how much reverb do you use on drums?

[ralf]

just curious how much reverb you guys put on drums. i know everybody puts it on snare, but what about everything else, kick, toms, etc? i'm working on a new album and am comparing mine to other recordings and it sounds like there's reverb on all the drums, at least a little bit. i'm using lex 200 no. 9 drum plate reverb. what do you guys use?
-Ralf

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I've never used a factory preset... they make good starting points, but you always have to tweak some aspect - pre-delays should be timed to the song's tempo and reverb type and duration will vary considerably from song to song.

Kick drum rarely gets any reverb, unless you're going for a particular effect. Snare definitely shines with appropriate reverb. Toms and cymbals get less, especially if you already have a room mic capturing the ambience....

It really depends on what kind of sound you're going for....

One thing is certain though - you should use as little reverb as needed to get the sound you want - it's real easy to wash-out the sound overusing the effects - especially ambient-effects like reverb.

Bruce

 

[fenix]

i put a moderate amount of reverb on the overheads because i use small diaphram condensors with a tight cardoid pattern. Because the sound of my room sucks (there is no sound...it's a dead room and the sound that it does have tends to phase cancel if not micing properly) I like to make them overheads sound like they're in a room so i add reverb.

 

[Drummerbones]

Dito on Fenix's comments. Bad room, good finished product!

 

[PhilMckracken]

No verb on drums

Snare gets verb, others drums none. Bass drum needs to be punchy and reverb can take that away and make the bottom end sound loose and muddy. If you want a tight bottom end (and who doesn't if you know what I mean), then you don't want reverb, you want compression. As for toms, I suppose reverb could be used for an effect but they too should have punch so using reverb should be done, if at all, very carefully. As for cymbals, well I can see using a little on the high hat, maybe, but it generally does not need it. Some precussion benefits from reverb especially instruments such as wood blocks, claves and such. ONe could treat a high hat, especially a closed high hat like that and see what they come up with. I generally put reverb on the snare and leave the rest alone. Use your ears and use what sounds good. Ultimately, you should use whatever gets you the sound you want or the sound you hear in your head before you start.