If you can't hear it, use it

[CyanJaguar]

or don't use it? that is the question.

I think that one gets fatter bigger mixes when one sets up effects and sends a track to them, to where they are inaudible. Even though you can't hear them, it is pervieved as bigger.

Examples.

A 20 ms delay on a track might not be audible but it's ultimately percievable.

send a small amount of a vocal to a bus with chorus on it, and it becomes bigger, even though you cant point out that there is some chorus on the vocal.

Add another reverb to your track. A really small amount that cant be heard, and you get a bigger sound.

thoughts?

 

[Gidge]

If it sounds good, it is good....so if it sounds better when you do it even though you cant "hear" the effect, do it....

 

[sonusman]

If it made a difference, obviously it is heard.

Time based effects are not supposed to be "obvious" effect per se, just ways to add a little depth.

But, like in the case of a 20ms delay, that is right around the area that you would track delay say a guitar part and panned it opposite of the original part to give the impression of two guitar parts.

What you have to be careful of is phase cancellation. It is not as obvious as you might thing with these short time based effects. Mono your mix to make sure it doesn't disappear in a mono environment.

Ed

 

[Rick Hammang]

The short delays are great, gives a sense of space. If you are worried about phase problems use some modulation, then it will only cancel part of the time, depending on the groove. You can set modulation to the beat, or fractions of the beat. Then when combined mono, you won't be disappointed.

--Rick

 

[LongWaveStudio]

the truth....

ok, i actually own a professional studio so i can tell ya a few things bout this....mixing in very quiet chorus DOES do a lot for vocals.

someones we put just a bit of delay or reverb on something, and you wouldn't hear it in the mix at all, but it gives that instrument it's own "room". it's vocals which really benefit from this. even in vocal phrases that are meant to be really dry, the slightest quiet reverb makes it sound alive.

just dont overdo it....just cus you've got 12 sends per channel.....hmm.....