Fors is the Swedish software development duo of Ess Mattisson and Felisha Ledesma, founded in 2020. Their latest release is Sala, a free shimmer reverb for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Mattisson and Ledesma set out to create custom tools that sound great and provide speedy results with minimal effort. Something that began as a personal collaboration to enhance their music production process quickly grew into much more.
With a background in hardware instrument design, the Fors team is adept at designing intuitive GUIs that appeal to a wide audience.
Sala is a free reverb plugin available in AUv2, VST3, and CLAP formats for macOS (10.13 and higher), Windows (10 and higher), and Linux (Ubuntu 22 or higher).
The first thing to say about Sala is that it’s not a classic reverb; the developer describes it as “incredibly unrealistic” and “unique,” with five easy controls: Size, Decay, Tone, Zoom, and Dry/Wet.
Fors compares the Zoom function (pre-diffusion stage) to a camera lens zooming in on the finer details of an image. You can transition between an up-close and personal sound and something a little broader, softer, more ambient.
While you can adjust the size of the reverb, smaller spaces still have a distinct character and unique sound. Adjusting the Tone parameter may get you slightly closer to a natural sound, but that’s not where Sala excels.
It’s fair to say that Sala does its best work in creating epic spaces and rich, shimmering reverbs. It’s a transformative effect rather than a subtle shaping tool, and it can turn uninspiring sounds into beautiful textures.
You might want to check out Subtle Spaces from Fine Classic Plugins if you’re after something more subtle.
Another more classic option is PSP Audioware’s PSP Chamber, a free reverb plugin inspired by vintage hardware units.
Ableton users should check out the Fors Max For Live series. Max For Live is a collection of Ableton-optimized effects and instruments with free and paid options.
I’m not an Ableton Live user, but I know these devices tend to get rave reviews from those who are, so it’s worth checking them out.
Download: Sala (FREE)
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