"Floating a reverb?

[elbenj]

I have been hearing or seeing the term used to "float" in regards to using reverbs. I,m not sure but I think its the sound I want but simply dont know if this is what Im hearing..specifly on lead vocals maybe other elements too.

Is this the procedure where you route a reverb to a channel or channels in the mixing console? If so, I,m not clear as to how this works....lets say I have a stereo effect unit set up to use two different reverbs..and route each of these reverbs to a channel on the mixer..if Im right so far..I dont understand how the reverb
can be fed into the mix or to just one component of the mix by raising the channel fader...it would seem that the program material would have to go through the effects unit..which is the way I am using it now...utilizing the channel aux send...sending it to the effects unit, which is patched to a aux buss, then routing it back to the main buss via the aux returns....and for the most part doing this with every element that I want to put some reverb on...

I also do it this way within my DAW..

Would appreciate an explanation of how this works..and what is the thinking behind what way you go about choosing the method of applying it in any or either fashion...........

 

[Shailat]

I'm not aware of floating associated with reverb. Maybe somebody does.....
Floating is usualy associated with conections that are balanced
as floating means that the wires caryying the signal are not
connected to the system ground. Or in general any signal path not connected.
I asked another engineer and he also had no idea.....
Perhaps they mean how to place the reverb in the stereo field
and have it "Float around" ?.
You will have to show me the place you saw it.

As to routing the reverb.
Other then returning the reverb into a dedicated effects return,
you can patch it into a unused channel of your mixer.
Basicly they are the same thing. A effect return is alike a channel on the mixer. They might have different layouts like no EQ on the effects return so you might prefer using a simple channel.
Sending via a effects send give you flexability to send more channels at once and use them but in different levels (of send) to the effect.

If you decide for control reasons to send the channel to a reverb (directly into the processor), you can do so.

You can of course also connect from the Aux to the processor and the output from the processor to a deticated channel.
you rasie the fader to hear the reverb and set your reverb to 100% wet. No dry sound only the reverb sound.
Now you have 2 controled faders for the sound.
1. Dry original track
2. same track only 100% reverbrated.

This gives you full control as you can blend the two any way you want. Lets say use Eq only on the wet reverb return only.......
Blending the amount of dry versus wet and panning them acordingly etc.........
Of course on a small mixer and or a home set up you can do all the mixing of the effect from dry to wet in the processor itself but you have less control.

Botom line is that the material has to go some how through the reverb. Some kind of send be it direct or though a effects send or a channel send...some how it has to be routed to the reverbs input .

 

[elbenj]

My mistake. The term "float" is the term used to describe the effect that the reverb is having on the program material.

What I seem to be encountering..is whenever I apply a reverb..it pushes whatever I apply back in the mix..this is what I want in some cases..but not all..particularly the lead vocal.

Im wondering if this floating effect is caused by how the reverb is being applied or the type...as in a short or long reverb..

What would be considered a short reverb..and when does it become a long reverb...im assuming we are talking about decay times..or delay times or are these terms the same ..as far as reverbs go...

 

[Shailat]

Did you read the article on the reverb at my site?.
It will help you with many of the things you want to know.
Here is some more:

Before you place your vocals in the mix, ask yourself a few questions.
Were do you want them placed in the stereo spectrum ?
do you want them to feel close? in a small room? in a concert hall?
Do you want it in a small room but far away from the listener?
Do you want it to place it close to the band?....etc..etc...

Reverb has several functions you need to learn to work with.
But first remember that the use of reverb will tend to mask your mix, clutter it, take up a large space inside your spectrum.
Conclusion - CAREFULL. Overuse means severe damage to your whole mix including killing the other instruments that have nothing to do with your (lets say) vocals......
The reason is simple - Reverb is actully (simplified) hundreds of delays bouncing of the walls....each in different delay times and all of them comming together(simplified again). So imagine the mess it creates. This is why some people like to use a delay instead of reverb at certain times as it is much cleaner.

There are many sylistic reasons to use one type of room instead of another on your vocals but there are no rules.
For example on a ballad you might choose to go with a long reverb time to fill out the the space between the beats.
Usualy when people say long reverb they mean the decay part.
As you can say a room with a long decay and a hall with the same long decay.
As for exact meaning to all the terms go to the article.

Back to your lead vocals - There are different factors to placing your lead vocals up front and not and not making them get pushed back.
The first thing to look at is your volume. The less volume the more in the back it is. The louder it is the more upfront it is.
Then you should think about these options to bring it upfront -Compression/Limiting...EQ (presence)...various effects like thickening your voice out with a delay(short only).

Predelay is very important with the use of reverb and vocals.
This will help you seperate the dry (upfront sound) from the reverb (pushing it back in to the mix). Remember that the closer to the sound you are, the more direct signal and close reflections you hear
Now work on this at home - play with the predelay together with changing the volume between the reverb return and the dry (direct) sound. Move your vocals closer and further back and also remember that the predelay also effects the size of the room. This will help you gain control over were the vocals can be placed.

There is more things to take into consideration like adding a delay to the reverb or Equing it or putting a sound in a room inside of another room but start with these basics first !.

If you remember that Reverb tends to push it back into the mix and that the reverb gives you a the size (and depth) of the room then use it carefully and dont OVER use with lead vocals (unless that is the effect you want).

 

[elbenj]

The second link provided to your site worked. The article is quite
good and the info provided here has helped quite a bit. We appreciate the help!