Reverb Question

Posted on

Member Since: May 06, 2008

Can using Reverb when you mix the beat and vocals help make your song more sound 3d like and not flat? Because I don't really use Reverb and all my songs sound flat.

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Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


May 10, 2008 03:16 pm

Sure will.

You can also duplicate the vocal track, or triplicate, then move track 2 30% left, and track 3 40% right, and put different EQ or effects on each one.

I'm just throwing out ideas, but it gives you an idea on what's possible.

You could nudge one track back a teeny bit, like 3ms or so, for a thickening type effect. Or use an echo plug on the middle one.

etc, etc, etc. play and have fun!

Welcome to the HRC, btw.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


May 10, 2008 04:44 pm

be careful with reverb. it's very easy to go over whats needed.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 10, 2008 05:12 pm

reverb adds an illusion of depth to a sound. by simulating sound bouncing off of things further and further away....don't think of it as sound coming out at you, but more of sound going back behind the speakers. aka depth. like Loki said, use lightly, i get it sounding nice, then back off a hair just for good measure....keep in mind, if you run any kind of compressor/limiter on the whole mix, it will also bring up the reverb.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


May 10, 2008 06:00 pm

Also, reverb is probably the most cpu intensive process I know of. I usually put it on a send bus, and then send all the tracks that need reverb to it, just to not choke my machine. Outboard gear is good for that as well.

But yeah, reverb will add that nice image to your sound, but tread lightly, as it's easy to over do it. I know I did many a times.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


May 10, 2008 06:13 pm

Yeah, good points. I usually putz with it until I notice it, then back it off a bit.

Seems to work.

And yep, reverb will take CPU. Especially convolution reverbs. algorithm versions aren't so bad.

Member
Since: May 06, 2008


May 10, 2008 07:06 pm

Thanks for the help, I have Waves Mercury and I use RVERB lightly on my vocals, I place the effect on a bus and send the tracks to that bus..but thats the only way have seem to make my songs sound more 3d like in your face without sounding flat...

Member
Since: Apr 26, 2002


May 10, 2008 08:42 pm

A perfect example.

Check out any of the tracks here: beastieboys.com/remixer/

It's just vocals, no beat. You'll notice how much reverb is on the vocal tracks. Now dig out a finished copy of the song, and you don't even notice the verb.

Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007


May 15, 2008 10:45 am

My own policy/rule of thumb on using reverb is to get it to where I think it sounds really good. And then I back it off by about 15% or 20%. Seems to work for me. :)

Member
Since: May 15, 2008


May 15, 2008 03:56 pm

double tracking is fun!!

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


May 15, 2008 04:04 pm

Combine reverb and compression not just on vocals but other tracks too, to add some space, and punch to your tracks.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


May 19, 2008 08:53 am

I have a rule of thumb much like J-bot. I don't pretend that it will work for everybody. It is simply, "Listen Later". For me there's something about the excitement, or change, or something happening psychologicaly when actualy working on a mix that I have found is not trustworthy. Now I put it up, and just listen to it purely for enjoyment as I woud any purchased music, and I will hear things such as over-verb that will trigger the "what was I thinking" effect. This little epipheny came to me after a few itterations of playing a song for some friend that I was all excited about and going "oh Yuck!" I wish I could turn it off now.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


May 19, 2008 04:16 pm

Ha ha walt. that has happened to me many a time. "Awww man, that wasn't supposed to sound like that".

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


May 19, 2008 04:52 pm

I have done that alot, yet... I have also done the opposite as I am very (maybe too) critical of my own work.

I have worked on something so hard and think it sounds like doo doo. Recently pulled up one of these and was pleasantly suprised that it was not as bad as I thought. Although... this is a rare situation :)

Member
Since: Nov 21, 2007


May 21, 2008 06:35 am

I find that's from just too much concentration on specific parts and not the whole mix. Good to put it away for a day or sleep on it.

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