Reverb Analysis

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SLuiCe

SLuiCe

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Hi all
I just got back from a 2 week vacation and got a healthy break from my monitors. In listening through a few projects I found that my ignorant use of reverb has been engulfing my tone! I use a DAW so I've been lazily using presets figuring just choosing "Warm Ambient Room With Free Beer and Kareoke" would do the trick.

So I decided to dig into an older project and experiment with some reverb parameters and I think it has changed a lot, hopefully for the better. I did a few other things with it as well, but I'm mostly interested in hearing a few thoughts on the verb usage. Too much, too little, too dense, too much decay, etc...Got a few new project ideas so I wanted to get this out of the way first...

Thanks in advance. :D
Tom


www.nowhereradio.com/sluice/singles "Rhythms 8-13-02"
 
Thank God

Tom - I listened...but before I get into that, lemme' just state that the house has fallen into complete disarray in your ablsence. Make these fools behave!!!!

Piece sounds great to me. Since you asked about verb settings specifically...the git sounds beautiful, the lead vocal's a tad mushy, but in a totally NON CHEAP way (maybe roll some lows off), but I don't think it's a verb issue. Crap, this sounds great. I've said this before, but I missed all the flaws that those who post after me will point out in minute detail...relating to the reverb issue...only. Okay, screw it, the whole thing sounds farking great to me.

-me
 
...only commenting on the reverb (except to say the ac gtr sounds great)....and I remember this song with the "ambush"...which I loved......oh...yeah...reverbs great....not overdone, imo....just right....phew...gotta put a period in somewhere!!! .
 
aw..shucks..I'm gonna comment more. TO BE BLUNT:

actually, your voice sucks...but in a good way if that makes sense. It is actually what makes your music so good. Now..don't slap me...but hopefully you understand. Other sucky singers..Mick Jagger, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, (the first obvious three off the top of my head) the list basically covers most people in rock and roll...for some strange reason, that I'm starting to finally understand. I think you have musically some of the most interesting music on the boards,dynamically, musically, performance wise...all the good stuff. In my year book, I would almost consider you to be the one most likely to succeed. It is not just your slam bam...thank you ma'am kinda stuff that is so popular here. People say..."I don't like the abrupt drums".... To me...It is SO OBVIOUS, why that is there. It is stuff like this that puts songs over the top...not just a blah-zay attention getter. It makes ALL kinds of sense.
You think your stuff out...and I feel good that I can tell that you do..meaning I have the ears to hear what you're doing. Or...maybe I just relate to your production styles. Anyway...a CD of this would be there, imo.

oh...just out of curiosity...is that a Roland patch in the very beginning??
 
Well nowhere is super slow right now so I'll have to catch it after I've finished doing a mix of something. I know I'm gonna like it 'cause SLuiCe's stuff is consistantly some of my favorite music. hey! Aren't we supposed to be doing a collab? :eek:
 
Sluice,

my ears are completely burnt right now so I can't comment about the details..

I love the tune as you already know, and it sounds better as far as I can tell right now..

I will try to find something to complain about tomorrow..


welcome back!




late
 
I finally got it-------whew! I remember this, the mad drummer leaping out to get you as you walk by :). As far as I can remember, this is a better mix. The guitar sounds great and I agree with chris that the vox is mushy....I'm not sure why. The reverb sounds good to me. To be honest, I'm not an expert on 'verb....I just turn the knob 'till it sounds good but I think you have this sounding pretty good. It's there without being audible if that makes sense. It's a transparent sounding reverb to me and I think it helped with the overall mix although I realize you probably changed other stuff too. Nice song as all of yours are.
 
sluice, your stuff is great!! you cant mistake that voice, it's all you. i love the drums, when they they came in that first time, i jumped out of chair!!!

as far as the verb goes, i think LT bob hit it on the head!!!!!!!!

thank's man

peace

rick
 
I remember this song well... "rhythms as clear as your eyes."
Man, I love your songs. The vocal sounds more clear on this than I remember. Reverb was not intrusive at all, I hardly noticed if there was any...which is probably good.
Glad you're back, Tom... quality goes up when you're here.

Mark
 
Brilliant. Vocals sound good to me, interesting 'accent' you have. Love the drums! Also the deceptive time signature. The whole thing screams quality, and seems fairly unique to me.

Jags
 
You certainly have a number of non-standard musical ideas. Hat's off there. You have a unique writing style.

At risk of great bodily injury and becoming a HomRecer outcast I'm going to go out and say I'm not fond of the "abrupt drums." Don't feel too bad - seems like most everyone else likes them.

Loved the guitar part - beautiful. The vocals were a bit back and "swimming" a bit.

