The Eventide SP 2016 Effects Processor/Reverb was engineered as an advanced, highly flexible general-purpose digital audio signal processor. Its hardware was designed to deliver uncompromising, natural-sounding digital reverberation that meets Eventide’s demanding performance standards, while also supporting a broad range of other audio effects.
A key design innovation lies in its intelligent user control system. Eventide faced the challenge of granting access to every effect, parameter, and control combination without overloading the front panel with knobs. Their solution was a universal, deceptively simple control layout that allows fast learning and complete functionality. The Eventide SP 2016’s computer-guided control system features alphanumeric displays that lead the user through each function step-by-step, with mix controls, input and output faders, LED level meters, and status indicators clearly laid out on the front.
The Eventide SP 2016 also includes non-volatile user presets, with capacity for up to 65 saved program and parameter sets. These can be named and browsed alphanumerically. Stored presets are protected from accidental loss even in a power outage, and any previously saved values are retained unless explicitly changed.
Eventide built in a self-test system as standard. This feature can diagnose problems by running a continuous or targeted test routine to isolate faults, including intermittent ones, making troubleshooting significantly easier.
Remote control capabilities are provided via a standard IEEE-488 interface, with compatibility for additional protocols like SMPTE and MIDI anticipated in future upgrades. A compact hand-held remote option is available, replicating key control functions at a lower cost.
What truly sets the Eventide SP 2016 apart is the SPUDSystem, Eventide’s “Signal Processor User Development System.” This pioneering integration of hardware and software allows experienced users to design and implement their own custom effects and programs. No advanced programming skills are needed. Currently compatible with Hewlett-Packard personal computers, the system may support more platforms in the future. SPUDSystem serves not only as a powerful tool for custom processing but also as a valuable educational resource in digital signal processing.
Alongside this powerful hardware is the Eventide SP 2016 Generation II software package, which brings a new level of performance in reverb and audio effects. Every Eventide SP 2016 ships with this expanded library of sophisticated programs, which are not only highly functional but sonically rich, with depth and realism often unmatched by competitors. Eventide encourages users to compare units directly, especially if coming from more basic systems offering discrete parameter control. The Eventide SP 2016 offers a far broader range of sonic possibilities.
Included programs:
- Plate Reverb & High-Density Plate: Realistic plate simulations that maintain clarity even with long decay times.
- Standard Room Reverb: Preset-friendly, with practical parameter options.
- Stereo Room Reverberation: High-quality stereo room simulation with full parameter control.
- Generic Reverb: Emulates simpler digital reverbs for users who prefer that tonal character.
- Lossless Room: Simulates a space where reverberation accumulates over time rather than decaying.
- Gated Reverb: Aggressive reverb shaping with hard cutoffs and compressed decay.
- Reverse Reverb: Simulates backwards reverb that crescendos into the dry sound.
- Flanging & Expander Flanging: Includes advanced flanger options where modulation can be controlled by an external audio source.
- Band Delay: Four-band delay with individually adjustable timings for each frequency range.
- Musical Combs: Tunable comb filters that correspond to musical scales, useful for robotic or harmonic effects.
- Dual Digiplex & Long Digiplex: Multi-head tape delay emulation without cumulative noise.
- Dual Delay & Long Delay: Stereo delays up to 0.8 seconds per channel or a single delay up to 3.26 seconds with full bandwidth.
The Eventide SP2016 represents a significant milestone in digital audio processing — uniting sophisticated hardware, intuitive control, customisable software, and superior sound design.
The birth of the Plug-in!
In 1981 Eventide gave birth to the ‘plug-in’ by way of ROM Chips that ‘plug-in’ to a socket within the SP2016 reverb, to provide new reverb algorithms. In total there were 11 ROM chip sockets onboard for expansion. An ex-Eventide employee started a company called First Order Effects to offer new ROM chips for the SP2016.
