Mono/Stereo Reverbs...?

[JohnPaul]

Hello everyone!

I sorta wanted to know when to use mono reverbs and when to use stereo reverbs...

...r mono reverbs for mono tracks only, and stereo reverbs for stereo tracks only?

...i'm using cubase, and software effects only....w/cubase send effects are mono in stereo out, therefore, would i use a reverb that's being used as a send effect, for mono tracks?...is this actually a mono reverb in the first place?

...to get stereo reverb in cubase, i have to route 2 sends from a channel to a group channel (ie to group 1 and group 1r) and use reverb as an insert effect, i think...so, would i use this for my stereo tracks?

...i really don't understand this at all...

...also, i always thought reverbs were meant to be send effects, but to get stereo reverb , i have to use it as an insert on a group channel...!?

...does it even matter if it's mono or stereo reverb?

...i've asked these questions on other forums, and i've never got an answer that makes sense...

Help!

 

[littledog]

Personally it's rare for me to use a mono reverb. Maybe as a special effect where I want the dry signal panned to one side and the wet to the other.

Usually I just use a stereo reverb on everything, because if I'm trying to simulate an acoustic space (like a small room) then there is no reason not to use stereo for a more realistic emulation.

It doesn't matter if the source is mono (as most tracks probably ARE mono) - usually you can set up the reverb so the output is stereo even on a mono source.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Bussing effects in a DAW is just a way of saving processing power instead of using them as insert effects on every track. I don't understand why they don't create a more logical setup where you just use the aux sends and an effects return.

 

[littledog]

Bussing effects in a DAW is just a way of saving processing power instead of using them as insert effects on every track. I don't understand why they don't create a more logical setup where you just use the aux sends and an effects return.

Tex, I think that is how I do it in Pro Tools, if I understand yuour description correctly. I set up a room on a stereo aux return, a plate on a second stereo aux return, etc. (100% wet) and then use the aux sends on individual channels to send varying amounts of the signal to the appropriate reverb. I almost never use reverb as an insert, because aside from DSP inefficiency, the sound is always different (loss of transients and clarity) than what I get using an aux send, no matter how I fool with the wet/dry mix. Is this different than what you are referring to?

Actually, I take that back. I occasionally use a high quality reverb as an insert on the mix buss on acoustic recordings (at maybe 4-5% wet) to "glue" the mix together and put everyone in the same space.

 

[volltreffer]

If you need a proper stereo placement for a (mono) track panned, you should in any case use a mono verb and pan that, too. That way you get the least confusion to the stereo image.

If you want to have a 'real' room sound, use a stereo verb on the mono tracks, too (if the verb is good enough). But remember more verbs confuse your stereo image (as in reality). This enhances the feeling that you track is being pushed in the 'back', where you can separate not as good, too.

On stereo tracks, I'd always use stereo verbs (dunno why). But I think, that I don't even have REAL stereo verb effects, so this question is rather useless to me (as I could find any other solution )

Perhaps this helped?

aXel

 

[JohnPaul]

Cool, some of this helps...

...a lot of my confusion is actually with cubase...sends are mono in stereo out, so if u have a stereo track, only the left side gets processed, right?...so that's why u route to a group , so that the left and right sides get the reverb...does that make sense?....

...BUT, what i don't understand is that even if the sends are mono in, they are still STEREO OUT, doesn't that mean a reverb as a send effect, will be a stereo reverb?... so, why am i using group inserts for reverb?

...another thing, how the hell do i get mono verb?!

...this has been discussed on the cubase.net forums but i have not found an answer that i can make sense of...

...sorry, i didn't realise there was a cubase forum here...

...ideally i'd like to use 2-3 reverbs as send effects, and use them for mono and stereo tracks...anything wrong with this....?...but at the moment using them as inserts does give me the advantage of being able to pan and eq the reverb, which i can't do if they were used as send effects...

... any ideas?

...if i sound really ignorant, it's because i am, i have not done any engineering courses, i am learning from my own experience, and through the internet....

...thanks.