Reverb: the most important of all effects?

[Benedict]

I'm going to say it is not Reverb. Echo/Delay is the most important or central effect.

Your view about us being unhappy when a sound doesn't have a location in space (particularly in cans) is very true. You also point to a sound with early reflections being nicer than one with only a late "wash". Echo is what this is.

I never really dug the increasingly washy digital 'verb that gained popularity. I have gone the opposite way by using Echo on everything (never BPM) which then drives a coarse "clattery" Echo-based Send space. The taps combine to make a really rich and deep space which helps place instruments/parts better than anything else.

So of course what I am doing is creating a 'reverb' space, only by handling my echo taps more directly with little to no diffuse wash. But I do have lots of cool modulation which adds to the depth and richness with a wonderful kind of multi-chorusing/phasing that doesn't sound like chorusing at all. Just rich and deep.

[jamcat]

Gain is the most important effect.
Prove me wrong.

[kritikon]

I could accept gain being as important as bitcrushing.
To requote myself: music such as Taylor Swift, any Country/Western music, prog rock, dubstep, rap, freestyle jazz...all would be made immeasurably better by turning gain down to -infinity. Barry Manilow should be -infinity gain AND zero bits...

Which proves beyond any doubt or argument that no single effect reigns supreme and multiFX is where it's at.

[Daimonicon]

Gain is the most important effect.
Prove me wrong.

Can't get enough of gain. Without it there's only pain.

[Raddler1]

Volume. Yes, it's an effect.

[Benedict]

Volume. Yes, it's an effect.

Actually no, Gain, Trim, Compression etc are Processes so

[DCrown]

No
But it's good to have 30 different reverbs, just to have them, you know, just in case...
A reverb in a lot of cases is good when you don't perceive it, but miss it when it's gone.
But I often noticed that instruments like vocals sound better with no reverb at all.
Delay is more important and can replace reverb.
So if you have 30 reverbs, you should have not less than 50 delays, u know, just in case...

That's why I don't comprehend why there still is bo REVERB vs DELAY thread, I just don't get it!

[DCrown]

Volume. Yes, it's an effect.

Actually no, Gain, Trim, Compression etc are Processes so

What can you do with volume knob on guitars? Yep! Use it as s an effect!
Or it can be an effect similar to riser or swell; with a special technique a volume knob or slider can be used as a pretty creative effect. Just remember the guitar, but the technique is not simple.

[Winstontaneous]

That's why I don't comprehend why there still is bo REVERB vs DELAY thread, I just don't get it!

It clearly has a very long pre-delay!

[Teezdalien]

I'd also agree that delay lines are vastly more important and versatile than reverb as they are the building block upon which a great many types of effects and synthesis methods are built.

[Benedict]

What can you do with volume knob on guitars? Yep! Use it as s an effect!
Or it can be an effect similar to riser or swell; with a special technique a volume knob or slider can be used as a pretty creative effect. Just remember the guitar, but the technique is not simple.

Level is not an effect, it is a state. Tremolo is an effect. Pushing into an effect is the very definition of a process (or just doing your job).

There is a very good reason that terms are precise. You wouldn't want the nurse handing over a set of bolt cutters when the doc is doing yer vasectomy would ya?!?

[imrae]

With enough time on your hands you can build reverb and EQ out of delay.

[DCrown]

What can you do with volume knob on guitars? Yep! Use it as s an effect!
Or it can be an effect similar to riser or swell; with a special technique a volume knob or slider can be used as a pretty creative effect. Just remember the guitar, but the technique is not simple.

Level is not an effect, it is a state. Tremolo is an effect. Pushing into an effect is the very definition of a process (or just doing your job).

There is a very good reason that terms are precise. You wouldn't want the nurse handing over a set of bolt cutters when the doc is doing yer vasectomy would ya?!?

You don't listen to terms, but to music, and if you for example listen to the guitar volume knob effect without seeing what the guitarist is doing, you would think he adds some effect to the sound.
Terms don't go inside you ear,
but sound does, so it doesn't make sense to refer to terms, that's not what music is about

[Vortifex]

Limiting, clipping and EQ are the most important effects I use.

[jancivil]

I am curious what others think of reverb and how you generally use it. Do you stack multiple reverbs very often? Where do you place it in your effects chain? Before or after delays?

I used to use different convolution reverbs (then a hybrid with algorithmic tails) at the same time seeking depth of field. I couldn't justify the cost of VSL MIR full at the time. Once I could afford it I quit using sends to reverb for a room sound, except I do sweetening by late reflections in most cases. Some things are enhanced by a delay send, rarely as an insert. VSL Synchron Player has a nice plate reverb I can call. I actually do send the delay channel to MIRacle (AR enhancement) generally, which has a gluing effect anyway.