Not sure what the difference really means to a mix, but do you guys recommend one over the other, pre or post fader, when dishing up reverbs on your tracks?
It depends on how you intend to use the reverb effect.
If you set up for Post:
The amount of signal routed to the reverb unit's input follows the fader. For example, if you are going to ride the Lead Vocal in the mix, the ratio of LdV to Rvrb will remain constant as you adjust the LdV fader. Likewise, if you are going to be muting a track at different points in the mix, that send to the Rvrb input will also be muted.
If you set up for Pre:
The amount of signal routed to the Rvrb unit's input will follow the Aux Send level, not the fader. Any fader moves will NOT affect the amount of signal routed to the Rvrb. Example, if you are doing a slow fade-out on the last note of a guitar solo and the Rvrb is set for Pre, the amount of Rvrb in the mix will remain constant even as the guitar track goes away. This is actually a commonly used technique in creating "distance" effects. As the main signal level decreases, the effected (Rvrb'd) signal begins to take the foreground creating an aural illusion of greater distance from the listener.
A good (old) example of this would be the intro guitar solo on Jethro Tull's 'Locomotive Breath'. (Oops, I just revealed my age didn't I?!)
W - It depends on how you intend to use the reverb effect. If
W -
It depends on how you intend to use the reverb effect.
If you set up for Post:
The amount of signal routed to the reverb unit's input follows the fader. For example, if you are going to ride the Lead Vocal in the mix, the ratio of LdV to Rvrb will remain constant as you adjust the LdV fader. Likewise, if you are going to be muting a track at different points in the mix, that send to the Rvrb input will also be muted.
If you set up for Pre:
The amount of signal routed to the Rvrb unit's input will follow the Aux Send level, not the fader. Any fader moves will NOT affect the amount of signal routed to the Rvrb. Example, if you are doing a slow fade-out on the last note of a guitar solo and the Rvrb is set for Pre, the amount of Rvrb in the mix will remain constant even as the guitar track goes away. This is actually a commonly used technique in creating "distance" effects. As the main signal level decreases, the effected (Rvrb'd) signal begins to take the foreground creating an aural illusion of greater distance from the listener.
A good (old) example of this would be the intro guitar solo on Jethro Tull's 'Locomotive Breath'. (Oops, I just revealed my age didn't I?!)
Hope this helps.