Suggested verb on vocals

[Jill Jones]

I have alot of decent plugins but I can't seem to get that "pro" sound on my vocals. The mixes sound good and I've scooped some mids on the guitars and keys. Actually, the vocals seem to sit fine but I can't seem to get just the right reverb sound. Any suggestions, I'm not looking for anything dramatic, just your typical radio stuff.

 

[neno]

I'm verb fanatic too and I was never really satisfied with quality of vocal reverb in a final mix. I purchased a plenty of expensive plug-ins,but something is still missing.
In most cases the problem lies in reverb applied to a synth, guitar etc which is not compatible with a one in a vocal mix. The best results I get by using the same unit on synth and vocal. Although there are a lot of expensive plug-ins sometimes the best results came out of bundled VSt reverb plug-ins. There is something I liked especcialy in Cubase VST 3.5 version plug-ins but it's nothing spectatular, it just seems to me that these reverbs fit well in vocal parts. Nevertheless, I'm still out for that one perfect unit although everyone seems to be satisfied . The best reverb I ever had on a vocal Was the one on a song recorded few years ago in one huge empty room using just a little spice from my cheap zoom guitar unit. It sounded so natural and warm. I never was able to replicate this sound again because I moved to a real studio environmernt. How strange. I want my old room back.

 

[knownuttin]

Jill, when you say "radio", I can only assume you mean pro. That's not a sound software reverbs are yet capable of, good though many are. Good 'verb plugs can do wonderful things, and you shouldn't be discouraged from getting the most from them. Sonusman had a thread on here about reverb which gives a lot of great how-to advice on learning to adjust the parameters. Find and read it unless you know all this already.

That said, if you have access to quality outboard reverbs, like those made by Lexicon and TC, for gawds sake use them instead! At least on your vocals.

If not, write back telling us what you're getting that you'd like to improve specifically, and we'll chime in with tips.
-kent

 

[knownuttin]

On further reflection it occurred to me I overlooked probably the best response. Neno alluded to it in the end of his post. Use a room to create a natural reverb! Forgot to think outside the box literally.

This can be done during tracking or mixing. Find a space with a pleasing reverb, be it a stairwell or spare room, whatever. Run the signal you want to treat out to a speaker and mic the room (space), running that signal back to its own channel.

Experiment with placement of speaker and mic till you find the sound you like. One suggestion I've seen is to put the speaker on the floor in one corner angled up so it points at the opposite corner. Then place the mic high, near the ceiling maybe, in said opposite corner. YMMV, so see what works for you.

Back at the mixer you'll want to roll off some highs and probably some lows. Might also help to slap 60-80ms of delay on this channel. Use the channel fader to add as much or little natural reverb to the original signal as you like.

Sometimes the best solution is the cheapest.
-kent