How do I....

  • Thread starter Thread starter RAMI
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RAMI

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...get a vocal line to sound like it's coming in backwards (reversed), but it's not reversed. I wish I could find an example of what I'm talking about, but I've heard it often.

It usually sounds like it's coming in starting out like a reverse reverb, the envelope of the vocal sounds reversed, but the word is not backwards. You know what I'm saying???

I was going to try to sing the word pronouncing it backwards, and then reverse that to "tape"...but there's got to be an easier way.:confused:

In case I'm not making myself clear, I'll try to explain it this way, while I search for examples of what I'm talking about:

Let's say I want the word "falling" to fade in sounding like it's reversed. But, you still hear "f-a-l-l-i-n-g"....as opposed to "g-n-i-l-l-a-f". I hope that helps explain it.
 
Yeah... I know exactly what you're talking about, but I'm not entirely sure what the best way to approach it would be.

Based off of your ideas, I would probably first try a double track kind of thing... you'd basically do the track normal and then do it the hard way pronouncing everything as backwards as you can, reversing it, and then layering it carefully under the main track to get the reverse effect before the words. The only problem I can see with that would be that it would be extremely difficult to get that to work in time, even with a click.

I also found this in a search for "reverse reverb", which best describes what I'm thinking you're looking for:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec98/articles/reverse.665.htm

See if that helps!
 
Does the effect come in prior to the word? Does it start before the regular beat? I've copied the first word of a line, put it in a new track, apply reverb generously, then reverse it and line it up where the effect ends as the real word begins.
 
Make a copy of your clean vocal track. Reverse it. Throw reverb/delay/whatever effect mix you want on the last syllable. Re-reverse it.

G.
 
Hey thanx guys,

Soldier, that article might be what I'm looking for. I understand what he's doing and that might be it. Only one way to find out. :) Thanx, man.

Riff, Yes, the effect starts before the actual word. It fades in from what I think would be a reverse reverb. I think your technique would aslo work. I'll try it out. Thanx alot!

Thanx Glen...All the advice seems to point towards a similar technique. I'll give them all a try.
 
RAMI said:
Hey thanx guys,

Soldier, that article might be what I'm looking for. I understand what he's doing and that might be it. Only one way to find out. :) Thanx, man.

Riff, Yes, the effect starts before the actual word. It fades in from what I think would be a reverse reverb. I think your technique would aslo work. I'll try it out. Thanx alot!

Thanx Glen...All the advice seems to point towards a similar technique. I'll give them all a try.
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No problem!:)
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Make a copy of your clean vocal track. Reverse it. Throw reverb/delay/whatever effect mix you want on the last syllable. Re-reverse it.

G.
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OK, how in the hell do I reverse it? I have never tried that in software.
 
Rokket said:
OK, how in the hell do I reverse it? I have never tried that in software.
Click to expand...

Most software editors have a "reverse" process that you can apply to a track... it depends on the software as to where you'll find it, but it's usually labeled as "reverse". Look in your processes that you can run on audio and you might find it.
 
I am using Reaper...

EDIT: I have a button to reverse the phase on the track, but I know that's not the same thing. I'll have to look a bit more closely at it.
 
if you are in reaper then simply add the preverb and reverse modules to ReaVerb

You can even pull the scorpion's reverse snare reverb like this

otherwise do like glen said, turn the track around, slam it 100% wet with reverb, then add it back to the original
 
Would an example of this be the beginning of "The Pot" by Tool?
 
Guitarer said:
Would an example of this be the beginning of "The Pot" by Tool?
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I went and listened to 2 versions of "The Pot" by Tool on YouTube and couldn't hear anything with an effect. It starts with very dry, accapella vocals. Unless there's another version of the tune that I didn't find?
 
RAMI said:
I went and listened to 2 versions of "The Pot" by Tool on YouTube and couldn't hear anything with an effect. It starts with very dry, accapella vocals. Unless there's another version of the tune that I didn't find?
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Yeah it's not as apparent on youtube as on the album, but on this video you can hear before the second verse "I hold, I hold" reverberating before he actually starts singing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2F_hGwD26g

Probably not what you're talking about though.
 
Rokket said:
No, I am pretty sure that was just an uttered phrase that they threw some delay on.
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The problem with youtube is that every video on the site is rendered in mono and seriously messed up with the compression they use to reduce bandwidth. It's very hard to hear anything.
 
I think the effect RAMI's talking about is in "Bark At The Moon" among others.
 
I went through a stage of really overusing reverse reverb, but now I'm concentrating on learning to mix properly first :p

Stadium Arcadium is littered with this effect on the guitar tracks.
 
Elton Bear said:
I went through a stage of really overusing reverse reverb, but now I'm concentrating on learning to mix properly first :p
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I don't know what one has to do with the other. :eek:
I'm not worried about over-using it. It is kind of a dated effect, but has it's place from time to time.:cool:
 
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Right after the echo at the end of the guitar solo, when the vocal comes back in.
 
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