2hp Verb (2010–2023)
A reverb compact enough to feel like a cheat, until you hear how wide it can make your rack sound.
Overview
The 2hp Verb is a reverb in a module only 2HP wide. People tend to install it as a gap-filler between the oscillator and the filter, then forget it until they bypass it and the whole system sounds like it's been stuffed in a sock drawer. It restores dimension, not just space. Decays run from tight room ambience to cathedral-sized, even though it has one of the smallest footprints in Eurorack. It's stereo in and out, which helps when you feed it stereo delays or dual-panned voices and want the reverb to keep that width instead of collapsing it into a muddy center.
This is digital reverb, and it doesn't pretend otherwise. Some users report a slight metallic edge when the decay is cranked or the mix is pushed too wet. That comes with the FV-1 DSP chip it runs on. The Verb isn't trying to mimic plate reverbs or spring tanks. It's meant to be always available and always patchable. The dampening control tames the high-end zing and gives a darker, more natural tail. The CV input over mix turns it from an effect into an instrument. A plucked sequence can start dry and, over eight bars, dissolve into a shimmering cloud, with no automation and no DAW, just a slow LFO on the mix CV.
It comes from the early 2010s Eurorack boom, when every HP counted and builders were obsessed with density. 2hp built its reputation on minimalism: tiny modules that did one thing well. The Verb wasn't the first reverb in Eurorack, but it was the first that didn't demand a mortgage. Before this, a decent reverb took 8HP, 10HP, even 16HP. The Verb put stereo reverb in 2HP.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | 2hp |
| Production Years | 2010–2023 |
| Width | 2HP |
| Depth | 42 mm |
| Power | 81 mA +12V, 28 mA -12V, 0 mA 5V |
| Audio Inputs | Stereo (1/8" TS jacks) |
| Audio Outputs | Stereo (1/8" TS jacks) |
| CV Input | Mix control (1/8" jack) |
| Controls | Reverb time, dampening, mix (with CV attenuverter) |
| Signal Path | Digital (FV-1 DSP chip) |
| Reverb Types | Algorithmic stereo reverb (room, hall, plate-like spaces) |
| Reverb Time Range | Adjustable from short room to long hall |
| Dampening | High-frequency decay control |
| Mix Control | Dry/wet blend with CV input and attenuverter |
| Weight | Approx. 50g |
Key Features
The 2HP Miracle
Two horizontal HP. That’s the width of a single nut on a Eurorack panel. And yet, inside that sliver lives a fully functional stereo reverb with CV control, dampening, and a surprisingly full sound. This wasn’t just engineering—it was alchemy. The 2hp Verb became a benchmark for density, proof that you didn’t need bulk to get dimension. It’s the module you reach for when you’re one HP short of a full row and think, “Well, I could just leave a blank panel…” but then remember you could instead have reverb. And not just any reverb—stereo, with CV over mix. That kind of efficiency reshaped how people built racks. Suddenly, reverb wasn’t a luxury reserved for large systems; it was a standard utility, like a VCA or attenuator. The trade-off? No CV over reverb time, no preset storage, no shimmer or pitch-shift effects. But that’s not the brief. The Verb doesn’t want to be a multi-effects unit. It wants to be always on, always ready, and never in the way.
Dampening as a Sculpting Tool
Most small-format digital reverbs give you time and mix and that's it. The Verb adds dampening. Without it, digital reverbs can get harsh in the upper mids and highs, especially when pushed. Here the dampening control rolls off the fizz and turns a glassy, metallic decay into something warmer. It's not a full EQ, but it helps the reverb sit in the mix rather than fight it. Turn it down, and long halls sound more like a carpeted ballroom than a tiled bathroom. Patch an envelope follower into the dampening CV input (via an attenuator), and you get a reverb that brightens as the source gets louder, the way real spaces behave.
CV Over Mix: The Secret Weapon
The only CV input on the Verb is for mix. Most reverb algorithms don't benefit from real-time time modulation, since it can get chaotic and unstable, but mix works well. Sweeping from dry to wet with a sequencer, an envelope, or a slow LFO turns reverb from a static effect into a dynamic one. A drum sequence can start tight and close, then open into a massive space on the downbeat. A lead synth can be dry on attack and swell into reverb on release. The attenuverter on the CV input lets you invert the response or scale it down, so a small CV signal gives fine control instead of slamming the mix to 100%.
Historical Context
When the 2hp Verb launched around 2010, Eurorack was still a niche within a niche. Racks were small, power supplies were limited, and every HP was a decision. Most reverb solutions were external pedals or bulky modules like the Mutable Instruments Clouds (which came later). Stereo reverb in 2HP seemed impossible. 2hp was built on this kind of minimalism: the Switch, the Mix, the Logic, all modules that did one thing in the smallest possible space. The Verb was their most ambitious yet, because reverb is computationally heavy. It ran on the Spin Semiconductor FV-1, a DSP chip popular in boutique guitar pedals and compact effects, which allowed for efficient, low-power reverb algorithms. It also meant effects didn't have to be secondary, external, or expensive. They could be patched, modulated, sequenced and integrated like any other module. Competitors like Erica Synths and Industrial Music Electronics were building larger, more complex reverbs. The Verb carved out its own niche as the always-on, set-and-forget, but still modulatable reverb. It wasn't the most powerful, but it was the most accessible.
Collectibility & Value
The 2hp Verb was discontinued in 2023. It's not yet a "holy grail," but it's getting harder to find in clean, working condition. Used prices hover between $180 and $250 depending on color (black, silver, or special editions) and whether it's sold with a warranty or tested status. Its original MSRP was around $229, so it's holding value well, especially for a module with no presets, MIDI, or flashy features. People don't buy the Verb because it's rare. They buy it because they need it. And because it's so small, it's often the last module installed in a build, so many units have been heavily used. The jacks, especially the 1/8" audio and CV inputs, are delicate. Owners report jack solder joints cracking from repeated patching, and the FV-1 chip, while reliable, can fail if the module is exposed to voltage spikes or incorrect power. There's no user-serviceable fuse, so a power issue can mean a trip to a technician. When buying used, test every input and output, check for crackling, and verify that the CV mix control responds smoothly. Also confirm the version. Some early units had slightly different power draw, but most modern power supplies handle it fine.
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