Tips for setting up two mono reverbs to process a stereo keyboard signal

[RobJB06]

Hello,

Im looking for some tips- i have some stereo keys that im looking to process with reverb.
I have a reverb unit (a Lexicon PCM70) that is mono input and stereo output. While i have been happy using it in this way it does seem to dominate the mix.

Which leads me to my question, ive read that the Lexicon PCM70 actually sounds better in stereo if you in fact have 2x PCM70s and use them each in mono to treat a stereo signal. Mono input, mono output on each, panning the mono returns...

So- i now have two version 2 PCM70's and have been trying this out with identical patches...
While i can now process a stereo signal with reverb it doesnt sound quite as wide as i expected, im now wondering what settings could i change on one of the Lexicons to help make the stereo image wider and larger?

Thrillseeker, perhaps you could offer some advice as i recall it was you that mentioned doing this originally?

Thanks for the help!

[RobJB06]

Ooops... Sorry i mean thethrillfactor!

[Led]

Using the same patch on each one, try altering the settings of each slightly (rev time, eq, diffusion etc)to make them a bit different from each other. The bigger the difference the more you will notice it. You can get away with quite a difference on some things, even different fx like a delay on one side and a reverb on the other can sound huge but still sound great.

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by Led

Using the same patch on each one, try altering the settings of each slightly (rev time, eq, diffusion etc)to make them a bit different from each other. The bigger the difference the more you will notice it. You can get away with quite a difference on some things, even different fx like a delay on one side and a reverb on the other can sound huge but still sound great.

i would agree but didn't tha actual algorythms in the programs do that to a degree?

i never really heard of the issue before ..as an interesting effect now and then the "fix" might be really cool but ..i kinda question it as a standard practice based on the original observation of the poster considering the nature of the prsesets in the 70..i would thing a secon unit with a totaly diff setting..like one for small room and one as a plate or stage etc whould be more conducive [ mono in stereo out each]

[RobJB06]

I guess i need to mess with the predelay on one unit, if i give one a slightly slower predelay then wont that widen the stereo image?

Anyone tried that?

[RobJB06]

Kind of like detuning two analogue oscillators, too much and it sounds a bit funky, but just a little detuning and it widens the sound...

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by RobJB06

I guess i need to mess with the predelay on one unit, if i give one a slightly slower predelay then wont that widen the stereo image?

Anyone tried that?

you don't need 2 units for that you just come out of the output of your 1/2 normaled patch bay and insert a stereo in/out delay on the new output path you created .

or if you have a bridging mult or[ bridging transformer if ya had say a low impendence device [ vintage] don't worry your 70 isn't] put 2 inputs into .. one with a delay and one without..it and then the single feed into your units input

[RobJB06]

Well this is one of the commments from member, thethrillfactor:

"....Why not use 2 PCM 70's in mono where the PCM 70 sounds best?
With slightly different settings and panned differently it sounds much bigger...."

This is what interested me. Maybe thethrillfactor can expand on what he meant?