs

A plate reverb makes its sound by vibrating a large metal sheet, and it has long been used on vocals. SuperPlate models five units, the EMT 140, EMT 240, Audicon, Stocktronics RX4000 and EcoPlate III, each based on a study of the real hardware. Even among plates the characters differ: the warm EMT 140, the darker and shorter EMT 240, the RX4000 with its extended highs, and so on.

Three preamps change the tone

A real plate reverb raised the signal with a preamp before it vibrated the metal sheet. In SuperPlate you can combine any plate with one of three preamps: Tube, Solid-State (with a compressor) and Clean (no coloration). The Solid-State compressor keeps strong attacks from entering the reverb too much.

Auto-Decay reduces overlapping reverb

Auto-Decay switches the reverb to a shorter length only while the input is louder than a set level. While a voice or instrument plays the reverb is short, and when it stops the reverb returns to its original length. You can also set how fast it returns, so the reverb seems to breathe with the song.

Filters and a two-band EQ

Low Cut and High Cut each offer three slopes and reduce the low and high frequencies that enter the reverb. A two-band parametric EQ can tame midrange muddiness in the reverb or add highs. Pre-delay goes up to 250 ms, which leaves a small gap between the original sound and the reverb so the source stays clear.

Video: “Introducing Soundtoys SuperPlate” (official soundtoys YouTube channel; narration in English) Watch on YouTube

Where it is useful

• Adding the classic EMT 140 plate sound to a vocal
• Using Auto-Decay so the reverb is short while singing and opens up in the breaths
• Choosing the brighter RX4000 or EcoPlate III for snare and guitar

Rating by criterion

Vocal-friendly sounds: 4 / 5

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

It recreates five classic plate reverbs, including the EMT 140.

Easy to blend: 4 / 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 Auto-Decay (a kind of ducking) that shortens the reverb only while the input is loud, and an EQ made of Low Cut, High Cut and a two-band parametric EQ. Pre-delay goes up to 250 ms.

Speed: 3 / 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 choose from five plates and three preamps.

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.

SuperPlate screens and images

Trade-magazine review (for reference, not part of the score)

We summarized the main points from a review in an overseas music-production magazine.

Sound On Sound (July 2023)

• Praised it for keeping the character of a real plate while being far more versatile
• Praised the controls as well thought out and easy to use
• Said Auto-Decay works well as a substitute for ducking, and listed no cons

Source: Sound On Sound review

SuperPlate system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows 10 or later / Mac (macOS 10.15 or later). Windows on ARM is not supported
Plug-in formats	VST2, VST3, AU, AAX
Other	An internet connection is needed for activation. Little Plate is included with the purchase
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

• VintageVerb: features and rating (rank A)
• MReverb: features and rating (rank A)
• Pro-R 2: features and rating (rank S)
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