AKG® BX 20 Spring Reverb
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The only AKG-licensed emulation of this one-of-a-kind spring reverb.
Introduced in the late 1960s, the AKG BX 20 reverb was a high-water mark for AKG’s esteemed engineers. An ingenious assembly of mechanical and electronic componentry, the BX 20 offered the glorious depth and color of spring reverb without any of the limitations.
The AKG BX 20 Spring Reverb plug-in for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces is exclusively endorsed by AKG Acoustics, Austria and envelops your sources in gorgeously dark, dense ambience that only spring reverb can provide.Mix with the only licensed and endorsed AKG Acoustics BX 20 reverb plug-in
Envelop instruments in dark, dense, clear ambience with original dual spring tank configuration
Harness new "plug-in only" features like stereoized A/B Tank Select, Direct signal defeat, and BX 10 Tone controls
Mix with artist presets from Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), Vance Powell (Jack White), and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon)
Take a Listen
5-Minute UAD Tips
Featuring the AKG BX 20 Spring Reverb.
Unparalleled Density
The AKG BX 20's utterly unique character makes it a versatile tool for ambience as well as tone shaping. Its sonic personality features the quick onset of a classic plate reverb, and also the natural-sounding density and diffusion of a chamber — with little of the flutter or “boing” artifacts common with other spring reverbs. Unlike other spring reverb emulations, Universal Audio's hybrid delay network/convolution design provides the only plug-in representation of this mechanically controllable, acoustic ambience system. To that end, UA obsessively emulated a “golden unit” BX 20 from legendary producer, Jon Brion.
Spring Time
The BX 20 plug-in expertly captures the hardware’s unique two-stage decay. This yields warm, organic sounds whether it’s applied on percussion, vocals, or guitars, adding a unique timbre that can make individual tracks stand out — or melt away — in your mix. Short textures are chock full of colorful depth and dimension, while longer decays are rife with lush three-dimensionality, while never washing out.
New Features, More Control
The BX 20 plug-in provides the complete sound and features of the original, plus new "Mk II" features for an expanded sound palette. Tank Select provides the exact sound of the original A/B dual tank system, but includes a “stereoized” tank A or tank B, for more balanced stereo imaging. The Direct function allows you to mute the tank's direct signal for more control and minimizing conflict with the source audio — perfect for buses. The Baxandall-type tone controls — borrowed from the smaller AKG BX 10 — offers the last bit of seasoning to tailor your reverbs.
“When I heard UA was emulating the AKG BX 20, I dared them to beat my hardware – they did it.”
– Vance Powell (Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs)
“This is the vocal reverb sound I’ve had in my head for over 20 years. I will never mix without it again.”
– Jeff Juliano (John Mayer, Shinedown, Train)
“I used the UAD AKG BX 20 plug-in during editing sessions for the new Missy Elliott single, "Where They From," produced by Pharrell. The tone instantly cut through on the vocals and percussion.”
– Mike Larson (Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg)
“The AKG BX 20 Spring Reverb plug-in fits into tracks in fantastically unexpected ways.”
– John Paterno (Robbie Williams, Badly Drawn Boy, Bonnie Raitt)
“What a fat sounding, vibey reverb — I've been using it on everything! Its maiden voyage was mixing a couple Don Henley tracks.”
– Jeff Balding (Taylor Swift, The Eagles, Florida Georgia Line)Watch The Reviews
Customer Reviews
J. Janev
January 14, 2024
A very special reverb!
This is the biggest and warmest sounding reverb I've ever tried! It sounds wonderful when it's louder and with more length to clearly hear the beauty in its sound! It's great that it has...
Read MoreC. Nardi
November 20, 2023
This reverb unit offers a lot of creative solutions
While I prefer the EMT reverbs as room simulation, this spring reverb still has a nice spot on my workflow. When I want to obtain an unrealistic effect on an individual instrument or just...
Read MoreF. ALAIN
November 9, 2023
The AKG BX 20 Spring Reverb
This amazing reverb is great, natural, and very easy to use
Read MoreJ. Berthier
October 17, 2023
Very full, warm, vintage sound
I was looking for owning this plugin and finally took advantage of the last promos/coupons ! Very full, warm, vintage sound, think 60's reverbs style vocals... So glad I can get rid of...
