Reverbs

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Reverbs

Reverbs are the effect devices that you'll use when you want to recreate different acoustical environments. Since you have already loaded the RV-7 into the rack, begin by taking a look at reverb effects, and more specifically the RV-7.

NOTE

Remember, to audition the effects you apply you need to click on the Preview button of Dr:rex to start the playback of the loop.

RV-7 Digital Reverb

The RV-7 is an extremely simple reverb to use for recreating the natural reverberations of different environments.

Now, experiment with the RV-7.

NOTE

Making the length of the reverb too long can create an extremely muffled sound, so be careful when extending the reverb's length.

NOTE

When working with effects, you will often see the terms "dry" and "wet." These words refer to the balance of the effect against the source. Dry is the audio source (the Rex loop in our example), and wet refers to the effect's level.

RV7000 Advanced Reverb

The RV7000 serves the same purpose as the RV-7providing reverb to your mixes ; however, the RV7000 gives you far more control over the sound of the reverb. The RV7000 is also modeled after classic outboard reverbs that have two panels to control the device, one being the reverb unit itself, which has only a few parameters to adjust, and the other being a remote unit that controls additional parameters.

NOTE

Before loading the RV7000, be sure to delete the RV-7 from the rack. This way when you add the RV7000, the automatic routing of the device will be applied correctly in order for you to audition it.

Adding the RV7000 to the Rack

Now open the RV7000's Remote Programmer.

Setting the RV7000 Environment Reverb Edit Mode

Compared with the R-7, the RV7000 gives you greater control over how the emulated environments sound. This section covers some of the basic functions for creating the desired environment.

The Remote Programmer has three edit pages: One to control the environment, another for the EQ, and a third for the reverb gate. By default, when you load the Remote Programmer, the Edit Mode is displayed. This is the first mode for you to look at.

NOTE

Reason uses the term algorithm to describe the environment, such as a small room or garage, the RV7000 is attempting to emulate.

NOTE

Depending on the algorithm selected, the Size parameter may or may not be available.

NOTE

Reverb is essentially created by the reflections of sound bouncing around a room. When trying to recreate these natural reverberations, we often adjust what are called "early reflections" and "late reflections." Early reflections occur when the direct sound source (a voice, drum, etc.) first hits the walls or surfaces of the environment. Late reflections occur when the first (early) reflections are further reflected by other surfaces in the environment.

NOTE

The environment parameters demonstrated above are common controls. However, some of the algorithms have parameters that are uniquely their own. For more information on each of the parameters in all the algorithms, please refer to Reason's documentation or to the book Reason 2.5 Power! (Course Technology).

NOTE

The Reverb Edit window displays a waveform graphic showing the reverb's characteristics. This can be helpful in understanding how the reverb will sound.

Applying EQ to the ReverbEQ Edit Mode

The RV7000 also comes equipped with a simple EQ that allows you to control the frequencies of the reverb itself. Take a quick look at how the EQ works.

Turn on the EQ function.

Now change which low frequencies are reduced.

NOTE

Move the Low Freq knob toward the left to reduce the levels of the lower frequencies. You can also turn the Low Gain toward the right to increase the low frequencies.

Now adjust the mid-range and high-range frequencies.

Gating the ReverbGate Edit Mode

A gate basically sits in front of the reverb and opens when audio reaches a certain amplitude threshold. With that said, think of yourself physically opening a gatehow hard do you have to push before it opens? How fast will you open it? And how fast will it close? All these questions apply to the reverb gate as well, except that the audio opens the gate, not you.

Put the Remote Programmer into Gate Edit Mode.

The first thing you want to set is how hard the audio will have to push before the gate opens. This is called the threshold.

NOTE

If you have turned the Threshold knob to the point at which you cannot hear the reverb, you have gone too far, and the threshold must be lower. The idea here is that you want to hear the reverb, even if it is only on the high-level peaks.

NOTE

If you turn the Release parameter up too far, the gate will have no time to close before the audio tries to open it again; thus the gate will remain open.

Global Controls

On the main body of the RV7000 are a few controls that will be applied globally.

NOTE

You can load and save RV7000 patches just as you can with Reason's sound modules.

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