Apollo
Native
sale
EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator
The most impressive plate reverbs ever made. Now in your DAW.
- Iconic Studio Reverbs. Get the essential plate sounds heard on recordings from The Beatles to Radiohead*
- Authentic EMT Tone. Enjoy warmth and realism far beyond other emulations
- A Vocal Masterpiece. Make lead tracks instantly stand out above a dense mix
- Essential Controls. Dial in classic sounds with damping and filter controls, and access plug-in-only settings like Balance, Width, and Modulation
Explore Three Legendary Plate Reverbs
What They Say
Mick Guzauski
(Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, Eric Clapton)
Carl Glanville
(U2, Billy Joel, Jason Mraz)
Andrew Scheps
(Adele, Jay-Z, Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
Frequently Asked Questions
The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator is worth it for anyone who wants the sound of a real plate reverb without renting studio space that still has one. The plug-in models three distinct EMT 140 units captured at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, California, each with its own character — so you're not getting a single generic plate texture, but three physically different machines. At $29, you're getting one of the more affordable ways to add genuine plate reverb to your productions.
The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator models three separate physical units, not one idealized version of the hardware. Plates A and B capture EMT electronics that hadn't been tuned in some time, giving them a looser, more organic character. Plate C uses more modern Martech electronics that had just been fully serviced, making it the brightest and most full-frequency of the three. That range of character within a single plug-in is what sets it apart.
The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator includes three plate models, each captured from a different physical unit at The Plant Studios. Plates A and B use the original EMT electronics and carry a worn-in quality that translates well to organic sources like vocals and acoustic instruments. Plate C uses modern Martech electronics, recently serviced, and delivers a fuller, more extended frequency response that works on drums and brighter sources. Choosing between them is less about "best" and more about which texture suits the track.
No — the EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator runs natively on your computer's CPU and does not require an Apollo interface or UAD Accelerator. It runs on macOS and Windows and loads directly in your DAW like any other plug-in. You can try it free for 14 days before purchasing.
The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator works with macOS and Windows and is compatible with any major DAW that supports AU, VST3, or AAX plug-in formats. There's no platform-specific limitation on DAW choice. Check the our system requirements page for the current macOS and Windows version specifics.
The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator adds a lush, natural depth to vocals that digital reverb algorithms tend not to replicate — the decay has warmth and movement rather than a static tail. Plate A and Plate B are particularly well suited to vocals, with the slightly worn character of their original electronics giving the reverb a sense of space that sits behind a vocal without competing with it. The Modulation control lets you add a subtle movement or a more pronounced effect depending on the genre and the part.
The Balance, Width, and Modulation controls in the EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator are additions that go beyond what the original hardware offered. Balance lets you position the reverb signal in the stereo field, which is useful for keeping a mono snare reverb centered. Width controls how wide the reverb image spreads, so you can open up string or synth reverbs without washing out the center of a mix. Modulation adds pitch variation to the reverb tail, from gentle movement on lead vocals to a more overt effect on pads or keys. The EQ section adds low and high frequency shelves to further tailor the reverb to your mix.
Plate reverb creates ambience by passing an audio signal through a large physical steel plate that vibrates, and a pickup captures those vibrations as a reverb signal. The result has a density and texture that comes from the physical behavior of metal — it's smooth, it builds quickly, and it has a characteristic brightness in the highs. Digital algorithmic reverb, by contrast, models the acoustic behavior of rooms and spaces using math. Both are useful, but plate reverb sits differently in a mix: it adds depth without introducing the sense of a physical room, which is why it's been a go-to for vocals and snare drums for decades.
Yes — the EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator is a strong choice for drum bus and snare processing. Plate reverb has historically been the preferred treatment for snare because it adds body and sustain without smearing transients the way room reverbs can. Plate C's fuller frequency response is well suited to full drum bus use, while Plates A and B give snare drums a tighter, more vintage character. The Balance control makes it easy to keep a snare reverb mono and punchy even within a stereo reverb return.
The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator is a reliable choice across a wide range of sources beyond vocals. It works on acoustic guitar, piano, electric piano, and synths — anything that benefits from a sense of space with natural density rather than a simulated room. Plate C handles brighter sources and full-mix applications well. The Width control is useful for spreading strings or pads, and Modulation adds movement to synth textures that might otherwise feel static in the mix.
The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator remains one of the most used reverb textures in professional mixing, and nothing about that has changed. Plate reverb shows up constantly on major releases precisely because it has a specific sonic character that digital room algorithms don't replicate — it's smooth, dense, and sits behind sources rather than placing them in a space. For vocals, snare, and melodic instruments, it's as relevant now as it was when the original hardware was built.
UAD Spark is our plug-in subscription, which gives you access to a catalog of UAD plug-ins for a monthly or annual fee. The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator is available both as a direct purchase at $29 and as part of the Spark subscription library. If you're building out a larger set of UAD plug-ins, Spark is worth comparing against buying individual titles — the value depends on how many plug-ins you plan to use.
The EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator fills a specific role in the our reverb lineup: it's the dedicated plate option, designed for sources that need smooth, dense ambience without a room character. Other UAD reverb plug-ins model specific hardware units built around algorithmic or spring reverb designs, each with distinct sonic signatures. The EMT 140 is the right choice when the goal is a classic plate texture — for room and hall sounds, other plug-ins in the catalog are better suited.
Engineers with credits on major releases have praised the EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator for its utility on snare and its versatility as a general-purpose plate. Jeff Balding, who has worked with Taylor Swift, The Eagles, and Florida Georgia Line, uses it as his go-to for putting space around a snare. Vance Powell, whose credits include Jack White and The Dead Weather, calls it one he uses all the time.
Yes — the EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator includes a free 14-day fully functional demo. Start the demo from within the plug-in GUI, and use it in your sessions at full quality before deciding whether to purchase.