Plateau 2
Key Features
- Dual reverb tanks that can operate independently or feed into each other through send controls
- Left and right chamber structure inside each tank for complex stereo interaction
- Routing page with input level, stereo source, stereo width, pan, inter-tank send, send delay, and send damping controls
- Main reverb shaping with dry/wet level, size, diffusion, decay, input damping, reverb damping, and modulation
- Freeze and global freeze modes for sustaining both local tank textures and the full dual-tank reverb field
- Extras page with pre-delay, nested diffusion, tank variance, modulation variance, tuned mode, and soft clipping
- Dangerous feedback controls are hidden behind a dedicated switch for deliberate experimental use
Description
Plateau 2 is a dual-tank plate reverb plugin from Dart Spark that turns the open-source Plateau reverb design into a standalone VST3/AU effect. Each tank has its own controls, left and right chambers, and routing options, so it can work as a lush mix reverb or a deep spatial sound-design tool.
The plugin is built for long, smooth, spacious tails rather than small-room realism. Its tank sends let one reverb feed another, while pre-delay, damping, diffusion, modulation, stereo width, pan, and inter-tank delay controls give you far more movement than a basic one-knob plate.
Plateau 2 also includes freeze, global freeze, clear, nested diffusion, tuned mode, tank variance, modulation variance, and soft clipping. Those extras make it useful for ambient pads, washed-out guitars, cinematic transitions, and experimental feedback textures.
The developer warns that some advanced settings can create extremely loud feedback, and those controls are hidden behind an Enable Dangerous Settings switch. Treat those options like creative sound-design tools: put a limiter after the plugin and keep monitoring levels conservative when exploring them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Plateau 2 different from a normal plate reverb?
Plateau 2 uses two separate reverb tanks that can send signal into each other. That gives it more routing depth and stereo movement than a straightforward single-plate emulation.
Is Plateau 2 based on a real hardware plate?
It is based on the open-source Valley Audio Plateau module for VCV Rack, which itself follows Jon Dattorro's 1997 plate reverb design. The result is more of a flexible algorithmic plate design than a strict model of one vintage hardware unit.
Why does the manual warn about dangerous settings?
Some settings can generate very loud feedback when pushed into extreme routing or decay behavior. The developer hides those options behind an Enable Dangerous Settings control and recommends using a limiter or very low monitoring volume.
Does Plateau 2 require a Gumroad checkout?
Yes. The official download is hosted on Gumroad as a name-your-price product, so users need to go through the Gumroad flow and provide an email address before receiving the macOS and Windows downloads.
