Convolution reverb for real spaces

[ChamomileShark]

I'm aware of various convolution reverbs and their level of tweakability, what I'm finding harder to get to is what is in their IR libraries and the quality of those libraries. I'm looking specifically for real spaces, churches, halls, outside spaces, hangers etc etc, not IRs of hardware reverbs.

I'm not really worried about the tweakability, I'm looking for a realistic spaces which I just use as they are.

I undertand that many convolution reverbs sort of sound a bit flat, but things like Reverberate3 and the Inspirata thing do something more advanced and sound more realistic?

For that reason I'm thinking just sticking stereo IRs into stock DAW convolution reverbs (I have Cubase Pro and Bitwig) won't really give something particularly realistic?

I was interested in the Inspirata thing but ran into problems demoing and I still find it odd that they discounted all the versions to a single price (maybe a paid update is around the corner?), anyway after also seeing various problems people have had I think that's off the list.

I probably can't afford Altiverb either.

So before I start downloading various demos with attendant (usually cut down) IR libraries, which ones should I demo?

[neverbefore]

I have used a few convolution reverbs and Inspirata is the best for me. The other one would be Liquidsonics Reverberate, using what they call their Fusion-IR impulses. I have not tried Fog Convolver but that does seem pretty good from what I have seen and heard.

[Dirk Diggler]

Waves provides a nice selection of really well recorded free IR's for their paid and freebie convolution verbs.
https://www.waves.com/downloads/ir-conv ... rb-library

[ChamomileShark]

I have used a few convolution reverbs and Inspirata is the best for me. The other one would be Liquidsonics Reverberate, using what they call their Fusion-IR impulses. I have not tried Fog Convolver but that does seem pretty good from what I have seen and heard.

The brief look I had at Reverate seemed to indicate that the fusion IRs are from hardware, not real spaces. The IRs for natural spaces are mainly public domain so I assume those are just normal IRs, not fusion IRs.

[ChamomileShark]

Waves provides a nice selection of really well recorded free IR's for their paid and freebie convolution verbs.
https://www.waves.com/downloads/ir-conv ... rb-library

Aren't those just normal IRs with a normal convolution reverb?

[heyheycnv]

Some places to look -
https://thescottisharchaeoacousticsproj ... ecordings/

https://github.com/RoyJames/room-impulse-responses

http://www.emes.de/pageseng/products/Im ... mpulse.htm

http://www.echothief.com/

[DaveClark]

I undertand that many convolution reverbs sort of sound a bit flat, but things like Reverberate3 and the Inspirata thing do something more advanced and sound more realistic?

For that reason I'm thinking just sticking stereo IRs into stock DAW convolution reverbs (I have Cubase Pro and Bitwig) won't really give something particularly realistic?

From this and some of your replies to other posts, it seems as though your definition of "realistic" is not the same as mine and probably many others.

A "stock" convolver that correctly performs the mathematically well-defined step or steps known as convolution with an IR created from a recording made in a real space is as realistic as you can get.

[ralfrobert]

If you want to try a freebie, try MConvolutionEZ by Melda. Small collection included.

Big collections: Hofa IQ Reverb 2, Waves as mentioned above, Altiverb, certainly some others.

I go with Hofa and am very happy. For a small budget, consider Waves IR1.

[vitocorleone123]

Cinematic Rooms Pro can do “realistic” spaces with an algorithm - it’s used in film and tv to create the sound of real spaces.

It will not give you a particular hall in a particular city etc, though.

I find CRP to be more “realistic” than IRs, but I’ve not tried every IR loader plugin. I ended up deleting Reverberate 3, though.

[bermudagold]

IME the biggest differentiators in convolution "realism" (depending on what that means to the individual) is whether the IRs are true stereo (sometimes called HDIR) and whether the engine itself is true stereo...many convo processors are not, and many products come with very few HDIRs included...I can definitely hear the difference...the other functionality that i think makes bang for the buck which surprisingly few have is the ability to provide modulation of the IR itself with early and lates independently; the ability to do envelope design on the IR itself, and the ability to localize the source of the signal with a stage positioner...there are surprisingly few products that offer all of these in a complete package

[ChamomileShark]

IME the biggest differentiators in convolution "realism" (depending on what that means to the individual) is whether the IRs are true stereo (sometimes called HDIR) and whether the engine itself is true stereo...many convo processors are not, and many products come with very few HDIRs included...I can definitely hear the difference...the other functionality that i think makes bang for the buck which surprisingly few have is the ability to provide modulation of the IR itself with early and lates independently; the ability to do envelope design on the IR itself, and the ability to localize the source of the signal with a stage positioner...there are surprisingly few products that offer all of these in a complete package

do you know which products offer this?

[pdxindy]

IME the biggest differentiators in convolution "realism" (depending on what that means to the individual) is whether the IRs are true stereo (sometimes called HDIR) and whether the engine itself is true stereo...many convo processors are not, and many products come with very few HDIRs included...I can definitely hear the difference...the other functionality that i think makes bang for the buck which surprisingly few have is the ability to provide modulation of the IR itself with early and lates independently; the ability to do envelope design on the IR itself, and the ability to localize the source of the signal with a stage positioner...there are surprisingly few products that offer all of these in a complete package

do you know which products offer this?

I use Bitwig's Convolution and Fog Convolver. Both do "True Stereo".

[bermudagold]

there are surprisingly few products that offer all of these in a complete package

do you know which products offer this?

altiverb and hofa...hofa had few HDIRs though originally...they increased the HDIR percentage considerably for V2...origami has it all but the envelope designer...w5 had it all but the stage positioner, although they did have a directivity control which could get you similar results less intuitively...reverberate has everything but stage positioner but it's HDIR library is small as I remember...QL spaces has like 25% HDIR library but none of the other features...to my earlier point and pxindy suggestion, things have improved a lot...like original fog convolver was not TS

[ChamomileShark]

@ pdxiny & burmudagold, thanks for those replies!

[audiotools]

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