Compressing Reverb

[gritzildino]

I was flicking through Some Logic channel presets and noticed a lot of the aux reverb channels they will have a compressor before the reverb plug. I was wondering why. I am not really familiar with changing the dynamics of reverb and why you would do it. The only thing i do on occasion is put a compressor after a reverb and side chain.. either to make more space or for effect. Why have a compressor before a reverb?

[Beermaster]

If the Compressor is before the reverb and on an Aux then the reverb is coming after the compression. The channel is probably set up for sending a group of say Backing Vocals to a single effect strip so first the combined signals get compressed then reverb is added. - more efficient than having individual compressors and reverb FX on each individual channel

[gritzildino]

so the reverb will sound 'smoother' if there is a compressor before it? (depending on the compressor setting of course)

[Mardi Gras]

Originally Posted by gritzildino

so the reverb will sound 'smoother' if there is a compressor before it? (depending on the compressor setting of course)

it will just flatten the signals dynamics before it hits the reverb plugin so yea it probably will make it a little smoother but if you're compressed the signal going to the reverb already i probably wouldn't bother. It would sound strange if a loud part of a track was to hit the reverb and get exactly the same amount of reverb that a quite part of the track would get. IMO.

[msl]

More fun to be had by putting a compressor after the reverb imo. Sidechain it to the kick or snare, etc.

[networkacid]

Have you tried sending some signals to it with and without the compressor turned on to hear the difference?

[sniperschool]

i just put a EQP-1A/LA-2A on the return from a Bricasti while printing vocals

big fan of Compression after reverb here

(though will often EQ the send rather than the return)

[golden beers]

Originally Posted by gritzildino

so the reverb will sound 'smoother' if there is a compressor before it? (depending on the compressor setting of course)

yes.

*sweeping statement alert* logic is designed for 'band heads' not 'house heads'.
..............


there's a ton of reasons to put the compressor in front of the verb in the chain.

basically any application where you dont want to notice the compression. if you put the compressor after the verb youre going to hear it breath/pump arnt you.

as beermaster says a good example is vocals. if they're all at the same level then youre not going to clip the verb and youre going to have a more even sound.

and FWIW i also like to pin back verb with side chain. or glue it to the drums with compression later in the chain.

@OP if you understand the basic concept of what a compressor does you should be able to answer your own questions. and think up new (to you) applications for it.

[Rust Creep]

i've always found that compression after reverb made the reverb too pronounced and really exaggerated the tails

i definitely like compression before reverb if using both

[Karloff70]

Originally Posted by Rust Creep

i've always found that compression after reverb made the reverb too pronounced and really exaggerated the tails

Not once you've tucked him lower into the mix to make up for it..... good for wet stuff in't back, like

[gritzildino]

Thnx for the tips guys. So far I think that just i am just using a compressor side chained after the reverb. So it pumps with the kick or dosent get in the way of other things.. thats a nice touch i think...
But I struggle sometimes about where I should route my reverb signal... Every project until now i am having reverb signal routed to the master out. But on the project I am working on now I have given each element in my drums a different amount of reverb send, and then routed all the drum elements (besides the kick) along with the reverb to a bus to be compressed together and then sidechained against the kick. Seems to be working so thus far, but i was wondering where you guys routed your reverb signals?

[anaverb]

Heres TWO FREE SECRETS that i'll give out, what you need to do is use a semi heavy upward compression on the reverb followed by a peak compressor, this will give you a great, smooth, constant sound Also....try this set up...gate the verb with thresh so high that you can only hear the peaks going thru, then slap a verb after it, gives you a room sound on the peaks only and i can prob think of a better reverb to use but i built one

[Reptil]

those are good tips, linking to your product is on the edge tutt
please remove the link and make an introduction post here: New Product Alert! - Gearslutz.com
you can mention it of course.
thanks!

[famousbass]

Originally Posted by anaverb

Heres TWO FREE SECRETS that i'll give out, what you need to do is use a semi heavy upward compression on the reverb followed by a peak compressor, this will give you a great, smooth, constant sound Also....try this set up...gate the verb with thresh so high that you can only hear the peaks going thru, then slap a verb after it, gives you a room sound on the peaks only and i cant think of a better reverb to use than the one i built, you can check it out at DELETED
yeah i know sounds like a sales pitch but its true, no one believes the claims of this verb until they download the demo, and hey, you got two free secrets out of it.

I hate sound bursts (and dropouts) on a demo.
What are we? Idiots?
Just post some before and afters with a piano, a guitar, a voice and some drums. Anyway, it's your choice how you want to promote.
Thanks for your blatant ad link on this forum that is still active.

[anaverb]

Originally Posted by Reptil

those are good tips, linking to your product is on the edge tutt
please remove the link and make an introduction post here: New Product Alert! - Gearslutz.com
you can mention it of course.
thanks!

ok cool, i didnt know we werent allowed to do that, thank you for the info

[anaverb]

Originally Posted by famousbass

I hate sound bursts (and dropouts) on a demo.
What are we? Idiots?
Just post some before and afters with a piano, a guitar, a voice and some drums. Anyway, it's your choice how you want to promote.
Thanks for your blatant ad link on this forum that is still active.

yeah i didnt know we werent allowed to do that. i couldve swore that i seen people puttn links up to their sites after posts....like massive mastering or johnvestmen mastering, they always put up thier links after theyve posted, i was just doing the same i didnt know it was wrong. my apologies.

[Reptil]

for anyone doubting "why" and "how" it is PERFECTLY ADMISSABLE to link to your product, your petfarm or facebook pictures of your 18 year old girlfriend in the SIGNATURE.

Anaverb did some other posts elsewhere, guess what.. also about reverb.


so....... let's continue with some nice verb. yes.. compressing it condenses it. you can then pull it up. sidechaning also works for this, but don't do it too obvious.

[seancostello]

Waves has a patent application for a reverb with built in transient suppression. Most of the "grainy" artifacts of a reverb can be traced to sparse early echo density, which is really obvious with transients. So if you limit the transients, or duck them out entirely, it can make a cheaper (CPU wise) reverb sound smoother.

Running a compressor or a limiter in front of a reverb will do the same thing: reduce the levels of the transients, such that the reverb won't ring excessively or be too chattery. The older high-end digital reverbs (Lexicon 224 and EMT250 come to mind) used transformers for their inputs, and the saturation of these units would also reduce the level of transients.

Another compressor trick: run the output of the reverb through an M/S matrix, compress the S signal, then run back through another M/S matrix. This will create an exaggerated stereo image for your reverb, or for any stereo signal.

[famousbass]

Originally Posted by anaverb

yeah i didnt know we werent allowed to do that. i couldve swore that i seen people puttn links up to their sites after posts....like massive mastering or johnvestmen mastering, they always put up thier links after theyve posted, i was just doing the same i didnt know it was wrong. my apologies.

I'm not a Moderator.
BTW you sent me a PM but don't permit replies.
Your posts aren't without immense wisdom however which I appreciate.
Just starting a topic elsewhere only to mention your product has a sting to it. It looks like you have to sell something more then anything else.
There are people hired to do professionally on multiple sites daily what you're doing here, leading conversation to a specific product. The rules are to stop them spamming.
We all make mistakes. I have.
Just gotta review the rules I spose.
Have a nice day