Wonderful ambience - not my style, but I can't still tell when it's well done.
 
These were probably the most interesting responses I think I've ever had...some very discerning ears around here. I love that. I think if the reverb use didn't bother anyone too much, than I have what I need from this thread. Thanks once again folks.

Chris- Disarray? I can't imagine I bring much in the way of normalcy to the table ;) Thanks for the feedback...well not that you're causing feedback- that would be my 500 cables all crammed into a 3 foot space. (Diggin' your tunes lately...nice work)

Mixmkr- RE: sudden drum entrance...I think in looking back at this song my friend Dave, the drummer that this one is about, would have done something like that.. I learned a lot about dynamics from my years playing with him. He was truly gifted....Also, Tom Waits should be added to that list of us singers that suck. And Les Claypool. Although, I don't see myself as a singer at all, but rather just filling in my songs with what these rock stars around me in Maine won't. You said: "You think your stuff out...and I feel good that I can tell that you do..meaning I have the ears to hear what you're doing. Or...maybe I just relate to your production styles." It's both I think. I've heard your work. Thanks once again Mixmkr for your time and very attentive ears.

Lt. Bob- "It's there without being audible if that makes sense." That's just what I wanted to hear. After I'm done typing and checking for new threads, I'm going to be stringing up my gits for a new project, more along the lines of what we were originally considering...and very dynamic. I've been thinking your talents may find an interesting passage weaving through this one. I should have an MP3 for you to check out this weekend so be checking your PM's if you're still interested.

Sam- I'm sure your ears weren't alone in their burnt-ness. :D

Fenderlikinggood- Ya, it's scares me like that too sometimes.

Mkg- Thanks for checking this out again Rick. Glad to be back.

Jags- ya know, it's a simple 6/8, but the accent was messing with me when I was writing it. Couldn't figure out what should be the first beat of that guitar line! Thanks for listening Jags.

TripleM- If something like not liking my often shotty drum ideas makes you an outcast, then I'll march out with you...thanks for the comments my friend.

Peace, fellas
And thanks for the help.

Tom
 
Real nice guitar playing on this. I can't really offer you good advice on the mix with being in lo-fi and all (plus it looks like you already have what you need), but just wanted to say that I really like the playing on this...

Interesting tune!
 
Cool song, sounds great. The verbs were pretty subtle and blended well. I'd agree that the vocal gets a little burried.
 
Hey Sluice,
Rhythms is my favorite of the songs that you have posted. A "truly" beautiful song that I have listened to ALOT! There are a few songs posted by the guys here that i beat to death, and this is one of them. ......because i love the song, and to use for mix comparisons..... I love this song!
Anyway, since i do listen to it alot, I can directly compare R. 6/19/02 to R. 8/13/02. The vocs are much more subtle now. It sounds like you may have dropped the level on the lead vocs as well... Im not sure if that is the case or if the verb change had that much effect. Either way, if they were just a touch louder it wouldnt hurt my feelings. In 6/19 there were areas where the lead vocs got just a touch harsh (:38).... that problem no longer exists.
I noticed that you also changed the verb on the side stick at around 2:00. The former verb setting sounded a bit brighter.....and in my very ho......i kinda liked the older setting a bit better. I like the new chic voice part at around 2:30.....I also like the replacement of the percussive synth part in the same location. ...very cool.
Is that just a new verb setting on the acoustic guits or did you re- eq them too? .......they have become softer and more subtle.....they accompany the new more subtle vocals nicely.

..........like i said bro, ......i love this song. G
 
I thought the reverb sounded fine.
Really nice guitar sound.

This song flows well,I like the production.
Definatly fits your vocal style.

Nice stuff.

Best to you,
Pete
 
:eek: I realized the other day I forgot about that question, but I didn't want to bump it again. Sorry man. It's from the Korg- if I remember, it's just some sort of arpeggiated sine.
 
Interesting song. The vocals definitely work, stylistically. And thats the biggest hurdle so youre mostly there. As far as the recording, the guitar sounds nice although I would compress it a bit more. The drums sound fake and would definitley work much better with a live drummer. The rim shot also a couple of dB too loud or perhaps a little too punchy for this song. I would use more muted drums with less attack. They also switch too much from a rim shot to an open hi hat and then that santa sleigh sound. I would either keep an open, shuffling, nonintrusive, but varied beat or forget the drums. The haphazard accenting sounds awkward(except for the punch at 1:28 which is great).
I dont know about that fake flute.
The vocals need some more definition, more top end, more upper mids, more low mids and some more compression. Maybe retrack them with a dif mic?

There is a timing issue at 2:28 where the vocals rush the phrase a bit.

Overall nice work. Id like to hear more.
 
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