Reverb Types and Example Cuts

Kefir's recent posting about criticism and remarks got me thinking about reverb level and 'jam feasability'. A useful tool for those wanting to add 'attraction/detraction' to their mixes. I didn't exactly understand what reverb did when I started here. Now, I've cut loose from the herd a bit and have some experimental learnings, but lost some of that 'no words' feel for touch and go. Most jams don't need reverb, but fx tools are readily available and its very easy to drop in a fave and put it on 'Room 1'. That's 90% of my first year's jamming. Apart from that, you get a feel for the basic types and can juggle a few after experimenting. Anyways, all this 'pick your fave day' posting fests co-inciding with Kefirs post prompted me to begin thinking about 'commercial' albums wherein I could easily pindown a basic 'overall' verb. I tried to analyze the songs in terms of reverbs used, but the analysis isn't a 100% transcription, but I hope you get the idea if you are interested in hearing examples. I'll start with a 'detractor' style reverb, an album that isn't exactly pretty, but a very gritty and real sounding dub album.

Bill Laswell, 'Babylon Ghost': a very effective use of close up plate and big room chamber on the master, creating traps and fun puzzles for the listener, like ‘hidden’ rising hall reverb with some fader riding on the eq.
[youtube]8YalFq76kgI[/youtube]

Latin Jazz Quartet, 'Caribe': a typical example of 60's jazz label ‘room verb’, a near perfect master plate creating a relaxing environment, with just enough hall to create some memory illusions.
[youtube]OjXGUM-6Yq4[/youtube]

Genesis, 'Cinema show': a perennial prog-rock classic, dominated by heavy thick cloud reverb, a wide dark plate providing the 'overall' effect, and a very small room and vertical hall for showcased instruments. Creates a dreamy, very nostalgic atmosphere.
[youtube]G-KI47Xm32k[/youtube]

Steve Roach, 'Early man': pulling out of poppy terrain into something different, we hear a huge open space, lighter cloud verb than the genesis cut, and what could be a 'room/hall' combo on the deceptively simple guitar parts with the cloud mixed in. Lots of reflections create an 'awakened' mix that merely is, while others listed here try to capture your attention almost exclusively.
[youtube]eNkgSS_lA_A[/youtube]

I'm not sure about some of the calls here, but I've built a pretty good ear for the 'verb settings on tracks since my time here. I'm curious to see if anyone will agree/disagree with my analysis. I'm sure I've missed some reverb types, and albums that may illustrate those. Or the types I've listed here, better...I tried to include Radiohead's 'Airbag' as an example of modern production featuring a very small studio hall overall setting, but 4 videos seems to be the limit for the forum. A more modern cut than my examples, it could very well feature hundreds of reverb settings.

---

Your latin jazz example is most likely the actual room. Later on studios build rooms with a speaker and mics, used the hallway, used the toilets etc to create controllable natural reverb.

---

This is Universal Audios recreation of the Mowtown reverb chamber because of course these things are now available modelled.
[img]https://help.uaudio.com/hc/article_attachments/10915853777556[/img]

---

One thing worth a note and specific to wikiloops is that drenching your upload in reverb hampers the next mixer. If one can hold back, upload HD tracks and have faith, the final mixer can then make a much better mix.

---

Yes. I realized that about holding back reverb a couple months ago. Different from showcase tunes where you perform all the parts and try to produce it like a commercial record.

---

Co-incidentally, In my recent live Radio Googlow broadcast I was explaining to Herman Frankly how I got into reverb... Here's a rough transcript :-

Herman....."How would you describe your singing style ?"

Shamika ....."Definitely reverberous! I love echo. I think it all started when I fell down a well on a school trip - I was there for 2 days calling for help, no-one came. My shouting sounded so cavernous. I got to crave that sound, everything sounded so flat after that"

---

Wow. That reminds me of the latest novel from Haruki Murakami, called "Killing Commendatore". The main figure (a painter) also falls into a well, no way to get out... a good book in case you haven't read it yet.

---

Quite excellent thread started by Mike here, I like the idea of following up the different types of reverbs in these productions. Reverb is hard to describe in words, these samples really help.

I absolutely support what zedders said about going easy on the reverb if you want to get remixed on wikiloops. Too much reverb just tends to sound washed once one or two more instruments are added.

Now, when checking out the second example Mike posted, the one that made zedders wonder wether that might not be the real rooms reverb, I checked the videos quality, and switched from 360p to 1080, and I'd suggest you try that and see how note-able the difference in the reverbs sound is.
Same recording, reverb eaten by the video compression... if you had the song on vinyl (as it was most likely mastered for), it would be another experience for sure.
Bottom line - reverb in digital production is a difficult ballpark, you can get away with huge amounts of reverb live, but in recording, the more compressed the signal gets, the higher the chance to overdose it seems.

To quote a dear friend of mine (with a good ear):
'If you can hear the reverb, then it is too loud!'

p.s.
@shamika, that "fell into a well"-story was the most scary reverb related story I ever read... sounds like no fun, really.

---

Reverb / your brain.

Isn't it funny that you sit in your room playing your acoustic instrument and it seems quite clear. Then you record it and find the recording has a ton of room sound (reverb) on it. It's because our brains had been filtering out the room sound for us but the microphone doesn't.

Just thought I'd mention that. This recording business is more complicated than I once thought. :)

---

Well said...:)

---