applications of reverb

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n8tron

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I always have trouble with reverb when it comes to mixing and wanted to discuss what techniques everyone uses.

I've heard that in general you want to use 1 reverb for pretty much everything, and then maybe change it for the vox. but that could also provide to much of an interference between all the instruments.

what do you usually use? how about for a nice subtle sound? hall/room/plate? I just can't seem to get one that I like, either its to reverby or theres nothing. I try and listen to other tracks but its difficult to get the result I want.
 
I always try to use different reverbs for different instruments. I use a gated reverb on the snare and room reverb on the rest of the drums. Cut the time down on the global kit reverb to prevent muddiness. I usually use a combo of light delay and short reverb with slight pre-delay on vox (unless the singer is good). Some instruments do not need any. People usually like to hear some on the drums and vocals.
 
I used to apply different reverbs, one to each track that I thought needed it, but I'm changing my methods now and within Sonar I create one effects buss with reverb on set to whatever I like for what I'm working with and then I create a send to that buss on each audio track/channel and vary each send to suit. I may decide that the drums and bass only need a little reverb but I like a little more on guitar and keys and perhaps even more on the vocals.

I think that this approach helps the mix not to get too muddy. I can imagine, if you have lots of different reverb types al over the place then thing can get a bit confusing.

I have also been a lot more conservative now with this effect and it's surprising how little reverb you can get away with. I turn the effect on the buss on and off during playback and even with the most subtle reverb applied it can add to the sound of the track quite nicely.


But don't get the impression that I know what I'm talking about here... I'm still very much in the learning and experimental stage :)


andy
 
If i'm mixing live, then I'll generally just use a light, large hall to give teh sound a bit of ambience, espically in small or dead rooms.

When mixing for a CD, I'll usually chuck a light plate on the vocals, and then leave the rest as is. Maybe put a room/hall over the lot to compensate for the room. Also, any track that sounds too bright (and EQ jsut doesn't cut it) or instruments that are naturally warm.

Too much reverb makes your mix sound shite, and if the whole track needs reverb, you're probably better off leaving that for the ME to deal with.

The general rule with reverb is that you shouldn't be able to hear it (unless you're using it as some kind of 80's effect). Reverb is an ambience effect in my books...
 
That last little bit about not being able to hear it is good advice. Except I would add that you can hear it, but shouldn't *notice* it.

I often use a lot of reverbs. I also like to layer reverbs, especially on vocals.

You don't mention which reverbs you are using, and this is very important information. Reverb is one of those things where you need to use high quality. A low quality reverb can really destroy a mix.
 
thanks for some great tips

right now I'm using altiverb 3 and also waves Rverb and trueverb. I tend to use rverb the most for the waves plugins, and altiverb for instruments and drums.

Generally I through a concert hall verb on an aux and through most everything through there, then try and pick a verb i like for the vocals seperatly, but nothing ever sounds good to me. Sometimes I think I'm trying to work the reverb to much, rather than working the voice, if you know what I'm saying. i think I'm gonna back off the amount in general too.

more tips! this helps. Also been thinking about getting an outboard processor, like the mx200 or one of the tc helicons, but i think what i have is just as good if not better...
 
thanks for some great tips

right now I'm using altiverb 3 and also waves Rverb and trueverb. I tend to use rverb the most for the waves plugins, and altiverb for instruments and drums.

Generally I through a concert hall verb on an aux and through most everything through there, then try and pick a verb i like for the vocals seperatly, but nothing ever sounds good to me. Sometimes I think I'm trying to work the reverb to much, rather than working the voice, if you know what I'm saying. i think I'm gonna back off the amount in general too.

more tips! this helps. Also been thinking about getting an outboard processor, like the mx200 or one of the tc helicons, but i think what i have is just as good if not better...
 
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