Hi guys!
I’m new here and hope you can help me with this one, I’m sure for many of you it is very simple!
I’d like to know your preferred reverb aux level when doing vocals? I’m always getting a bit confused with this or my vocals get a bit washed out.
I’m Just trying to get the “front” vocals nice and dry and behind it a big lush reverb!

If 0db is the starting point of the aux channel, then to what level would you bring it down ( let’s say, if your reverb plugin is set to 100% on its mix level)
Is -7.50 good? Or too much? -12db, -14db? More, less? I appreciate your help!

Thank you, David

 

There's no fixed value.

The Aux Channel value is calculated by just three elements:

1. Your Brain (what exactly do you want to achieve).
2. Your Ears.
3. Your Studio Monitors.

It's all about your vision regarding your own song. HOW do you want it to sound and how much reverb do you hear in your monitors, is there too much? Is there too less? Just playback your song with the Aux Channel set on -inf and rise the fader until you feel enough ambience on that vocal or rise it even more in case you want it even more wetter (based on your initial vision/idea regarding that particular song).

Believe me, just trust yourself and the combination between these 3 elements. That's how you set the right Reverb send level.

Evo

 

i always leave my aux channel at default.

and just control the level via the amount sent by sends.

 

if you send multiple chanels to one aux, then is better to keep aux chanel on default and adjust send of individual chanels (if you try to fix more instrument in one "room"), but if you send only one chanel to aux, it's easier to keep send in default and adjust aux fader... especialy if u have another plugin on aux chanel except reverb (because of responding of plugins on input level)

 

Thank you so much guys for clarifying this!

 

It depends if your aux sends are pre or post faders too...

 

ok, i think the aux are usually pre fader,
is there a huge difference between pre or post? What do you guys usually use?

 

It also depends on how loud each channel is, pre fader. It also depends on how many auxilaries/sends you will send to one effect.
etc, etc, etc

There are no set rules.
Gain-staging FTW.

 

A good way to start a mix is to set all your faders at -6. Everything, including your aux channels.
A little trick on vocals is to use two reverbs. One small room verb on the vocal channel/bus itself, and one hall verb in a post fader send. This brings more clarity.
How much verb you ad is a matter of taste. Normally you do not want to hear reverb. When you think it's right, turn it down a notch more.

 

It also depends on the type of music:
your can drawn your sounds into 10 sec washy modulated reverb in ambient music but you can' t do this for "InYourFace" rap vocals where the reverb is just a very small ambience.

 

Mine starts on -10db and it kicks ass.

 

You generally want to keep your auxiliary channel at unity (0 dB) and control reverb levels from each individual tracks' sends.

 

Great guys!! Thank you for the info, helps me a lot to understand this better! )

 

A little tip to bring out vocals is using two reverbs sends:

1. general to tie the entire mix with a lower wet signal;
2. specific for vocals with a somewhat higher value.

On the second reverb channel insert a compressor that allows sidechaining after the reverb you use. Use the vocal track as a sidechain input, lower the threshold and increase the release in the compressor (find the right values that suit your taste and song style). The result of this little trick should be that your vocals sound more dry and upfront while the reverb kicks in only when they become quieter.
If you also need to "fatten up" vocals there are two ways of achieving this: double tracking + vocal processing or, more easier one, using a touch of chorus in another send channel. Hope this is what you were looking for.

 

Thank you "chopin4525" great tip!!