so what reverbs were used in rock around 1980?

[martian]

sorry yet another reverb thread

just wondering if anyone knew what reverbs were used around 1980, for example on supertramps 'breakfast in america album' (1979). absolutely love the verb on that album, the vibe is awesome. i expect whatever reverb used was coloured/altered by the recording chain too, but its the cloest ive heard to what i want.

i wont be purchasing hardware but just curious as to what was popular around then.

[HanafiH]

Well it was around about that time that the first Lexicon came out.

I don't know the album at all, but if they were dedicated followers of fashion, it would be the early Lexicon. Can't remember the model number that'll be on Lexicon's web site. So you might try SIR (free convolution reverb) with some Lexicon samples - you'll know right away if its the sound because the early Lexicons were quite distinctive in giving a strangely perfect, elastic reverb for the time, which absolutely everybody started dicking around with.

[egarrard]

EMT plates, the built-in spring reverb in a Fender amp, actual room reverbs, various spring reverbs.

I had a friend with a studio about that time. He got his water from a stream that ran through an undeground cavern below the studio. He used to lower a speaker and a mic down into the cavern to use for reverb sometimes. It was definitely a unique sound. (If you listen to some Country records from the '70s you might get to hear that reverb.)

If you use a convolution reverb, a plate impulse might be the best. There are some EMT impulses around.

[adydub]

There was a recent article in sound-on-sound about recording breakfast in america, but unfortunately it doesn't mention the reverbs used at all. It does mention that the sax was recorded in the studio's toilet, but i don't think it was to capture that 'toilet reverb' sound.

[AndrewSimon]

Thought the first Lexicon reverb was introduced in 1978 I doubt they made their way into major studios for a few years at least.
Lexicon started out as a budget solution for start up studios who could not afford the expensive reverbs of the time.

[egbert]

Real hardware plates like the EMTs, echo chambers and large recording studios with nice acoustics (eg Abbey Road) were the order of the day back then.

[HanafiH]

If you use a convolution reverb, a plate impulse might be the best. There are some EMT impulses around.

And very, very fine they are too, the 32 bit set are my favourite convolution set in fact, which I use far too often.

[HanafiH]

Thought the first Lexicon reverb was introduced in 1978 I doubt they made their way into major studios for a few years at least.
Lexicon started out as a budget solution for start up studios who could not afford the expensive reverbs of the time.

That isn't how I remember it. It was like the secret weapon people either knew about or didn't. People who had a proven good one could make money from renting them out. But whatever.

[Max el Belga]

The half rack Alessis was very good and CHEAP... .. .

[Max el Belga]

And of course the Hammond spring reverb. There were more budget studios than BIG ones and hardware isn´t cheap !

[martian]

thanks for the info guys.

And very, very fine they are too, the 32 bit set are my favourite convolution set in fact, which I use far too often.

where can i find this set? jus got one from noisevault.

[aMUSEd]

I'd love to know what reverb/s artists who have that spaced out vocal sound like Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) use.

[HanafiH]

thanks for the info guys.

And very, very fine they are too, the 32 bit set are my favourite convolution set in fact, which I use far too often.

where can i find this set? jus got one from noisevault.

http://echochamber.ch/ was were I got mine, I've found links from Google to that effect, but they don't seem to be there anymore. There is a set of 32bit Plate 140's though. Yummy.

[Bassballjg]

Thought the first Lexicon reverb was introduced in 1978 I doubt they made their way into major studios for a few years at least.
Lexicon started out as a budget solution for start up studios who could not afford the expensive reverbs of the time.

That isn't how I remember it. It was like the secret weapon people either knew about or didn't. People who had a proven good one could make money from renting them out. But whatever.

HanafiH's recollection is similar to mine. I first saw a 224 in 1984, at a faily proseperous 16-track room which has since eveolved into one of this area's big players who do some national-major label work. They had the Lxicon and a pair of Delatalab delays. Otherwise, other studios I had used before that one, from 78 to 84, had springs. Lexicon was a high-end company at that time. By the mid 80's, more affordable units were beginning to appear, and digital reverb became accessable to the small studio. The first affordable Lexicons were the PCM 60 and 70 around '85-'86, I think, and the budget but excellent LXP series began in '88-'89 or so.

[egarrard]

Thought the first Lexicon reverb was introduced in 1978 I doubt they made their way into major studios for a few years at least.
Lexicon started out as a budget solution for start up studios who could not afford the expensive reverbs of the time.

That isn't how I remember it.

Me either...