Final Reverb effect in Mastering?

[DevonB]

another common error it´s using reverb as an insert applying different rooms(ambiences) to each track.

That's not an error, that's an experiment!

Devon

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[Warmonger]

I like Ambience as well, but I don't think it's well suited as a mastering reverb. That said, I haven't tried it myself (reverb on the final mix isn't something I do), but there's something about its character that doesn't seem appropriate for that purpose.

Maybe Classic Reverb would be better?

I'd try it out myself, but my computer's motherboard died yesterday, and I'm typing this message on a P3 750 router with 128MB of RAM running Red Hat 9.

[pooshka]

I've done this before -

i had a completely dry instrumental track sent over to me by mate - as this was done over the Internet on not too fast connection he actually just sent me a single stereo track of the entire instrumental part and I was to sing over it. After I sang over the instrumental parts I found it very hard to make my vocals sit, because all the instrumental parts were already mixed in and it was difficult to just record vocals over it and make it fit. :p

so although I already added a bit of reverb on the vocal itself, I used some reverb on master bus and at least to my ears, things ended up sounding much better for it.

I don't know why, but for some reason adding the vocal with a tiny reverb on first and then putting reverb on mater bus worked better in this case than trying to add reverb on instrumental parts/vocals separately and make them match. :p

[3*s]

everytime someone puts reverb on the final mix, a puppy dies.

[tkay77]

..i mean a short little ambience is the only way to go when using reverb in mastering...but it´s extremely rare and only usable for dense music like trance for example..never use it for HipHop or other music with holes...

tkay

[[ Lex ]]

so although I already added a bit of reverb on the vocal itself, I used some reverb on master bus and at least to my ears, things ended up sounding much better for it.

sonic glue

[pooshka]

sonic glue

exactly

..it´s extremely rare and only usable for dense music like trance for example..

yeah it was 'dancy' kinda music, not exactly trance but that was the idea.

[japut_99]

I think a lot of you would be surprised at how many mastering engineers will use reverb for "sonic glue." Big hush-hush secret.

[[ Lex ]]

But remeber, there are reverbs that sounds alot better then VST reverbs, these reverb can place the sound into an ambient environment and fit well for post reverbs.
But its mostly outboard hi-end reverb that have the quality, otherwise it will only dull and smear the sound...

[stag]

another common error it´s using reverb as an insert applying different rooms(ambiences) to each track.

That's not an error, that's an experiment!

Devon

You got a point there ,revweb can be used creatively as anything else .
but the issue here it´s mastering reverb. it´s all rather complicated
some people ,like myself ,are more interested on he recreation of a live "realistic" sound.
some people...

[DevonB]

Yeah - it's not that uncommon to put a smidge of reverb on the master, but I would think it really would have to be a very small amount.

I actually like Ambience as a reverb and it's donationware so you let your conscious determine the price.

I'm not experienced with alot of the good commercial reverbs but I think Ambience sounds really lovely (wow how technical are them words ).

Personally, I haven't used a reverb on the master channel very often. Mostly I find there isn't a need. However, if you need to be there for some reason, try Ambience.

Caleb

or don't. ambience is awful.

No, Cubase Reverb A is awful. Ambience is ok. There is much worse. Convolution 'verb with teh right impulses are amazing, and do put Ambience to shame though.

Devon

[Steven West]

I usually go with Steinberg's Natural Verb at about a 5-7 wet level and 50% stereo spread myself as a rule.

Just to give it some air.

[PeterL]

If the mix is OK, then please no reverb in the mastering stage. Believe me, in most cases the mastered song gets worse.
If really needed to reach a "sonic glue" (nice expression), use it really sparingly.
Ozone3 Reverb and Natural Verb does a great job, although Natural Verb works only in Wavelab (Cubase only on one side - when do they fix the bug ?).
Maybe a good convolution reverb will also do the job if you have the time to try out a million impulses that satisfies you (time is money at mastering)

[Steven West]

Amen to that Peter.