Beyond Basic Reverb: 3 Creative Chains

Ready to create something new with reverb? Here are some great techniques from industry giants Darrell Thorp (Beck's 'Morning Phase'), Bonobo & Daniel Owens. Go through for their secret sauce on crafting unique spaces.

Puremix

Feed delay into reverb to create a spacious, ethereal vocal effect

To create a spacious, long, ethereal vocal effect, Darrell Thorp employs a technique he calls the "Delay Verb". It involves using a stereo aux return with both a delay and a reverb, fed by a single send. He favors the Massey TD5 delay for its authentic tape-like quality and the Avid D-Verb for its lo-fi character and spacious sound. The TD5 delay is set to about 40% wet, so it sends both the dry signal and the delayed signal into the D-Verb. The reverb is set to 100% wet. The delay's mix and feedback controls can be used to effectively adjust the length of the tail. Thorp points out that the effect, despite its length, does not take up too much space in the mix, so it doesn't necessarily require additional filtering or EQ. He also automates the send, so it only activates during specific song sections. This enhances the song's dynamics and interest. The same vocal effect technique was applied on Beck's "Morning Phase" Album.

Tape Notes Podcast

Pitching and saturating reverbs for interesting spaces

Bonobo delves into creative reverb processing by utilizing return channels in Ableton Live, incorporating tools like Soundtoys Decapitator for distortion and Little AlterBoy for pitch shifting. He pitches the reverb return above the root note, often using settings like nine or five semitones, to create a shimmery, harmonizing effect that adds depth and interest to the mix. His technique also involves sidechain compression, allowing the reverb to duck in response to the input source, adding dynamic movement to the sound. Bonobo manipulates parameters such as drive, pitch shift, and reverb decay to craft complex audio effects, utilizing Ableton Live's instrument macros for efficient control. This approach results in a rich, musical texture that enhances the overall sonic landscape.

Sam Evian

Create an interesting ambience with a compressed mono reverb

Owens amplifies the atmosphere of the synth solo with a heavily compressed mono reverb, created using the Boss RV-6 guitar pedal. This technique yields a compelling reverb ambience that introduces depth and expansiveness. Skillfully avoiding any cheesy or overly prominent effects, Owens ensures the reverb enhances the synth's texture without loosing clarity or impact.