How Do You Do Reverb?

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by Vulconizer

What happens if you have a client who wants a different reverb than that which comes from the room? You can position your mics to give you less of the room sound, but you cannot position them to give you an entirely different room reverb altogether.

This was the point I was trying to make but you said it better than I did. Putting reverb on the vocals (I'm assuming we're talking reverb on vocals) needs to be done in the context of a mix. On a slow ballad, the natural room sound may not be enough. On a heavier rock or fast-paced song, a natural room effect may be too much.

Slapping on a reverb plug-in is standard in Nashville from my experience. I learned very quickly what the phrase "Put a little love on it for me" means.

Anyway, this doesn't help the OP find his native reverb plugs in Audacity. Does Audacity have native reverb plugs?

As richiebee said: " "

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by chillowack

No one in this forum knows how to add reverb??

Fifteen people have read this post...not a single one of you has ever added reverberation to a vocal track?

I apologize for the rough treatment you got for asking a very simple question. Audacity accepts VST plugins.

Audacity: How do I install VST plug-ins?

So you should go find some and experiment with them. S.I.R.1 is a free convolution reverb so you can recreate the acoustics of some natural spaces if you care about assuaging these ultra purists who suddenly seem to be patrolling the forum. For less realistic and more interesting effects you might try Glaceverb. The Classic reverb is very useful. All these and tons more can be found at
KVR: Audio Plug-in Database (Search Page) - VST, Audio Units, DirectX, LADSPA, DSSI

[chillowack]

Originally Posted by Vulconizer

Whomper, there are legit uses for "canned" reverb, aren't there. Be it that which comes from a software plug-in or from an analog unit. In fact, there are thousands upon thousands of recordings which have had it applied during mixing because it was a choice made by the engineer. I'm not wrong about that, am I? Usually, the choice made is one the engineer deems will enhance his/her mix. That's the way it's supposed to go, anyway... Would so many engineers use the hell out of something that is going to hurt their mixes?

Isn't saying that no one else wants it actually false? Those thousands and thousands of mixes seem to tell otherwise, don't they?
To say that it is all harsh and hard to listen to is a subjective opinion, isn't it? Lots of people listen to it just fine. At least, that's what I gather from all those mixers and their usage of it.

Great room reverb is fine and dandy IF you happen to have access to a great room or hall that happens to have great reverb. Not all "natural" reverbs or even purpose-built rooms with reverb ( which is largely the case ) are created equal, though. Not all folks, hell, most folks don't have access to a nice-sounding "natural" reverb, do they? What are they supposed to do in that case, mix everything dry? That dry, in-your-face sound usually still has some reverb to it. At least, that's what I hear.

What happens if you have a client who wants a different reverb than that which comes from the room? You can position your mics to give you less of the room sound, but you cannot position them to give you an entirely different room reverb altogether.

Can you?

Just curious because what you stated sounded like you meant it and that maybe you think it's fact. That can lead to some bad info getting into the head of someone just starting out in recording.

Maybe you were just being a joker and giving the guy some shit to get a laugh or whatever. I've done it a few times. But I do my best to never let it come across as the Be-All/End-All Statement of Great Truth and Enlightenment.

Man, I wish I'd said this! Perfectly stated, Vulconizer, thank you for this voice of wisdom.

[ryanoliver]

I would wager to say that just after EQ and compresson, reverbs and delay are used in most, if not all, of the professional albums you listen to. It's the first thing an engineer reaches for when attempting to achieve added width or depth. Over-using it can certainly sound dated so remember to use it tastefully.

Chillowack, I wouldn't rely on any stock plugins that come with audacity, as Electriclight said, search for reverb plugins on KVRaudio.com, you'll find plenty to suit your needs.

[garageband]

Grab a convolution reverb and have a go. The first time you use one, you'll probably wet yourself with glee. Not always the right thing, but damned magical.

[Penniesfromheaven]

While all this debate about whether electronic reverb is good or bad is interesting, has anyone stopped to answer the question? To Chillowack: what version do you have?, because it IS on the drop down menu I have, and I just downloaded the latest in order to answer someone elses question on a different forum.
effects>delay effects>reverb. But if you get there you will find it is not worth it.

[whomper]

Originally Posted by TonyB

.... and comb filtering too? How do you avoid phasing issues?

add a couple of IIR filters plus some flanging for the ultimate reverb

maybe some wow and flutter too

heck
toss in every plug in you got and really make it sound great

[whomper]

Originally Posted by Vulconizer

Whomper, there are legit uses for "canned" reverb, aren't there. Be it that which comes from a software plug-in or from an analog unit. In fact, there are thousands upon thousands of recordings which have had it applied during mixing because it was a choice made by the engineer. I'm not wrong about that, am I? Usually, the choice made is one the engineer deems will enhance his/her mix. That's the way it's supposed to go, anyway... Would so many engineers use the hell out of something that is going to hurt their mixes?

Isn't saying that no one else wants it actually false? Those thousands and thousands of mixes seem to tell otherwise, don't they?
To say that it is all harsh and hard to listen to is a subjective opinion, isn't it? Lots of people listen to it just fine. At least, that's what I gather from all those mixers and their usage of it.

Great room reverb is fine and dandy IF you happen to have access to a great room or hall that happens to have great reverb. Not all "natural" reverbs or even purpose-built rooms with reverb ( which is largely the case ) are created equal, though. Not all folks, hell, most folks don't have access to a nice-sounding "natural" reverb, do they? What are they supposed to do in that case, mix everything dry? That dry, in-your-face sound usually still has some reverb to it. At least, that's what I hear.

What happens if you have a client who wants a different reverb than that which comes from the room? You can position your mics to give you less of the room sound, but you cannot position them to give you an entirely different room reverb altogether.

Can you?

Just curious because what you stated sounded like you meant it and that maybe you think it's fact. That can lead to some bad info getting into the head of someone just starting out in recording.

Maybe you were just being a joker and giving the guy some shit to get a laugh or whatever. I've done it a few times. But I do my best to never let it come across as the Be-All/End-All Statement of Great Truth and Enlightenment.


Unless I'm talking about how I'm hung like a field mouse. Y'all can go right on believing that.

i prefer accurate recordings that reflect the live performance

dont really care for something that can only be cooked up in the laboratory

reverb was nice once, back when les paul did it in the 50s.
after that it became old, trite, and annoying

reverb , tastefully done, might be okay to add to an orchestra done in the local school gym to make it sound like the met.

reverb on vocals. never. except for beethovens 9th symphony and then only at the end with the entire stereo mix getting it.

if you like it then go for it.

i have outgrown such juvenile gimmicks.
but then except for moonwalking which was neat , once, i didnt think much about michael jacksons "art" either.

[Penniesfromheaven]

Whomper,

I understand that in the perfect world, the perfect singer and the perfect band, the perfect orchestra, in the perfect room, with perfectly intune instruments, with the perfect recording medium, and the perfect engineer , there would be no need for fake reverb. But that doesn't happen often. for the rest of those times there are plug-ins, MIDIverb II's, etc. I WISH I could record everything in the perfect environment you talk of, but it just isn't real alot of the time. Blessings to you, but I have not been to your world.

[P.P.T.]

It sounds like whomper only knows how to use it turned up full.

Les Paul used delay I think.

There's reverb on just about every recording you hear on radio.
They just aren't awash in reverb.