taming reverbs

[subframe]

I've got some really sweet impulse responses, and have built up some beautiful patches in Space Designer.

But when they go in a mix, I find that my reverbs are usually too present and bright (Note that this is not a levels issue, I try to back my reverbs way off).

So, I throw a filter or EQ on, but then the reverbs become quite dull and don't really fill the space the way I want.

Any tricks you guys know of for getting a nice, filling reverb that plays nice with the mix, without being too bright?

[shonky]

Bit tricky to set up, but there was something I tried a while ago, but can't be too specific as it's a bit trial and error.

Try putting a compressor after the reverb and sidechain that to your original signal (you need to do this on a send rather than an insert). When the original signal hits in the sidechain, as it releases the volume of the reverb should be bought up, and when it comes back in again, it should drop the reverb down. Takes a bit of doing to get the compression ratio and threshold to sound good, but does help clear things up in the mix and reduce clashes.

If this isn't right for whatever reason, try googling ducking delay and then see what they say there as it'll probably be far better explained. You could also try this with autofilter and sidechain that against the velocity of the original signal (ie. lowpass comes on when the sidechained channel is playing and then you get more highs as the original dissipates)

Use the low pass to roll off anything under 400hz (if you must reverb kicks, try and layer a higher, beater kick above the weighty one and you should find you'll still get the kick reverb without muddying up the low end). Reduce the highs until it still sounds clear but doesn't sound too shrill and take up all your high end. The dullness may have more to do with reverb in the 200-400hz "mud" range, rather than the lack of treble.

If all else fails, you could automate the filters on the reverb to back it down when everything gets busy and bring up the highs for the drop. Reverb lengths may not need as slow a release on more busy sections, so you could reduce that when there's too much going on.

Not totally sure if that answers the original question, but hopefully some of it's of use

[deadly_habit]

well if you have a raw version minus the reverb the easiest way would be to overlay the original with the processed, but do some subtractive eqing on the processed version.

[8bitwonder]

im gunna try explian this best as possible....

when writing i have for example a snare track completly dry

then i duplicate that track turn it down and add reverb to about 80 per cent.

then you can pan or automate best as poss


dunno if that helps but give it a go

[subframe]

Ah, very interesting. I do this splitting/paralleling a lot with compression, but haven't tried with reverb.

I'll give it a shot later tonight.

cheers

[deadly_habit]

yea working in layers is handy for a load of things
one unprocessed layer
one processed

also handy when modulating basslines splitting the high end and low end for seperate fx processing

buses and group tracks mmmm

[parson]

whats the difference between having a dry layer and a wet layer and having a one layer thats partially wet

[deadly_habit]

whats the difference between having a dry layer and a wet layer and having a one layer thats partially wet

try it and see

[misk]

two words:

bus sends

[parson]

whats the difference between having a dry layer and a wet layer and having a one layer thats partially wet

try it and see

pretty sure you could get the same sound either way

[deadly_habit]

whats the difference between having a dry layer and a wet layer and having a one layer thats partially wet

try it and see

pretty sure you could get the same sound either way

nah it'll sound diff

like layering a raw reese or something over a distorted version

[parson]

i guess if the reverb is messin with the pitch it could cause some detuning effect?

[deadly_habit]

i guess if the reverb is messin with the pitch it could cause some detuning effect?

yea but thats not characteristic of most reverb units/plugins

[ekstrak]

parson,.. the reason i personally will have a dry and a wet layer is that i generally want to apply different EQ's / Filters to each.

[forensix (mcr)]

I think here that sends are your friend, obviously you can get a good mix of dry and wet and also you'll be able to eq your wet and dry signal, also using reverb as send you can apply a little of the same reverb to different elements to put them in the same "space"

[subframe]

I think here that sends are your friend, obviously you can get a good mix of dry and wet and also you'll be able to eq your wet and dry signal, also using reverb as send you can apply a little of the same reverb to different elements to put them in the same "space"

Word. 100%. I only use reverbs on sends, fo sho - some good all-round advice itt, beyond just reverbs, glad I asked, haha.

Hopefully will get some time this weekend to work more or the splitting deal, and some EQing of said reverbs. We shall see.

[parson]

I think here that sends are your friend, obviously you can get a good mix of dry and wet and also you'll be able to eq your wet and dry signal, also using reverb as send you can apply a little of the same reverb to different elements to put them in the same "space"

big fan of sends myself