Author Topic: Compressing Reverb Sends/Aux?  (Read 6174 times)

Devout

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Compressing Reverb Sends/Aux?
« on: March 24, 2016, 09:32:01 pm »
Wasn't sure whether this topic would fit under sound design or mixing/mastering...

I usually use small/medium/large reverbs on send tracks. Apart from high passing them, that's usually all I have on the send/aux.

I've seen in a few tutorials that some producers place compression on their reverb sends, some before the reverb, and some after. I understand that this technique may be used to "smooth" out the reverb.

Do you guys do this? If so, what sort of compression settings do you recommend? Thanks ;)

Marrow Machines

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Re: Compressing Reverb Sends/Aux?
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2016, 09:57:15 pm »
I tried this out and it was pretty interesting.

I don't use compression on my effect settings unless i really need to control the dynamics of the sound.

that being said, the settings should come from the source you're treating.

Treat it more like master compression if you're using it like a BUS/AUX and treat it like an instrument if you're just compressing one instance of a reverb.

I will say that, it may come in handy if you have a few reverbs going on at once in your track. That character might give it some great flavor if you can manage to mix and balance the ideas carefully.
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FarleyCZ

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Re: Compressing Reverb Sends/Aux?
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2016, 10:29:16 pm »
Dunno, did never try it, but can't think of reason to do so. Usually the practice with reverb is quite the oposite. Some engineers "ride" the reverb send amount to the intensity of singer. When he/she hits high important note, they send them into the reverb more, so it's epic, but returning to kinda dry sound for quiter passages. That's actually the exact oposite of fixing it's level by compressor. Too static for chill out music too. Dunno. May be as Marrow said, when few reverb tails are clashing and wobbling or something...
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P1X3L8

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Re: Compressing Reverb Sends/Aux?
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2016, 05:00:29 am »
I had heard about this but whenever I tried it out it I never got justifiable results. However, saw this today (although he doesn't use a send in this video) and for some reason it all just clicked in my head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDQSnV0cBMg

Marrow Machines

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Re: Compressing Reverb Sends/Aux?
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2016, 02:55:17 pm »
I had heard about this but whenever I tried it out it I never got justifiable results. However, saw this today (although he doesn't use a send in this video) and for some reason it all just clicked in my head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDQSnV0cBMg

No he's using a send, but on a channel basis and not on a mixer send/return channel basis.

Basically bussing.
« Last Edit: March 25, 2016, 03:00:26 pm by Marrow Machines »
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