First you need to have a sonic idea in your head first. You should know the general tone of each unit so you can pick which to patch in. Use the preset list, they can be helpful. Then start twistin' knobs and pushin' buttons. When you like the sound and it's working in the track...STOP.

Have Fun!

There are no shortcuts to mastering the art of reverb. Practice, practice, and tweak until you are aware of every nuance. What you might keep in mind is to use your effects boxes for thier major strengths. For example if you find like I do that the Eventide does a better job in pitch shifting then keep that in mind as the priority for that effects box and let another effects box do what the others can't do or does not do as well.

If your just talking reverb, than you really need to spend the time to learn and understand the differences between the different models that you have to work with.

- Bruce -

I love the verbs on the Eclipse. A vast improvement over the H3000 verbs.

Not much you can do "in a hurry" if you don't know the unit real well so spend some time with the manual getting familiar with it. Scroll through the presets in your own time on different sources. You'll probably want to tweek the presets so don't be afraid to save your own tweeked versions in the users' bank and give them names so you can identify them quickly. Then you'll have some verbs to go to that you like for certain things. Make notes on the preset list in the manual and keep it handy. You don't lose points for form just 'cause you want to open the manual during a session! Get a rough up and in the ballpark... tweek later. The client will let you know if you're on the same page.

You've got some nice verbs there! Choice/variety is good! I like to have a couple verbs at hand to switch up verses and chorus (or whatever). A smaller and bigger verb at hand always gives me a little sonic variety throughout.

Good luck!

I have a 30-second rule when it comes to digging around with effects. If I can't find something I like that's appropriate in 30 seconds, I go on to another box. You shouldn't use a piece of gear that takes more than 30 seconds to scroll through menus just to find a sound, anyway.

Thanks, all...I knew there weren't any shortcuts. The suggestion of having a short and a longer verb ready to go came in really handy last night while we threw together a rough mix for the band I'm working with to ride around with for a week or so.

The idea is what kind of space do you hear in your head for the song? Is it natural or unnatural? The (3)shortcuts would be: 1)Pre delay 2)Rev time 3)Diffussion. The last I would add on is EQ. These are the basics of most reverbs. Manipulating them, lets you determine the makeup of different rooms. Large or small, dead or refective, bright or dark, etc. For unnnatural spaces, non linear reverbs are best.

Thanks. On predelay, decay and diffusion, I assume more predelay increases the apparent size of the room, longer decay indicates a more reflective room, and diffusion sets the overall sound of the room? Correct?

Originally posted by Larry Sheehan:
Thanks. On predelay, decay and diffusion, I assume more predelay increases the apparent size of the room, longer decay indicates a more reflective room, and diffusion sets the overall sound of the room? Correct?

I would say it like this, predelay brings you forward, by increasing delay, or places you further back into the reverb field, by decreasing the delay. Decay creates the size, short=small, long=large. Correct, diffusion sets the sound, by making the reflections sound harder, with a zillion distinct reflections, or softer, with more blended diffuse sound.
Hope this helps,
--Rick

Predelay can be a very useful parameter. Increasing predelay leaves the original signal dry for a longer time, before the onset of the reverb. This can keep vocal parts more intelligible, more forward in the mix, and generally less muddy.

double post

OK, now after reading and experimenting, I get the relationship between predelay andforward. I'll stop here and keep experimenting. Thanks, all.