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Lexicon 480L Digital Reverb and Effects
Mix with a world-famous algorithmic reverb, in all its lush digital glory.
- Record and mix with the only authentic Lexicon 480L digital reverb plug-in
- Experiment with colorful Plate, Ambience, Hall, and Room algorithms on your sources
- Apply out-of-the-ordinary Random and Effects programs, including doubling, tremolo, and chorus textures
- Sculpt your own textures with an improved version of Lexicon's famous "LARC" controller
Mix with a World-Famous Algorithmic Reverb
What They Say
Jacknife Lee
R.E.M, The Cars, Snow Patrol
Eli Janney
Late Night with Seth Meyers, Wilco, Ryan Adams
Ian Boxill
Lenny White, Prince, 2Pac
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Lexicon 480L Digital Reverb and Effects plug-in is the only Lexicon-endorsed emulation of the 1986 Lexicon 480L, a reverb that has sat at the heart of major studio consoles for decades. You get its Plate, Ambience, Hall, and Room algorithms, plus Random and Effects programs, in a single plug-in. If you want that lush, deep, otherworldly digital space on vocals, synths, guitars, or drums, this is the most direct way to get it without tracking down vintage hardware.
The UAD Lexicon 480L is officially endorsed by Lexicon and focuses on capturing the specific ambience, modulation, and reverb tails of the original 480L hardware. Beyond standard reverb, it includes the random time-varying Effects algorithm and a four-voice Twin Delay algorithm, so it doubles as a multi-effects processor. Most reverb plug-ins aim for a generic "good room." This one aims for a very particular sound that's been on countless records.
The LARC (Lexicon Alphanumeric Remote Control) is the iconic remote used to operate the original Lexicon 480L hardware. The Lexicon 480L plug-in recreates it with an expanded parameter display and other workflow improvements. The original LARC was famously tricky to learn, so the plug-in shows you more of what's going on at once while keeping the feel of the classic controller.
Choose the Lexicon 480L if you want the denser, more modulated reverbs and multi-effects programs of Lexicon's 1986 flagship, and choose the Lexicon 224 for the classic late-'70s and '80s Lexicon plate and concert hall sound. The Lexicon 224 plug-in offers eight reverb programs and one chorus program, while the Lexicon 480L adds Random and Effects algorithms for doubling, tremolo, reverse, and chorus textures. The 224 also runs as a UAD native plug-in on any Mac or Windows computer, while the 480L runs on Apollo interfaces and UAD Accelerators. Plenty of engineers keep both, using the 224 for vintage character and the 480L for lush, moving tails.
The Lexicon 480L gives you a wider range of spaces than a dedicated plate reverb, covering Plate, Ambience, Hall, and Room algorithms in one plug-in. A dedicated plate emulation is a great choice when you want one focused, bright, dense sound. The 480L is the better pick when you want to shape the size, spread, and movement of the space, or move from a tight ambience to a huge hall on the same channel.
The UAD Lexicon 480L Digital Reverb and Effects plug-in is designed to capture the unique ambience, modulation, and reverb tails of the original 480L, and it carries Lexicon's official endorsement. Engineers who used the hardware for years have called the plug-in's sound indistinguishable from the original unit. The 480L's character lives in its complex tails and subtle movement, and that's exactly what UA focused on modeling.
The Lexicon 480L plug-in includes Plate, Ambience, Hall, and Room algorithms, along with Split Decay Reverb, Random, Effects, and a four-voice Twin Delay. Shape and Spread parameters let you go from immediate and shimmering to dense and blooming. On the Random algorithm, the Spin and Wander parameters control how much the reverb tail moves over time.
The Lexicon 480L plug-in runs on UAD DSP, so you'll need an Apollo audio interface or UAD DSP Accelerator to use it. The processing happens on UA hardware instead of your computer's CPU, which keeps your system free for other plug-ins and virtual instruments. If you don't own UA hardware yet, the Lexicon 224 is available as a UAD native plug-in that runs directly on your computer.
Yes. The Lexicon 480L plug-in runs on both macOS and Windows, including Apple Silicon Macs, when paired with an Apollo audio interface or UAD Accelerator. Check UA's system requirements page for current OS versions supported.
The Lexicon 480L plug-in works in any major DAW that supports VST3, AU, or AAX plug-in formats, as well as UA's own LUNA recording system. LUNA runs on both Mac and Windows. You can also run the 480L in the Apollo Console app, which lets you monitor through it while recording.
Yes. The Lexicon 480L plug-in has a fully functional 14-day free demo. Start it from the UAD software and use it in your own sessions on your own tracks, so you can hear how it sits in your mixes before deciding.
Yes. With an Apollo audio interface, you can run the Lexicon 480L plug-in in realtime through the Console app with near-zero latency. That means singers and players can hear themselves in a lush 480L space while they perform, which often leads to more confident takes. You can monitor with the reverb and keep your recorded track dry, or print the effect if you already know the sound you want.
Yes. The Lexicon 480L plug-in is a favorite on vocals because its modulated tails add depth and size without cluttering the lead. Plate and Hall algorithms give you classic vocal space, while the Effects algorithm's doubling and chorus programs can thicken a vocal or add width to harmonies. It's equally at home on acoustic guitar, synth pads, electric piano, and drums.
Yes. The Lexicon 480L plug-in includes a random time-varying Effects algorithm with reverse, doubling, tremolo, and chorus sounds, plus a four-voice Twin Delay algorithm. Combine them and the 480L works as a full multi-effects system, not only a reverb. It's a great way to add movement to static synth parts or give a guitar part some unexpected dimension.
Yes. The Lexicon 480L plug-in includes over 100 artist presets from Grammy-winning engineers and producers who used the original 480L on major records. They give you a quick starting point for vocals, drums, guitars, and more. Once you find something close, you can tweak it to fit your track.
Yes. DSP-powered reverbs like the Lexicon 480L are still a smart choice, especially for Apollo owners who want realtime effects while tracking. Running reverb on UAD DSP keeps it off your computer's CPU, which matters for detailed algorithmic reverbs with long, complex tails. And with Apollo, you can monitor through those effects during recording with near-zero latency, something CPU-based plug-ins can't match in the same way.
UAD-2 plug-ins, like the Lexicon 480L, run on the DSP inside Apollo interfaces and UAD Accelerators, while UAD native plug-ins run directly on your computer's CPU with no UA hardware required. UAD-2 plug-ins can also run in realtime in Apollo's Console app for tracking. Many UAD titles come in both formats, and the Lexicon 480L currently runs as a UAD-2 plug-in.
Lexicon reverbs sound distinctive because of their lush, modulated tails and the way their algorithms let the space move and bloom around a sound. The Lexicon 480L, released in 1986, pushed that character further with Split Decay Reverb algorithms, Random algorithms with Spin and Wander controls, and time-varying effects. The result is a reverb that feels deep and alive rather than static, which is why it became a fixture in major studios. The Lexicon 480L plug-in brings that sound into your sessions.