reverb

[BrettB]

Hi all,

Can someone help me how I can explain to the bassist of our band that reverb isn't the solution to everything.

i recorded our demo tape and we are mixing it now together. He doesn't know a lot about the technical stuff, but he has a good view on the songs as a whole and I really like having him with me when I mix. He helps me see things from a different view and gives new ideas.

But he always asks for more reverb, and I keep telling him that is not the answer. I realluy want to go for that 'in your face' sound, and keep the drums pretty dry with short, subtile reberbs but he keeps asking for more and it muddies it all up.

We made our first mixes now and after listening to them there is too much reverb on the snare of our first song: it doesn't sound like a kit, but like a kit with a snare in another room. I asked him to lower the reverb but he doesn't want to know about it.

He even asked me to put reverb on the master but I told him that is abolutely not done.

Maybe he means something different than he says?

 

[dachay2tnr]

Can someone help me how I can explain to the bassist of our band that reverb isn't the solution to everything.

The solution to everything is duct tape. I thought everyone knew that already.

 

[Alanfc]

what CD does he have in his car or cd player at this very moment?

If its an old White Lion CD from 1986 you're in trouble.

But otherwise shake him and say "Duuude, listen ! You really hear that much reverb on the stuff you listen to?" Is he the leader of the band? (Then don't shake him.)

If the reverb is so bad it sounds like a snare in another dimension, he's either trying to start a new trend or he's looking for something to sweeten the sound with, and he doesn't know how to get it. Maybe he's trying to avoid really dry sound. Maybe that sounds amateur to him. Surely the other experienced guys here may be able to put their finger on the effect that this guy is grasping for.. Making it sound up front but not too dry.

 

[chessrock]

That is a really tough situation you're in.

And I have absolutely no good advice for you, whatsoever. You're basically screwed.

Sorry I can't be of any help.

 

[BrettB]

Making it sound up front but not too dry.

I usually use on drums and vocals some tight reverb, short decay time and many early reflections. I may exagerated a little with the drums example, but it really is a fact that the kit doesn't sound as powerfull, and I find it often a beginners fault using to much reverb on a snare.

Anyway, meanwhiles I got help from our drummer, who also claimed my less reverbed drum sound sounds much better than the verbed one. I think he accepts this more from the drummer, so it seems I'm going to win

 

[Alanfc]

Excellent ! Congratulations!

In the future-
just make sure you hide all gadgets and hide all gear with colored lights so as not to arouse the curiousity of the bass player. Oh yeah they're attracted to shiny objects too..... hehe

 

[ryanlikestorock]

I was in a band once with a drummer who felt that every space in the song should have a drum fill or something quirky in it. Luckily, we never really gave him a chance to get involved in the mixing stage of our music.

I've never thought that group mixing sessions are a good thing for anyone. They take a lot more time and don't really accomplish more than if the session was just an engineer and one member of the group. Maybe next time you can try and do it alone?

For now, I'd try explaining to the band member that adding something like reverb is always taking something else away. In this case, it's making your music less punchy, and making the tone of the music a little less "real". If you're a fantasy band that isn't supposed to be made up of regular people (we see this in rock stars like GNR and Celine Dion, as well as most novelty bands), then soak everything in reverb. It'll help get that image across. However, if you're a real band made up of real people, keep it simple.

Play around with a "studio B" reverb setting... something short, and not too obvious. I've always felt that the best effects are usually the ones you can't put your finger on.

Upload a sample when you finish.

 

[marsmgr1]

Hi all,

Can someone help me how I can explain to the bassist of our band that reverb isn't the solution to everything.

Does he use reverb on his bass? If he does, you're fighting a losing battle and I suggest implementing an immediate search for a new bassist...(unless, of course, you're in a classical string ensemble, in which case a touch of reverb might be acceptable)

. . . .

He even asked me to put reverb on the master but I told him that is abolutely not done.

Actually, there are cases in which a very subtle amount of reverb is added in the mastering process...And I *EMPHASIZE* the word "subtle"...This is normally to compensate for the compression/limiting of tracks that originally had 'verb but it somehow got squashed in the mix...Usually done on "pop/dance" music but not uncommon in other genres when properly used...Personally, I don't use it but have heard differences in A/B'ing some mixes that did utilize it...

All of that said, convincing him that reverb is *NOT* the answer will take a strenuous effort...Direct him to solid recordings in the same genre as yours are, look on the multitude of expert recording forums---there you will find numerous "experts" to back you up...

Hope this helps in some way!

 

[TexRoadkill]

Aren't you guys a metal band? Everytime he asks for more reverb say 'cool we'll sound just like early Depeche Mode.'