Stereo/mono reverb for snare drum

[stevieg11]

Hi everyone, I've been reading a lot on this forum for a while now and always find it a great read!

My question is what do you guys use when adding reverb to a snare drum, stereo or mono? I've used both and can't really choose which I like best. When I opt for a stereo reverb I like the spread to be 50% or less but also like how the mono reverb contains the snare in the centre of the mix.

Is there a standard way you use reverb on snares or do you tailor it depending on genre/taste/instrumentation?

Cheers.

 

[Steenamaroo]

I've never given this any thought, or used a mono reverb.

Strange, but from the get go i just figured when you hear real reverb, you hear it with two ears, so I've always instinctively reached for stereo verbs.


Having said that, I've recently come to realise that narrowing the pan on my stereo verbs can really contribute to making a vocal sound closer/more intimate, so I'm starting to wonder if I've completely missed out on something here!

Looking forward to other answers.

 

[RAMI]

I've never given this any thought, or used a mono reverb.

Yup, same here. I just almost automatically use reverb in stereo all the time because I figure that's what reverb is for, simulating how an instrument would resonate in a room.

But now the OP gave me an idea. Why not try using both mono and stereo. I always put reverb on my kit. I send some to the overheads, the same a mount to the snare, and a bit less to the kik. This way, the snare is kind of getting "reverbed" twice; Once on it's own and also in the overheads. I'm going to experiment with putting a mono reverb on the snare while keeping the stereo reverb on the overheads.

Who knows, it might turn out to be........something.

 

[stevieg11]

Sounds like it could turn out very interesting! You'll have to post back with how it sounds.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Sometimes I use a mono short reverb on snare if the mic didn't get enough of the bottom of the drum. That reverb will get inserted right on the track. Then I use an aux send into the main stereo drum reverb like normal.

 

[Greg_L]

I never ever reverb the individual pieces of my drum tracks. That's not how drums operate in the real world, and my personal preference does not include mis-matched reverbs. I bus the tracks to a group and apply one stereo reverb across the whole kit so everything gets treated equally like a kit in a room.

 

[RAMI]

I never ever reverb the individual pieces of my drum tracks. That's not how drums operate in the real world, and my personal preference does not include mis-matched reverbs. I bus the tracks to a group and apply one stereo reverb across the whole kit so everything gets treated equally like a kit in a room.

I agree, but the reason I do it the way I do is because I often want less reverb on the kik than I do on the rest of the set. It turns out to be the same thing as putting reverb on the whole kit, because I usually send equal amounts to the overheads and snare. With my 4 mic set up, all that leaves is the kik, so I have control over how much I want to put on it.

 

[Greg_L]

I agree, but the reason I do it the way I do is because I often want less reverb on the kik than I do on the rest of the set. It turns out to be the same thing as putting reverb on the whole kit, because I usually send equal amounts to the overheads and snare. With my 4 mic set up, all that leaves is the kik, so I have control over how much I want to put on it.

Right, I never said anyone was wrong for doing it however they do it, I just do it my way. And actually, to my ears, even with sending everything to one reverb, my result is similar to yours. My kick never seems to hit/be affected by the reverb as hard as the snare or toms. Maybe it's a transient thing or something. My kick and snare through the same reverb has a much greater impact on the snare sound.

And I never use much. I like dry-ish drums. If I can really hear the reverb, it's way too much. It's not the 80's anymore.

 

[grimtraveller]

Ignorance isn't bliss.....but it could be.

For me, it depends. Not being a drummer or an engineer, I tend to use what I think sounds quite good at the time. Alot of the time, it's been a touch of mono reverb on the snare. I don't really think about what sounds like what in a room because I think that recorded material by the very nature of it creates an artificial soundscape. But I love all the different ways people capture their sounds.

 

[stevieg11]

I've never tried sending all the drums to one reverb evenly, I like to have a bit more on the snare and toms than on the kick, but that's definitely something I'm going to try.

 

[Greg_L]

I've never tried sending all the drums to one reverb evenly, I like to have a bit more on the snare and toms than on the kick, but that's definitely something I'm going to try.

Give it a try. I'm not saying it's the best way to go, but it seems logical, doesn't it? I like to try to keep things realistic. In real life I've never heard a snare with more room effect than the rest of the kit, so I don't give my snare any extra reverb. This is also the same reasoning behind why I don't like mis-matched reverbs in a full mix. It always sounds odd to me if, for example, the drums are super roomy while everything else is dry and in-your-face. Makes no sense to me. Is the drummer in another room? Another building? Another state? I try to think of a mix as a band in a room. To me they should all sound like they're in the same space.

 

[chuckduffy]

Hi Steen - I got some good tips about this from different sources, and it seems like your ears are hearing it too..

I use a lot of UAD EMT plate. The default stereo spread is 'full' - this can sometimes cause the vocal to seem unfocused. Decreasing the width def makes it 'center up' better.

Another tip that Elton123 (i think) gave me for guitars that works great is to use a stereo verb with a narrow width panned to the same location as the instrument itself. This gives a verb that at least appears to eminate from the same place as the instrument. I do a lot of very simple, heavily verbed single note guitar lines (think very slow duane eddy panned to my left or right and this tip works well for me. If I use the default the guitar starts in one position, but then 'smears' out across the entire stereo field.

The other routine things I do to plates is use a band pass and increase the pre-delay for intelligibility..

I've never given this any thought, or used a mono reverb.

Strange, but from the get go i just figured when you hear real reverb, you hear it with two ears, so I've always instinctively reached for stereo verbs.


Having said that, I've recently come to realise that narrowing the pan on my stereo verbs can really contribute to making a vocal sound closer/more intimate, so I'm starting to wonder if I've completely missed out on something here!

Looking forward to other answers.

 

[chuckduffy]

Give it a try. I'm not saying it's the best way to go, but it seems logical, doesn't it? I like to try to keep things realistic. In real life I've never heard a snare with more room effect than the rest of the kit, so I don't give my snare any extra reverb. This is also the same reasoning behind why I don't like mis-matched reverbs in a full mix. It always sounds odd to me if, for example, the drums are super roomy while everything else is dry and in-your-face. Makes no sense to me. Is the drummer in another room? Another building? Another state? I try to think of a mix as a band in a room. To me they should all sound like they're in the same space.

Greg - I agree with the idea - and I use it myself, but there is one piece of advice that I think should go along with it... You have to use the right verb and amount or everything gets swamped and distant real fast. I think I've listened to all your samples and the drums sound great, but 9 times out of 10 when I hear other people do it it (in the mp3 forum) just doesn't work cause they are not using the right verb or settings. Personally I use the SIR true stereo room verb for this stuff, on the overheads with a pretty low length and a band pass so it doesn't mess with the kick or high end too much. Can you share any settings you use?

Chuck

 

[Steenamaroo]

I use a lot of UAD EMT plate. The default stereo spread is 'full' - this can sometimes cause the vocal to seem unfocused. Decreasing the width def makes it 'center up' better.

Yeah man, That's the main reason I'm a lot happier with my vocals lately.

It's two different approaches and two different outcomes, but for a realistic sound, Greg is bang on here.

 

[chuckduffy]

Yeah man, That's the main reason I'm a lot happier with my vocals lately.

It's two different approaches and two different outcomes, but for a realistic sound, Greg is bang on here.

Oh yes - I was specifically replying to your comment about vocals and personal - I forgot that the thread was about drums I asked greg about drum reverb settings, maybe he will share some. I've been applying the SIR true stereo room to the stereo drum overheads, but it seems like greg may be doing the entire drum bus....