Something is wrong with my reverb... and I don't know what it is...

[AllenM]

Here is the mixer i am using

Tascam M208

Alright I'm recording a drumset right now. I have 3 mics. One overhead, one on the bass drum, and one near the snare.
Overhead mic = channel 1
Bass drum mic = channel 3
Snare drum mic = channel 2

On my mixer i have a Master room xl 305 connected to the EFF.
When I try and add reverb to my snare drum, I turn the EFF knob for the snare drum's channel (channel 2) and I hear it through my headphones. So I arm the recorder (switch to flb for syncing the tracks while recording). Anyways so I record the WHOLE drumset = channels 1, 2, and 3 to tape.
So when I playback the tape (stereo) I listen to track 4 (drums all together) and I do NOT hear the reverb that I set for it... Could some please explain this to me...

 

[SteveM]

So when I playback the tape (stereo) I listen to track 4 (drums all together) and I do NOT hear the reverb that I set for it... Could some please explain this to me...

Do you hear ANY reverb at all on playback?

 

[witzendoz]

Where is the reverb coming back into the 208? Is it an effects return? Is the effects return going to the output the 3 drum channels are going to?

Try patching the effects return from the reverb to a channel line in and mix it that way. Sending the 3 drum channels and the reverb channel to track 4 of the recorder.

Cheers

Alan.

 

[witzendoz]

I just looked at the manual,

Are you recording the drum mix, the 3 drum channels and the reverb, from one of the bus outputs? if so the effect returns don't go to the bus only the stereo bus. Return the reverb to a channel and send it to the same bus as the drum channels.

You hear the reverb on the phones because the buses and the effects returns go to the phones via the stereo out.

Alan.

 

[AllenM]

I think I know what you are talking about. Im using the 4th buss which is track 4 (R4). So I would pan the EFF return a hard right?

 

[AllenM]

Let me know if that is correct. but anyways heres what i did. I sent the snare mic through to the back of the reverb unit. Got it to work... a little noisy, but it really sounds great in the mix. I dont want to re-record it because it came out AWESOME.... so I think i'll keep it that way.

 

[witzendoz]

If using the effects return it won't matter where you pan it, it will not go to Bus4.

Try this:

Connect the effects out (on the back) to the input of the reverb.
Connect the output of the reverb to the line in of as spare channel (say channel8).
Tracks 1, 2 & 3 from the drums return through channels 1, 2 & 3 of the M208.
As channel 2 is the snare channel and you want reverb on the snare, turn up the effects send on channel 2 only (make sure the rest are turned down).
The snare from channel 2 is now going to the reverb at line level (also make sure the effect send master is turned up).
If you turn up channel 8 you will now have reverb.

To mix to channel 4, select the 3-4 buttons on channels 1,2,3 & 8, turn off the 1-2 buttons.
Pan the pan knob above no 4 bus to the right.
Mix the channels and amount of reverb and record to track 4 using the bus 4 fader to adjust the overall volume. Turn the other bus faders down.

Cheers

Alan.