Reverb Questions

[AndrewC]

First, do you ever add subtle reverb to bass guitar tracks? I am thinking this is rarely done, but I wanted to receive some feedback nonetheless. Secondly, do you ever add reverb to an entire mix? Ideally, I'm sure getting your mix as desired before attempting to master is the way to go, but can adding a little bit of reverb to everything post-render/bounce help in certain instances?

 

[witzendoz]

Yes I have added slight reverb to a bass track in the past, but not very often as it usually effects the clarity.

I have also added reverb to a track during mastering, the finished track ended up sounding too dry for the mood of the song and relative to the other songs on the album, so instead of remixing some room reverb was added. When doing this it is best to shelve the low eq on the reverb so the bottom end does not end up a mess.

Cheers

Alan.

 

[AndrewC]

If I were to add reverb to an entire mix I would have trouble given my current approach which involves rendering a track in Reaper and "mastering" (kinda) in T-racks 3. I can't add the reverb in T-racks to my knowledge, and applying it to the master on the way out of Reaper wouldn't be good in that it would then preceed subsequent eq, compression, and limiting. I would either have to have someone with pro gear or better software handle it or actually master with Reaper, which I could technically do.

 

[Monkey Allen]

On my last song I sent my vocals to a reverb buss...sent some level of all the drums to the same reverb buss and also sent some level of the guitar rhythm and lead to the same reverb buss. But I didn't send any bass there.

 

[gecko zzed]

I've added reverb on bass, but only when it's needed for a special purpose. I generally leave bass untouched when it's fulfilling a conventional role.

As for adding reverb to a whole mix . . . I do this only rarely, usually for similar reasons as witzendoz.

My rule number 1 would be to avoid the need for doing this as much as possible, and focus on getting the initial mix as right as possible.

My rule number 2 is that if you feel you must do it, you can do all your T-racks stuff, then load this treated file back into Reaper to add the global reverb, then re-render.

 

[AndrewC]

Right. Good pt. I could do that.

Well, I'll try to get my mixes just right in this regard and avoid having to add any reverb at the mastering stage. It shouldn't be too difficult in that my drums are midi tracks composed with Addictive Drums and changing their reverb settings (and each component therein) is a breeze.

 

[Drummerbones]

A general rule of thumb, if there is such a thing, is to normally not add reverb to the bass unless you're going after a special effect, i.e. a bass solo section. I've had some tracks where I've used a gate verb (think '80s Phil Collins) to the kick drum as a cool effect, but not the bass guitar. I've fiddled around with this in the past and all it really does is muddy the low end in a mix and hendering the clarity of the bass in the mix, though there are exceptions if that's the sound you're going for. As for adding reverb to an entire mix, I suggest you leave that up to a mastering engineer, unless you're doing "home mastering" for demos and such. Everything here is subjective and depends on what you're aiming for, but yes, ME's do utilize reverb and other effects as deemed appropriate (though I certainly am no ME by any stretch of the imagination).