lets say you need a room reverb for a track

is it random process which one is the best one? do you switch between 10 different ones and choose the best one?

i noticed how much dramatically a reverb can change the whole track its applied to

but i'm left to thinking that its a random/lucky process of choosing the right reverb?

 

for starters no i dont choose between 10 different ones because i do this thing called purchasing the stuff i use
and valhalla

 

I know what you mean, I don't have the experience of many here, but for room reverb I tend to go first for Pro-R and if I cant get exactly what I want from that then I'll go for one of the Valhalla's.I guess everyone will have there favorite one or two go-to's based on experience.

 

All Reverb units are Different.

Also Reverb is an acquired taste, you need to test all the plugs you find interesting,
and try all the reverb models in them: Rooms, Halls, Chambers, Springs, etc..
Over time you will develop an idea of how they sound, and in which ways and what type of situations they could be better used.

Also it's a matter of Adjustment,
you need to adjust each and all parameters to better suit the scenario, and that is what makes the final difference,
and ultimately what makes a certain reverb sound best, or be the best option in any given context/application..

With proper Adjustment and Filtering, almost all Reverbs are perfectly Usable.
Yet with time your taste/perception will refine, you will distinguish the fundamental characteristics,
allowing you to nitpick, and more accurately select between one unit/approach over the other.


That being said, my reverbs of choice would be:
Algo - Lexicon PCM, VSS4, Aether
Convo - Altiverb
Hybrid - Reverberate 3/Seventh Heaven
(basically for the Bricasti, and it's also very good loading third party True-Stereo IRs..)

 

Last edited: Aug 22, 2021

I try to sculpt the shape and sound of the reverb first. Roughly I'll go for an algo reverb for more diffuse sound and a convolution verbs for a more clear room sound.

Then, I'll guesstimate the length, crank up the wet level so I can hear what I'm doing. Then I set the predelay, If it's synthetic material, something rhythmic can be nice, if it's acoustic, I'll increase it until it sounds natural as in, as much as I can without making it sound off and effecty (kind of too separate from the dry material).

Now that I've got the basic idea, I'll set the reverb length/size, then reduce the low level to get rid of excess boom, reduce the highs so it doesn't hurt my ears or sound too sparkly. Finally set the diffusion amount, and reduce the wet level to reasonable.

At mixdown almost as a rule I reduce the wet levels of my reverbs 5-10% because I will have invariably overdone it

That's just me though, YMMV.

 

FabFilter - R3

• Algorithmic reverberation with room simulations from the small ambience effect to the cathedral
• Unobtrusive, natural reverb that blends easily into the mix without staining or causing phase problems

 

Last edited: Aug 22, 2021

Not really.

Reverb has a sound, sound is a matter of taste. So there is nothing like 'best'.

Plugins? Not anymore - thankfully, I must add.
When I want a smooth room I usually use Valhalla Plate and try the various metals to hear which fits best - to me.
When I want more character I use Altiverb and try various IRs in max two categories.

For an 'ordinary' room, that's basically it.

 

I've seen some people bashed Pro-R on GS. I don't know why I think it sounds pretty good to me.

 

They are idiots who have no idea.

 

Try out different reverbs and categorize their sound characteristics. Does the reverb sound dark, mid-heavy or treble-heavy? Does it sound metallic or lush? How is the stereo stage? How much depth does the reverb generate? Make a database in your head and put the reverbs in different drawers. Then if you want a certain sound, grab into the appropriate drawer. No randomness.

 

Why not Valhalla Room?

 

All the plastic reverbs in a bundle ProR, LexiconPCM, Valhalla etc. Hobby reverbs lol. Your track suck because you use reverbs like these all over. Prove me wrong.

 

You are wrong.
I HAVE NO tracks on which to have reverb.
I hate it when people use absolutes.

So, Mr. Know-it-all, what do YOU use?

 

You might find this thread on GS enlightening: https://gearspace.com/board/geekzone/380233-reverb-subculture.html

Provided you've actually learnt to read despite your head being so far up your ass.

(Hint: You might spot a couple of known reverb designers in there)

 

99.9% of people who listen to / purchase music won't hear or feel a difference whether it's d-verb, valhalla, or whatever verbs you're using. go off tho

 

Just out of curiosity... various like in "ten"?

 

It's not because it's bad, in fact I really like the accessibility of ERs and tail. I find especially the ERs useful and use them mainly to thicken up vocals. IMHO, the tail is somewhere between Valhalla Plate and Altiverb and for rooms I just perfer these two. It's a matter of taste and making a decision. I neither try ten 1176, tube or opto emus when I need one.

 

Seriously, yes. There're dozens of 'rooms' in every category, each with several mic positions. And when you want to find a proper combination of ERs, tail and overall sound and don't know all these IRs by heart, I see no other option. Even if you marked some of them as favourite, there're just too many good sounding IRs to remember - at least for me.

 

i think its pretty important to first know what you are trying to achieve.

if you are making a piece/track that is supposed to sound like traditional real instruments in real rooms then its anything but random, and you can narrow your search a lot. and if you dont know/lack experience then simply* use reverb extremely sparsely to begin with

now, if you are making a more "artsy" production then its simply up to you to judge what sounds good, you have total artistic freedom, aint that a beauty! the effects (reverb) will then not be bound to comply any pre-existent formats on how it should sound.

btw, whenever i hear excellency in production and i see myself being able to make something similar, i often i feel the pitfall is not letting loose and dear to make what would be exiting to me, and not to strap on a lot of boundaries and limitations. but then it obviously depends on the genre, kind of assignment etc and if "im" a total beginner or not.

 

Last edited: Aug 22, 2021

I'm not sure it makes sense for @samsome to have everyone touting their favorite reverb and discussing the pros and cons.
If I may make a suggestion:

Find 1 versatile algorithmic reverb for bread and butter applications and learn the ins and outs so you really know how the reverb sounds with every possible setting and with all possible sound sources. The reverb should offer enough parameters to intervene in the sound, but not so many that they overwhelm. A good free reverb that serves this purpose would be OrilRiver by Denis Tihanov. Additionally I would choose 1 special effect reverb. Valhalla Super Massive usually serves this purpose pretty well.

Just suggestions....

Whatever plugins you choose, learn them. You will eventually realize when you reach the limits of what is possible. But then you should already have acquired the knowledge and the ear to know what you need and what to look for when you expand your arsenal.

 

Last edited: Aug 23, 2021