The Plateau Eurorack module from 4ms Mesa has been announced as a hardware reverb effect coming in August, marking a move from software to dedicated modular hardware. Plateau originated as a free module for VCV Rack and its Cardinal fork and is distributed under the GPLv3 license, and Mesa provides a dedicated hardware version while Valley’s modules are already available in VCV Rack. 4ms also makes the Meta Module, which runs VCV Rack modules, connecting the company’s hardware work to its software ecosystem and supporting the Plateau port to Eurorack.

Plateau implements a digital plate algorithm published in 1997 by Jon Dattaro of Stanford’s CCRMA, an algorithm intended to avoid the ringing that builds up in longer reverbs. The design exploits pitch shifting inherent to the plate algorithm and combines reverb with delay, textural effects, modulation, and glitch capabilities, while offering patchable and tweakable modulation. Plateau is priced at $399, and the article frames its arrival in hardware as an “instant favorite” reverb and describes seeing it in hardware as “a no‑brainer.” The piece was written by Peter Kirn for CDM Create Digital Music.

The Plateau algorithm, outlined in Jon Dattaro’s 1997 paper from Stanford’s CCRMA, is a significant contribution to digital reverb technology. This algorithm is specifically designed to minimize the phenomenon of ringing that commonly occurs in longer reverberations. Dattaro’s work provides a thorough exploration of using digital plate reverb, which involves sophisticated techniques including pitch shifting to create rich and varied reverb effects. These qualities have made the Plateau algorithm particularly notable in audio engineering for enhancing the quality and realism of digital reverb implementations.

The Plateau Eurorack module from 4ms Mesa integrates multiple audio effects within a single hardware unit. Among its primary features, the module functions as a reverb by implementing the Plateau algorithm, which was originally developed in a 1997 academic paper to minimize ringing in long reverb tails. Besides reverb, it also operates as a delay, providing users with the ability to introduce echo effects into their audio. Additionally, the module offers textural effects which can alter the sonic characteristics of recordings. Modulation effects are also supported, giving users the flexibility to adjust sound properties over time, which can lead to interesting variations and dynamic changes.

The module has the capability to generate glitch effects, causing irregularities in sound that can be creatively employed in music production. These features underscore its versatility in the audio effect domain. Furthermore, it includes patchable and tweakable modulation, allowing for customizable audio manipulation tailored to specific user preferences or auditory needs. Priced at $399, the Plateau Eurorack module offers an innovative approach to sound processing by incorporating the advanced Plateau algorithm into a versatile and user-friendly hardware format.

Plateau is available as a free module for VCV Rack and its Cardinal fork. The module is distributed under the GPLv3 license. Valley’s modules are already available in VCV Rack.

Coming in August, Plateau becomes a Eurorack module from 4ms Mesa. 4ms provides a dedicated Plateau version in hardware form. 4ms also makes the Meta Module, which runs VCV Rack modules, and the coexistence of the free VCV Rack module and the upcoming dedicated hardware module shows both forms are present within the same ecosystem.

Peter Kirn authored the piece for CDM Create Digital Music. He reports that Plateau becomes a Eurorack module from 4ms Mesa, coming in August. He states that Plateau is completely free in VCV Rack and its Cardinal fork and is distributed under the GPLv3 license. He frames the arrival of the hardware module as an instant favorite reverb and notes the module is priced at $399.

“It was bound to happen. Now Eurorack hardware is emulating your computer. How the tables have turned! Or, um, mesas.”

“Plateau for everybody! (It’s free as in “you still have money for beer” and as in GPLv3-licensed.)”

“So seeing this in hardware is a no‑brainer.”

CONCLUSION

Plateau began as a free module for VCV Rack and its Cardinal fork, distributed under the GPLv3 license. The module implements the Plateau digital plate algorithm described by Jon Dattaro at Stanford’s CCRMA in 1997, an algorithm intended to minimize the ringing that builds up in longer reverbs. The algorithm’s operation also involves pitch shifting. The software-origin history precedes the hardware adaptation by 4ms Mesa.

4ms Mesa is releasing Plateau as a dedicated Eurorack module in August, with a stated price of $399. The hardware unit retains features presented in the software form, including functioning as a reverb, a delay, a textural effect, and a modulation effect, as well as producing glitch effects and offering patchable and tweakable modulation. 4ms also produces the Meta Module, which runs VCV Rack modules, and Valley’s modules are already available in VCV Rack. The article is authored by Peter Kirn and frames the hardware arrival as an instant favorite reverb.