"That" 60's, 70's REVERB sound ???

  • Thread starter Thread starter cjacek
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cjacek

cjacek

Analogue Enthusiast
Hello,

Having a budget of approx $100, what new or used effects unit would come close to getting that "vintage", "warm" and distinct 60's and 70's reverb sound ? I find the modern reverb units like the Lexicon mpx-100 ... well .... too "modern" sounding for my taste... Anything used, on eBay I should look-out for ?

THANKS!

Daniel :)
 
this topic was discussed on here before, use the search function. if i recall, it was a very informative thread.
 
heroics321 said:
this topic was discussed on here before, use the search function. if i recall, it was a very informative thread.
Click to expand...

Do you remember the "key words" that were used in that particular thread or subject line ?

Thanks!

Daniel
 
You're probably thinking of a fantastic sounding room
 
chessrock said:
You're probably thinking of Spring Reverb.
Click to expand...

I've never heard what a spring reverb sounds like on vocals, as this is what I'd use it for ...

Daniel
 
Chrisjob said:
You're probably thinking of a fantastic sounding room
Click to expand...

Perhaps .. but failing that I'd really like to know if this type of reverb can be at least approximated by some lower cost alternatives.

Daniel
 
heres an (dodgy) idea to perhaps get you close... if you have a spare tracktry re-amping the vocals through a guitar amp with a spring reverb, make it nice and wet, and mic the amp back a bit, this should give you a toch of extra delay and a bt of "room sound". .. record that to your spare track and mix to taste...

i don't think in the 60's and 70's reverb came in a "box", so a box may not be your solution.. its the kinda thing that was really experimented with... i think a "plate" setting is going to be the best thing you'll find for a retro sound in a digital box....
 
dr.colossus said:
i think a "plate" setting is going to be the best thing you'll find for a retro sound in a digital box....
Click to expand...

Ahh .. now we're getting somewhere! (Insp. Cluseau voice ;) ) ...

Ok then ... which "digital box" has the best imitation of a true plate reverb ? Are there any respected plate reverb units that have an EQ built in so that one can tweak the "colour" of the effect ?

THANKS!

Daniel
 
Ok, I did some research and found that in the 60's and 70's studios used an EMT plate reverb. (Not news to many of you .. ). It was suggested in an article that persons who can't get access to an actual EMT plate, either for the lack of money, space or both, use a digital plate reverb (as dr.colossus suggested). Furthermore, it was suggested that:

"Make sure to roll off a good bit of the high end to get the sound of a real plate — as a rule, digital simulations are overly bright as compared with the real thing."

Ok, so the next question is ... What is the BEST and LEAST expensive digital unit (a model # if you please) which replicates the EMT plate ? It is possible that the recommended "box" will not have its own EQ so I'd just have to buy a seperate one and patch in between the effect loop. However, can you suggest a "box" which nicely simulates an EMT plate and has EQ built in ?

Daniel
 
There's actualy some nice plate settings on your Lexicon MPX100, feed the returns back in to a seperate channel and use that channel EQ for the desired effect then blend to taste.

This is your cheapest solution and you save $100 for beer :D
 
cjacek said:
I've never heard what a spring reverb sounds like on vocals, as this is what I'd use it for ...

Daniel
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A good useable spring reverb is going to cost you 20 times your $100 budget. Anything cheap will sound *really* crappy.

The only one I know of is the Great Brittish Spring Reverb that was made in the early 80s. It is a long plastic tube with springs and OK electronics. Look for one used.
 
For your budget, do a search for Alesis Wedge on ebay. Its very tweakable, has a few good plate settings and is in your price range. Even has an EMT plate setting.
 
You guys are amazing... plates were the primary reverbs in NY... "Chambers" were more prevalent in LA... so let's say you're looking more toward that LA kinda sound ['cause it's a whole lot easier to do a chamber with a C-note than it is to do a plate]... take a speaker, put it in your bathroom, take a mic, put it in your bathroom too. Play the music/tracks on which you want reverb through the speaker, return the microphone to your mix.

Want stereo? Use two microphones.

Want the reverb to sound shorter? Add towels, close the shower curtain... want it a bit longer? Remove the towels, remove the shower curtain and compress the return.

This is pretty much how it was done before the "verb in the box" ... people actually used physical environments for all kinds of groovy shit.

Peace.
 
what? people actually used ROOMS back in the 60s and 70s? pshaw. i don't believe it.

fletcher, next you'll be telling us that the bands were actually well-rehearsed before they went into the studio and that they recorded most of their tracks live and as a band playing together........

:D


cheers,
wade

PS--fwiw, i heard from Ferris' sister that the reverb chamber under the Capitol Records building's parking lot is pretty legendary....LOL :b
 
Fletcher said:
You guys are amazing... plates were the primary reverbs in NY... "Chambers" were more prevalent in LA... so let's say you're looking more toward that LA kinda sound ['cause it's a whole lot easier to do a chamber with a C-note than it is to do a plate]... take a speaker, put it in your bathroom, take a mic, put it in your bathroom too. Play the music/tracks on which you want reverb through the speaker, return the microphone to your mix.

Want stereo? Use two microphones.

Want the reverb to sound shorter? Add towels, close the shower curtain... want it a bit longer? Remove the towels, remove the shower curtain and compress the return.

This is pretty much how it was done before the "verb in the box" ... people actually used physical environments for all kinds of groovy shit.

Peace.
Click to expand...

Sorry Fletcher. Towels and curtains exceed my 100 dollar reverb budget. You'll have to be more creative. How about a DIY solution?
 
Ok, thanks so much for the very informative and helpful replies! Much appreciated!

Daniel :)
 
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