EMT 140 & 250: Classic UAD Reverbs Explained

They’ve shaped the sound of records for decades. Now they’re available as UAD Native plug-ins, so you can add space and depth to your music productions on any system.

In this guide you’ll learn how to use our EMT 140 and EMT 250 UAD plug-ins, with examples for vocals, drums, guitars, and horns. Enjoy the full video tutorial or read the key takeaways below!

 

 

What Are the EMT 140 and EMT 250?

The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator is a UAD plug-in emulation of the first hardware plate reverb ever made. The 140 is known for its whip-like attack and dense, shimmery tone. Originally a steel sheet suspended under tension and driven by a voice coil, the UAD plug-in gives you three versions of the original hardware.

The EMT 250 Classic Electronic Reverb is a UAD plug-in emulation of the first digital reverb ever made. Only a few hundred units were built, and the UAD plug-in uses the exact algorithm as the original hardware. Beyond reverb, the unit also gives you Delay, Echo, Chorus, Phase, and Space modes.

Drew's Tips with EMT Reverb

1. Create separation with the Width control

"Use the Width control to place reverbs at different points in the stereo field rather than stacking everything wide. With a plate set narrow on snare and wide on vocals, each element has its own space." Learn more about the Width control ›

 

2. Dial in your decay using Mod and Depth

"The Mod section allows you to add interest to your reverb tails by adding subtle pitch movement, and has the added bonus of keeping the verb from 'ringing' out."
Watch a breakdown of the Mod control ›

 

3. Use Predelay to let sources breathe

"At 0ms the reverb is glued directly to the source. That’s great when you want the two to feel like one. When you add predelay, they separate. This lets the attack breathe before the reverb blooms in." Learn more about Predelay ›

 

4. Drive the input on the 250

"Don't be afraid to push some signal into the 250. We modeled the entire A/D conversion, so hitting it hard actually does something. It’s the same way engineers have been pushing the Lexicon PCM 42 for decades." Hear how the EMT 250 adds tone ›

Try the EMT 140 and 250 UAD Plug-Ins Today

With all three plates included on the EMT 140, and updated high-res GUI for both plug-ins, now you can get the most authentic EMT reverb sounds with or without Apollo!

Shop EMT reverbs available natively ›

— UA Staff

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EMT 140 plug-in?

The UAD EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator is a software emulation of the EMT 140 hardware plate reverb. It models three distinct plate characters (A, B, C) with both original EMT and Martech electronics, and adds plug-in-exclusive features including stereo width control, LFO modulation, onboard EQ, and predelay.

What is the EMT 250 plug-in?

The UAD EMT 250 Classic Electronic Reverb is a plug-in model of the world's first commercially available digital reverb (1976). It uses the same algorithms as the original hardware and includes six effect modes: Reverb, Delay, Echo, Phase, Chorus, and Space.

Do the EMT 140 or EMT 250 require an Apollo?

Both are now available as UAD Native plug-ins, which run on your CPU. The Apollo DSP versions of each plug-in requires an Apollo or UAD hardware.

What's the difference between the EMT 140 and EMT 250?

The 140 is a mechanical plate reverb known for its bright, shimmery sound and dense tail. The 250 is a digital reverb with a darker, more moody character. The 250 extends well beyond reverb into delay, echo, chorus, phase, and ambient space effects.