Mic reverb effect questions

XHellChris

Should I turn on the reverb for vocals during a band practice session in a jamming studio? If yes , how much of a reverb should I use? Any other settings or effects I should try too? Thanks!

blondiewales

So it's rehearsal? Yes, you'll usually want reverb.

How much depends on a lot of things, but when the vocals sound a bit too washed out, that's when it's too much.

doc_ramadani

Hi @XHellChris,

I think that this is also a matter of personal taste. I prefer a short slap back delay to give the voice a little space to sit in. Reverb has sometimes the problem to smear up the sound a little bit. When I do recordings I prefer a dry sound without any effects.

Doc

Furious_Phil

If you do use reverb, make sure you give it some pre-delay, so the initial part of the vocal is relatively unaffected, and the trail is affected. Makes the vocals more defined in the mix.
Typically, I use a bit of delay with pre-delay to thicken it up, and I leave the reverb for the backup vocals to give them the illusion of distance in the mix.
If you have a stereo PA, you can get more creative with this by panning the lead vocals 25% L and right, and the backup vocal further left or right or further on just one side.
Gives you an overall bigger sound