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.

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 also had 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.