I hate reverb.

  • Thread starter Thread starter nddhc
  • Start date Start date

Do you often avoid using reverb?

  • Yes

    Votes: 120 24.8%

  • No

    Votes: 363 75.2%
  • Total voters
    483
I've been starting to move away from reverb in general. It's becoming one of those things I used to think I had to do that I'm starting to think I don't have to do. Just a touch or a heavy hand as an effect is kind of the direction I'm currently going.

A lot of digital reverbs suck, if you have decent reverbs at your displosal then you can get away with more if the mix can bear it, that's two "ifs".

Bone dry doesn't have to be the end of the world, I'm noticing a lot of pro stuff I like has an astonishing lack of reverberation in the mix.
 
chessrock said:
I consider reverb to be sort of a "time stamp" that aids in dating when a particular song was made. Kind of how hair styles will help identify when a particular picture was taken (like if you see Mullets and stonewashed jeans, you know the picture was taken in the late 80's). It's like carbon dating.

Like if you hear the reverb explode and then suddenly just die right out ... like it has a gate on it :D ... then you know the song was produced in the 80's.

On the other hand, if you hear this really big and resonant, mid-rangy verb that you know couldn't have been done in a real space ... and you hear it on the tamborine and blocks, then you know it's a spring verb and that it was probably recorded in the mid 60's ala Motown.

And if it has a Whitney Houston - style plate sound to it with a noticeable pre-delay, then you know it was done in the early 90's (ala Tesla and/or Skid Row).
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that's bang on
 
steve.h said:
Moving right along, has anybody anywhere ever made a reverb plugin that sounds like the 'real thing'? I've got a really small, dead, kinda stuffy room to work with and so I figure getting a really good reverb (be it plugin or hardware) would most likely be a very decent investment. Yes? No? Which?
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The closest I've heard is Waves Reverb. I can actually simulate realistic (and great sounding) acoustic spaces with it.

GlaceVerb is free and is another great reverb plugin. I'm sure a pro could get a realistic room sound from it but I just noticed it sounds really damn good. I used it on acoustic guitar a lot before I bought the Waves Reverb. It sounds just as good, but is harder to get a realistic ambience/room sound with it. But it is definitely a great plugin.
 
This is an old thread, but I'll put my quip in here.

I am not a fan of added reverberation. Maybe because I have not used the high end stuff. Even Glaceverb doesn't sound to great. I try it on vocals, fiddle with settings, and it sounds like its in a metal room. The only way I can get it to sound good is if it is barely there, and that's with the vocal track solo'ed. With all the tracks on, even if you know exactly what you're looking for, there is no evidence that there ever was reverb. Which I guess may be the point, but most of the times I have heard reverb used when the vocals are solo'ed you can easily hear it.

I prefer tracking in a live room and using a Delay, getting that Beatles ADT sound going.
 
I totally LOLed at the hair metal comment. With the exception of Skid Row everything else sounds like shit now.

I personally hate hearing reverb on vocals full-stop, and on guitars unless it's a solo. But there are some exceptions like August Burns Red - deathcore band with quite damn hearable reverb and their stuff still sounds brilliant.

I avoid using it myself coz with delay + chorus reverb is the last thing I need.
 
Ok, reverb is like makeup. You have the natural look, Tammy Fay Baker, and KISS. If you want the natural sound, all you're doing is trying to electronically create the great sounding room you don't have. OK, with KISS, it's an obvious effect that may or may not work in the proper context. Tammy Fay always sucks. One thing for sure- if you hate reverb, don't become a Celtic folk singer. They lay it on like A-1 on a bad steak. "I need more Cathedral!"-Richie
 
I don't hate reverb. I know that I do not have a great sounding room. Though, I try and only use it on drums and vocals. Much like everyone else, I try to keep it to a minimum. It is a useful tool when used correctly. There are too many albums that I have heard that use it to cover up poor songs and performance. This also goes for compression!!!!!
 
I think this is a crazy thread to start in a way because if you like/play/record a certain type of music then it's going to fundimentally change your thoughts about reverb. I wouldn't add reverb to everything or nothing. It's almost as if your asking "what is your favourite genre of music". And by the way almost all records have some reverb on them, it's just that it's that well used and integrated into the mix that you can't hear it:p. So I guess what the question should be is, "Do you like over the top reverb or not". I doubt I could take anyone seriousley for saying that phil spector's wall of sound is just complete bullshit. Music is art everyone, these are our tools for creating this art, don't complain when you can't use a tool correctly or understand it's purpose. Use it if you want, to aid creation :D.
 
Machine Head is one of my all time favorite albums,solid from start to finish baby.;):cool:
 
Machine Head is one of the best sounding albums as well....considering it was recorded on a mobile setup in a hotel!

Ian Paice's drums are unmatched.
 
I just heard "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" on the radio...great song but goddamn Gordo, easy on the reverb!!
 
Mish said:
Deep Purple :D
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WOW! I've never heard Purple overdo the reverb. And, as far as performance...You have arguably the best vocalist, guitar and drummer, with the only keyboard player I can tolerate in any rock band.

(Roger Glover's no slouch on bass, either).:cool:
 
RAMI said:
with the only keyboard player I can tolerate in any rock band.
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Wow, you are one tough customer, Rami. :eek:

Move aside, Billy Preston, Doug Ingle, Stevie Wonder, Warren Entner, Keith Emerson, Garth Hudson, Rick Wakeman, Mac Rebenak, Fats Domino, and Nicky Hopkins! ;) :D
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Wow, you are one tough customer, Rami. :eek:

Move aside, Billy Preston, Doug Ingle, Stevie Wonder, Warren Entner, Keith Emerson, Garth Hudson, Rick Wakeman, Mac Rebenak, Fats Domino, and Nicky Hopkins! ;) :D
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Of course those are all great players. But, even though Billy Preston (for example) has played with the Beatles and the Stones, I don't consider him a "Rock" key board player...Same with Stevie, though they both have and can rock with the best of them and beyond. Rick Wakeman is fantastic, too, along with all the others you mentioned.

I guess I was referring more to "Hard Rock", which is usually more guitar oriented. I don't consider most of Stevie's or Billy Preston's music Hard Rock, where the keyboards and guitar interact a lot.

I find Jon Lord plays his keyboard like a guitar often (or was it Blackmore who played his guitar like a keyboard???:eek: ). And his playing is a big part of their sound.

Having said all that....Of course I was exaggerating with "The only rock keyboard player I can tolerate".:)
 
not at all... you don't have to like reverb: There are a million different production styles, and a lot of them are really not any better than other ones.m Use it if you want, and if you don't, don't. I like reverbs, but I tend to use them for very non-reverb type purposes... just for thickening and any time I'm using symphonic arrangements (of course)
 
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