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  #1  
Old 05-28-2012, 07:59 AM
mc1 mc1 is offline
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Default why does reverb sound so good?

i'm always amazed at how a good sounding, but very dry, recording really comes to life when a touch of reverb is added. add too much, and it doesn't work, and is one of my least favorite sounds. but a little reverb makes a remarkable difference.

i often ponder why that is. it must make our brain think we are in a nice secure cave or church or something.
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Old 05-28-2012, 08:40 AM
Brant0086 Brant0086 is offline
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It fills in some gaps of dead space between notes/chords and gives some false overtones to other notes you are playing as it is still reverberating from the previous note. This is just my opinion.


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Old 05-28-2012, 08:51 AM
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i think it must also smooth out some pitch issues as well.
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Old 05-28-2012, 09:20 AM
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Old 05-28-2012, 10:01 AM
mc1 mc1 is offline
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oh no, the dreaded thread move of death!

i don't think this really belongs in amplification. reverb can be natural, like in the bathroom or church or concert hall, and seems to be present on just about every guitar recording. maybe the record sub-forum would be better, but it seems like a general discussion to me.

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that seems more like delay. but i like it anyway. reverb would have the words all overlapping and intermingled.
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Old 05-28-2012, 06:31 PM
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oh no, the dreaded thread move of death!

i don't think this really belongs in amplification. reverb can be natural, like in the bathroom or church or concert hall, and seems to be present on just about every guitar recording. maybe the record sub-forum would be better, but it seems like a general discussion to me.



that seems more like delay. but i like it anyway. reverb would have the words all overlapping and intermingled.
Ya I could't figure how to depict it bouncing back etc.
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Old 05-28-2012, 06:48 PM
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Ya I could't figure how to depict it bouncing back etc.
how about this:

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Old 05-29-2012, 12:00 AM
jomaynor jomaynor is offline
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That's a good graphical representation, mc1.

And the original question is an interesting one, as well, rhetorical or not, since, for instance, compression will also fatten up a signal, but compression alone doesn't convey the same psycho-acoustic magic that a little hall and/or plate reverb does for voice, or that a bit of reverb and a touch of chorus can do for guitar.

This reminds me of the question: Why does toast taste better than a regular slice of bread?
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Old 05-29-2012, 03:37 AM
mc1 mc1 is offline
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Originally Posted by jomaynor View Post
That's a good graphical representation, mc1.

And the original question is an interesting one, as well, rhetorical or not, since, for instance, compression will also fatten up a signal, but compression alone doesn't convey the same psycho-acoustic magic that a little hall and/or plate reverb does for voice, or that a bit of reverb and a touch of chorus can do for guitar.

This reminds me of the question: Why does toast taste better than a regular slice of bread?
it wasn't really rhetorical, i wouldn't be surprised if someone mentioned a study or some other reasons why it is so appealing.

as for toast, i don't toast fresh bread, but the toaster does have a magical way of improving older or stale bread. but like reverb, too much toasting and you have a bad taste in one of your orifices.
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Old 05-29-2012, 06:42 AM
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how about this:

Capital. Watson !
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Old 05-29-2012, 07:50 AM
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We normally hear sounds in the context of the surroundings in which they exist, be it a room or hall or outdoors. We psychoacoustically filter out any extraneous noise but the reflexions off nearby surfaces actually end up being included by the brain in the assessment of the sound.

When we record sounds, the mics don't pickup sound like we do and thus we don't perceive them in the same way as we would if we were present in the room. As a result of modern recording style and in order to overcome less than desirable environments, we tend to record with mics close to the subject. The result is a dearth of environmental reflection information, and that sounds unnatural to our ears.

There are a couple of ways to supply that information, via acoustic reflection rooms (reverb chambers) or via electronic devices. A reflection room has a speaker or speakers on one side and a mic or mics at the other. It literally supplies an environment for sound. The speakers, mics, and wall treatment an usually be manipulated to optimize the ambiance to taste. Some studios such as Capitol Records' Studios have become popular for their reverb chambers. For the rest of us, there are electronic units.

As a college student I spent hours in a certain dorm stairwell that had wonderful acoustics. It had landings on each floor and a well down the center. When you stood on a landing and played an acoustic, the combination of the hard walls, low ceiling in the landing, and open well lent a strength and then a lovely reverb to your playing. I've long dreamed of returning to that stairwell with a multitrack recording rig and a bunch of mics, running the mics up and down the stairwell, and recording some of my favorite pieces. That would be something special to me.

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  #12  
Old 05-30-2012, 07:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Womack View Post
...
When we record sounds, the mics don't pickup sound like we do and thus we don't perceive them in the same way as we would if we were present in the room. As a result of modern recording style and in order to overcome less than desirable environments, we tend to record with mics close to the subject. The result is a dearth of environmental reflection information, and that sounds unnatural to our ears.
thanks, that makes sense.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Womack View Post
...
As a college student I spent hours in a certain dorm stairwell that had wonderful acoustics. It had landings on each floor and a well down the center. When you stood on a landing and played an acoustic, the combination of the hard walls, low ceiling in the landing, and open well lent a strength and then a lovely reverb to your playing. I've long dreamed of returning to that stairwell with a multitrack recording rig and a bunch of mics, running the mics up and down the stairwell, and recording some of my favorite pieces. That would be something special to me.

Bob
that would seem to make for a very complex reverb, compared to a room or concert hall.
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Old 10-03-2013, 11:27 PM
PajeroBob PajeroBob is offline
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Reverb makes me sound way better, i only perform singing into a mic with a touch of reverb. without it my voice just sounds to dry and pitchy.

is using reverb cheating?
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Old 10-04-2013, 12:46 PM
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yes, it is cheating and the reverb cheat police are coming after you right now! ha!

i find that a touch of reverb is like a glue that brings all of my tracks together as a whole.

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Old 10-04-2013, 12:54 PM
Monk of Funk Monk of Funk is offline
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reverb is natural sounding, and subconsciously places that thing in that space.

A guy playing guitar in a gloomy basement might be playing some nice guitar, but stick him on a mountain top in front of a nice view and it will be a nicer experience. Similar thing I think.
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