Read More -
Parameters
Input Select, Mono/Stereo: Changes input between summed mono or stereo
Tank Select, A / B / A+B: Under stereo use, changes tank options among stereoized "A" and "B" and original "A+B" configurations
Direct, Off / On: Disables/enables the spring tank's naturally occurring direct sound component
Low Cut, Off / 80 Hz: 12 dB per octave, 80 Hz filter
Bass, ±10: Continuous tone control borrowed from the AKG BX 10, ±8 dB at 150 Hz
Treble, ±10: Continuous tone control borrowed from the AKG BX 10 ±4 dB at 5 kHz
Dry/Wet, 0 to 100%: Continuously adjusts Dry and Wet signals under insert use case
Wet Solo, Off/On: Disables/enables Wet Solo function
Predelay, 0 to 250 milliseconds: Continuously adjusts Predelay amount
Channel 1 Decay, 2 to 4.5 seconds: Continuously adjusts Channel 1 Decay time
Channel 2 Decay, 2 to 4.5 seconds: Continuously adjusts Channel 2 Decay time
Channel 1 Volume, ∞ to +24 dB: Continuously adjusts Channel 1 Volume
Channel 2 Volume, ∞ to +24 dB: Continuously adjusts Channel 2 Volume
Channel 1 Pan, ±100: Continuously adjusts Channel 1 Pan
Channel 2 Pan, ±100: Continuously adjusts Channel 2 Pan
Link, Unlinks/Link: Unlinks/Links Decay, Volume and Pan parameters
Mix: Continuously blends processed and unprocessed signal
Power, Off/On: Disables/Enables plug-in (all DSP processing is bypassed)
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Customer Reviews
AKG BX 20 Spring Reverb
c. maskell
Space!
Love this.great feeling of space
J. Janev
A very special reverb!
This is the biggest and warmest sounding reverb I've ever tried! It sounds wonderful when it's louder and with more length to clearly hear the beauty in its sound! It's great that it has two different reverbs on the left and right channels, giving the sound even more space! Fits great on synths, guitars, drums, and anything you want to add some massive space to!
w. gause
CLASSIC
ANOTHER GREAT REVERB FOR MY COLLECTION
C. Nardi
This reverb unit offers a lot of creative solutions
While I prefer the EMT reverbs as room simulation, this spring reverb still has a nice spot on my workflow. When I want to obtain an unrealistic effect on an individual instrument or just create some depth, the AKG BX 20 opens a lot of creative solutions without requiring much DSP usage. It is can also be used more subtly than, for instance, a tape echo. Another reason why I find it useful is for rehearsal: I often place it on an Aux on my Console and feed it with some signal from the input while I am playing the flute or saxophone.
F. ALAIN
The AKG BX 20 Spring Reverb
This amazing reverb is great, natural, and very easy to use
J. Berthier
Very full, warm, vintage sound
I was looking for owning this plugin and finally took advantage of the last promos/coupons !
Very full, warm, vintage sound, think 60's reverbs style vocals...
So glad I can get rid of my cheap spring reverb that get constantly broken-down !
The only drawback I see is that it uses a lot of processor % on my apollo twin, I hope the native version will come soon so I can use it everywhere !!!B. Barr
Smooooth
Like a warm mug of chocolate milk. This reverb is smooth and warm.
S. Barone
AKG BX 20
Pleeeease Make It Native!
B. George
Excellent Spring Reverb
Authentic Spring Reverb sound. Responds well to guitar playing.
A. Lee
Incredible
Amazing depth of field and sound quality to this. Different from any other spring reverb plugin out there
J. Otshudi
Review
The sound I have been looking for…
A. Dahlback
THE spring reverb!
Back in the days BX 20 was the dream reverb - lush, smooth and with a lot of space added. But int came to a price - about $ 5000 back in the 80's.
UAD's emulation is by far the best I've ever heard of a state-of-the-art spring reverb. Period! It gives the true analog feeling.E. Peterson
Best spring reverb plug-in I own
This one sounds pretty unique and is lots of fun for tons of uses. I use it on acoustic guitar and vocals the most. Very cool sound
I. Hwang
perfect spring reverb I've been looking for
so good
V. Ruzicic
Smooth!
It is so nice and real…
A. MOFFATT
taste
love it, feels and sound like real hardware, very colourful
H. Petersson
Fantastic reverb, but no bread and butter
This is a gorgeous reverb, especially on guitars. It’s smooth, lush and magestic. It’s not one of those small springy spring reverbs, this is one of the big pretty ones.
But it’s not like the EMT140 that can be used for everything, but where it fits it truly shines.K. Gajadhar
Expensive but great!
Sounds great on everything. If you like the sound, it’s a must have. Not 5 stars beceause they should include it in spark to work stand alone without using up DSP.
M. Gad
Very nice fo guitar
Hi, I'm not specialist but i's great with guitar directly without having to become a specialist...
K. Kelley
Very Cool!
Puts a nice space around most everything it touches!
