AMS RMX-16

The AMS RMX-16 is a digital reverb unit released by AMS in late 1981. It was very popular in the 1980s for its "non-linear" gated reverb setting, which saw extensive use on several records and was a staple of the recording studio.

The AMS non-linear sound was inspired by the drum sound on Peter Gabriel's "Intruder" from his self-titled third album. The effect was discovered by accident, via the SSL console which had the 'reverse talkback' function to allow communication with musicians in the studio via a dedicated microphone. The microphone (an STC Ball & Biscuit) had heavy compression, and via treatment with one of the built-in noise gates from the SSL, the gated reverb sound was born. The same sound was recreated on "In The Air Tonight" on Face Value, prior to the release of the AMS RMX-16.

The AMS RMX-16 became an integral part Phil Collins', Genesis' and Peter Gabriel's music in their subsequent projects.

Peter Gabriel's AMS RMX-16
Peter Gabriel adopted the AMS RMX-16, which was a vital part of his sound during the 1980s, particularly on Security (1982) and So (1986). On those albums in particular, the RMX-16 non-linear setting (gated reverb) can be heard prominently on the drums, such as on "I Have The Touch", "Red Rain" and "That Voice Again". Peter liked to use the effects returns on the RMX-16 as well as the DMX 15-80S during recording for musicians to react to the processed sounds in a certain way. "Sledgehammer" has a unique effect on the snare, where the AMS non-linear reverb sound was coupled with a reverb plate and vicious EQ-ing on the console.

where the drums on some songs are enhanced by the RMX-16 non-linear setting. "Sledgehammer" in particular utilised a signature effect on the snare, on which Daniel Lanois used the RMX-16 non-linear effect coupled with a reverb plate and "vicious eq on the console". Besides drums, the AMS was also used for vocals, blended with an AMS delay, Roland Dimension D chorus, tape echo and Quantec QRS all in varying combinations.

The AMS remains in the racks at Real World Studios.

Phil Collins' AMS RMX-16
Phil Collins sometimes used the AMS on his drum machines for his solo work and with Genesis. For example, the LinnDrum was processed with AMS on songs "Don't You Lose My Number" (from No Jacket Required) and the intro of "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" (from Invisible Touch).

Tony Banks' AMS RMX-16
Tony Banks also used an AMS RMX-16 for processing his keyboards around the time of the Invisible Touch album, but preferred the Yamaha REV 7 instead as he felt it offered a wider scope of sounds.