Talk to me about Reverb effects

[cardinal]

Was screwing around the house yesterday, put a cab in a small hallway, and it sounded HUGE. I'm guessing that it was a natural reverb effect from the space. I remember reading that some of Cantrell's parts on Facelift were recorded with his cab in a stairwell, maybe for the same reasons.

My only real experience with reverb effects has been with spring reverb on some Mesa Boogie's and whatever standard reverbs were easily accessible on a POD and Axe FX (which I sold a while back). None of them came close to providing the effect that I heard from the hallway, but I never really spent much time with it. Not very practical to always set my cabs in a hallway, so is there anyway to reproduce what I was hearing with a reverb effect from an Axe FX, Lexicon, Eventide, etc? Or would I just be chasing my tail?

 

[supersonic]

Yes a decent reverb unit will get you close, but they are only simulators. There are multiple parameters decay, reflections etc, you need to really understand what you're trying to achieve. Reverb racks do my head in though.

 

[Ventura]

Depends how deep you wanna go down the rabbit hole.

You can satisfy the simplest of your reverb needs with the Digitech RV-7. Cheap, easy, and it sounds real good for what it is. Then you can go all booteek and shit...spend a lot of coin on it all.

But bottom line about reverb. I think it's essential. Why? Reverb is the ONE effect that defines and frames the "space" of your sound. Without it, it's flat, non-dimensional, sterile, and artificial sounding.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Where most people get it wrong is that they think it needs to be "hi fi" and a perfect duplication of the original signal which rack units do too well. In nature's reality, this is not the case, hi end rolls off with each reflection of the original. So you get a warmer and fuller sound, instead of the nasty reverb most people hear and hate. So if you get a reverb unit, make sure it has adjustments for treble roll off.

 

[cardinal]

Thanks guys. Looks like the Eventide Space has the ability to cut the high end, doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and doesn't look like it requires a college level course in programing to figure out.

 

[Ventura]

Thanks guys. Looks like the Eventide Space has the ability to cut the high end, doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and doesn't look like it requires a college level course in programing to figure out.

Um, dude... That's one of the meatiest biggest sickest most intricate reverb stomps out there Don't get me wrong, mega Eventide fanboi here through and through. But what's the rack rate on one of them bad boys??? $400 to $500????? These ARE those above mentioned mega complex rack reverb units - only it's stuffed into a simpler housing. Don't kid yourself...it's over kill. But go for it if you're into big time complexity and depth.

If you want set it and go? Digitech RV-7 for $125-$140 online:

 

[Jofipe]

Neunaber WET Stereo, with he tone knob.. simply the best and sweetest sounding reverb unit in that price range. I had the Eventide Space... while it can do allot of things, this was never as great sounding as the Neunaber.

 

[Shark Diver]

But bottom line about reverb. I think it's essential. Why? Reverb is the ONE effect that defines and frames the "space" of your sound. Without it, it's flat, non-dimensional, sterile, and artificial sounding.

I'm the exact opposite. Unless used as an exaggerated FX I don't like it - especially in the basic tone. The room you are in will define the space, and added reverb just washes out your sound. This is from a live mix stand point IMO.

 

[Ventura]

But bottom line about reverb. I think it's essential. Why? Reverb is the ONE effect that defines and frames the "space" of your sound. Without it, it's flat, non-dimensional, sterile, and artificial sounding.

I'm the exact opposite. Unless used as an exaggerated FX I don't like it - especially in the basic tone. The room you are in will define the space, and added reverb just washes out your sound. This is from a live mix stand point IMO.

Totally concur, and I'm coming from a close-mic studio recording angle. Big differences here... But we're both on the same page

 

[Ventura]

Dirty socks for better reverb.

Flint has got mega good reviews... Strymon is like crack.

But Reza, props to you for your recommendation on the RV-7 as it's working JUST fine in my limited need and use of it

 

[jlbaxe]

Springs… Haven't found a digital that I REALLY like. TC Nova was ok, The TC Hall of Fame sounds good. Axe II has some good verb but I need springs

Soldano Space Box

 

[Mr. Willy]

Next reverb I'm getting is the Supernatural from Hardwire. I'm more into using reverb for extreme applications, and this one sounds amazing to me.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=relmfu&v=3vqTRylaSyc

 

[jet66]

I'm still pretty happy with the blueSky. The WET was the other one I was considering when I bought the Strymon, and it sounded great, but I wanted the 'shimmer' effect of the blueSky.

 

[jlbaxe]

I Have to say the Strymon pedals sound awesome. If I go pedals again….

Wonder if Jesse helps him cook the pedal components

They need a rack version like the old Ibanez 400E with midi control

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Springs… Haven't found a digital that I REALLY like. TC Nova was ok, The TC Hall of Fame sounds good. Axe II has some good verb but I need springs

Soldano Space Box

I like springs too, that's why 'mI running the Demeter Reverbulator on my board, dual internal springs.

 

[jlbaxe]

Springs… Haven't found a digital that I REALLY like. TC Nova was ok, The TC Hall of Fame sounds good. Axe II has some good verb but I need springs

Soldano Space Box

I like springs too, that's why 'mI running the Demeter Reverbulator on my board, dual internal springs.

I almost bought one of those

 

[The Hoff]

Malekko Spring Chicken if that's what you're looking for. Incredibly simple an sounds great. Beyond that I'd either go strymon or an eventide space (as you've mentioned).

 

[IntenseJim]

Springs… Haven't found a digital that I REALLY like. TC Nova was ok, The TC Hall of Fame sounds good. Axe II has some good verb but I need springs

Soldano Space Box

Soldano Space Box is nice but it does only ONE thing very well. I dig it, it's super cool but honestly, the bang for the buck is not there. Despite having this, I have a TC Hall of FAME (HOF) for one rig and might get the Digitecch Hardwire for another.

Surf Box I owned was nice too but incredibly overpriced IMHO. It also messed with the tone of a high gain amp; the Space Box is relatively transparent.

 

[jlbaxe]

Makes the 20th A Xtc sound even more heavenly

 

[Shark Diver]

Springs… Haven't found a digital that I REALLY like. TC Nova was ok, The TC Hall of Fame sounds good. Axe II has some good verb but I need springs

Soldano Space Box

Soldano Space Box is nice but it does only ONE thing very well. I dig it, it's super cool but honestly, the bang for the buck is not there. Despite having this, I have a TC Hall of FAME (HOF) for one rig and might get the Digitecch Hardwire for another.

Surf Box I owned was nice too but incredibly overprice IMHO.

I have the surf for my stay at home, will never move again even if "the big one" ever hits out here, it comes with the house rack.

But for anything else I have the Wet and a PCM 70. If I ever need more, or "better" 'verb than that you can find me at Abby Road finishing the White Album