[PeteS]

What do you all use for Reverb?

I'm looking for a plugin to add layers of reverb to a piano part.

I'd prefer it to be free or at least not a lot of money?

Thanks

Pete

[pompeyjazz]

https://www.avid.com/plugins/convology-xt-free-plugin

[adamfarr]

You could try Dragonfly reverb - lots of different styles: https://github.com/michaelwillis/dragonfly-reverb

[Boydie]

@PeteS

For layers and “depth” I would recommend using a few different reverbs REALLY subtly - ie turn it up until you can just hear it - and then knock it down a bit is the perfect approach for this

I would also (controversially) say that if you use this approach the actual “quality” of the reverb isn’t so important- so the freeware stuff would be prefect

I do, however, caveat that with finding a good reverb that you love, which can be used to set the “space” for your track - ie if you are doing a live sounding mix it is useful to have most things sent to the same reverb (with the same settings) to put everything in the same space, which will help your mix come together

IMHO the best “value” reverb is something from Valhalla: https://valhalladsp.com/

Top quality and very reasonably priced

I would suggest picking one of these as a “main” reverb and then use the freebies as supplementary textures

If you are using a daw then the stock reverbs are also worth checking out

[PeteS]

Thanks for the info!

@pompeyjazz I'd forgotten about Convology John, I think I tried it when I was looking at moving to ProTools but not tried it on GB.  Lots of presets as I recall.

@adamfarr I'll be downloading Dragonfly for a try.  Thanks

@Boydie Good top on multiple reverbs, that's something I've only dabbled with so I'll work on that.  Looking to turn a normal Grand Piano into something dark and moody, a bit like Hello from Adele or Home by Foo Fighters.  Plenty of ideas to work on.

[Boydie]

@PeteS

If it is a MIDI Piano part I would be happy to put it through some of my virtual instruments, which have some stellar piano sounds

[PeteS]

@Boydie Thanks, that’s very kind.  I’m still finishing it but I’ll DM you shortly.

[cowparsleyman]

@PeteS - +1 for Convology XT, and also @Boydies advice, less is more... other reverbs that are rather useful and that I find using a lot...No idea how much they currently are.

Arturia Rev plate 140 - Lovely for LVox
https://www.arturia.com/products/software-effects/reverbs-bundle/rev-plate140

Eventide Blackhole - Massive and I mean HUGE verb
https://www.eventideaudio.com/products/reverb/reverb/blackhole

Lexicon MPX1 - Some stunning drum rooms, and great for tight brass (along with soundtoys microshift)
https://lexiconpro.com/en/products/mpx-native-reverb

Waves Abbey Road Plates and Chamber
https://www.waves.com/plugins/abbey-road-chambers

If I'm mixing axes and using Amplitude, the inbuilt verbs in that are pretty good.

Two Notes Torpedo Wall of sound has some lovely room verbs, really useful for when the electric guitar is prominent in the mix.
https://www.two-notes.com/wall-of-sound

First know how you want it to sound, you know Big, spacious, tight, bathroomy, never ending etc, and if you are able where it'll be used, as an insert fx(affecting just that one track), on a an aux buss (affecting some tracks in different amounts) or on the master buss (affecting everything)

I'd advise to take a Lvox , an accompanying Acoustic guitar  and drum tracks, and plonk each one as an insert fx on each track, set the verb to how you want it, then copy and paste the verbs to the other tracks, then Solo the LVox, enable verb 1, then bypass it, enable verb 2 etc. make notes of what you hear.

It's really important not to have any fx on the recorded tracks.

(btw I did consider setting up an aux buss for each verb you have, (including stock DAW verbs) decide on the setting you want from each verb, set the send to each aux buss the same from each track, and toggle each one, but to me it's better that the fx 'gets in the way' of the signal, rather than  bit of it as in an aus buss)

I would also recommend trialling so  very expensive verbs, with no intention of buying them, just so you can hear what price does for you, if anything...(altiverb has a hefty price tag)

Dry LVox with verb 1, verb 2 verb 3
Dry Drums with verb ...
Dry Acoustic Guitar ...

Make notes, compare and decide, and be honest.


Hope this helps..

Rich

[Boydie]

(btw I did consider setting up an aux buss for each verb you have, (including stock DAW verbs) decide on the setting you want from each verb, set the send to each aux buss the same from each track, and toggle each one, but to me it's better that the fx 'gets in the way' of the signal, rather than  bit of it as in an aus buss)

I personally recommend a "hybrid" approach to maximise the benefits of track templates in a DAW (if you have this feature available)

I have a template that has different reverbs set up how I like them (vocal verb, plate verb, big verb, ambient verb, space verb) and then a short delay and a long delay

These are my "standard" effects that load up with each project and use a variety of plugins from Valhalla, Waves (big +1 for Waves plate reverbs) and others

These are all set up on aux busses - the advantage of this approach is that you can quickly get to your favourite sounds and mix them in appropriately, it is less stressful on your CPU as you only have one instance of each plugin, and you achieve a consistency across your mix (which is especially useful if you want to put everything "in the same space")

However, I do still use "insert" effects to add some variations and "feature effects" - reverse reverbs, oil can delays etc. etc.

[cowparsleyman]

@Boydie - I agree with your approach with general templates, but in the advice was for this specific test.

[Boydie]

but in the advice was for this specific test.

@cowparsleyman - ah, that makes sense!