Better sounding software reverb
If you feel that your software reverb sounds unnatural and static (especially convolution reverb plug-ins) - try to add little chorus on it.
A point is that many hardware reverb units uses chorusing. Like famous Lexicon L480, for example.
In the Pro Tools you can insert chorus plug-in into the reverb aux track, after the reverb itself.
This will add some “randomizing” to early reflections and reverb tail and your reverb plugin will sound more natural and warmer.
roger said,
May 20, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I will sometimes mess with stereo delays and phase-inverting tricks to spread out some special effects reverbs. I have to admit, however, that using convolution plug-ins like Altiverb and TL Space is MORE natural and life-like than almost any other digital reverb form that I’ve used.
I have used chorusing on the returns for reverbs before, but I would say that I get more of a “retro” as in like an old Thompson Twins or A-Ha record, vibe.
Lately, I’ve actually fallen back in love with mono reverbs on a centered vocal, with a very wide music bed (hard panned complimentary guitar layers, but not so much wet effects).
Keep up the tips!
Roger
roger said,
May 20, 2007 at 8:43 pm
oh, I forgot to mention that the convolution reverbs may be natural sounding, depending on the IR, but nothing beats real ambience! Even a mono track of a distant room mic on the drums, or even recording a distant mic to a muted track while your mix plays back through your monitors, then blended in with the rest of the mix, can breathe some life into a mix lacking in near-to-far depth.
Roger
Mr.K said,
May 21, 2007 at 1:54 am
Roger, there’s disadvantage of convolution reverbs. They are static. With no variations to reverb tail or ER. And if you are using static samples like synth snare, for example, you’ll feel it.
That’s why sometimes I use a little amount of chorusing on reverbs. Not much, just to randomize them.
And yes, delays also helps.