Lexicon 960 and other Reverbs
So i got a new reverb today. Not just any reverb, I got the Rolls Royce of reverbs, a Lexicon 960L. No i didn't buy it, I'm not nearly rich enough to consider dropping $11,000 on a reverb unit, even this one, which is worth every penny. I have it on extended loan from a record company that I'm doing alot of producing and mixing for. They weren't utilizing it and figured since I'm doing all their records for them, maybe their Lexicon should still be used on their records, so they sent it to me. Believe me, I'm not complaining for a moment. The 960L is actually 4 of Lexicons finest reverb engines under 1 hood, and I can run them digitally via AES connections straight into and out of my HD interfaces. Pristine spaces, imaging, depth, everything. I'll be making very good use of it on my projects.
I also recently got a few cool new reverb plugins. I wont begin to compare and contrast plugins with the Lex. Thought I've used the 960L countless times in big studios, It's going to be a while before i can write an honest compare and contrast, but eventually, I'll dedicate a blog entry to it. I will say this, I do actually really like the sound of plugin reverbs. I got the TL Space convolution Reverb, and though its a super DSP hog, it does sound pretty stellar. In addition to a bunch of halls and rooms, its got an EMT 140 plate simulation. I happen to own a real EMT 140 plate, and I've gotta say the TL Space might be the closest I've heard a digital reverb emulate a plate, it sounds alot like mine. I also have Revibe, Eventide Reverb, Reverb One, Oxford Reverb, Waves Renaissance Reverb, Even Echoboy does some interesting Reverb simulations. I use them all and I actually like them all. I usually uses WAVES or my real plate for reverse reverb efx, I like Reverb One alot, and its inexpensive. Reverb One has a great room simulation and I like its Hall as well. I think Eventide's strengths lie in shorter verbs and smaller spaces, but alot of the stock settings sound great. The Organ Room really does sound great on organ, and i love the Eventide Plate Reverbs, even though they dont sound much like plates, they sound really cool. Each plugin has something special about it, kinda like outboard gear. I've owned a Yamaha SPX 90 for as long as i can remember. Overall i think it sounds like crap, but it does one thing very well that makes me love the unit.
Oxford Reverb seems to be really transparent with longer reverbs being its best strength to my tastes. Some of its rooms are really nice. I like Logic's Space Designer Reverb alot, which i use on both of my non-mixing systems, but not on my mixing system. It doesnt interface well with HD/TDM so i usually dont bother with it. Revibe sounds alot different than any of the other reverbs. I dont know how to describe it other than to say usually when i attempt to use it, i like it. I created a great gated room for live Toms the first time i used it. its pretty flexible too.
I'm definitely not afraid to dig in and edit the hell out of a sound til i get what i want. I had the good fortune of using Lexicon 480's, TC M5000's then M6000's, PCM 70's, etc... when i was learning the trade. All of these reverbs are very editable, especially the 480L which i've spent countless hours just playing, trying different parameters to see how they affect the sound. It was such valuable training and gives me the confidence and knowledge now to really dig in and shape my effects towards what my ears want to hear. If you've got your own rig, you should do the same. Really find out what these things can do. Really listen to how a parameter changes the sound. You'll probably find many inspiring creative ideas by doing this. Good luck
-Ken
I also recently got a few cool new reverb plugins. I wont begin to compare and contrast plugins with the Lex. Thought I've used the 960L countless times in big studios, It's going to be a while before i can write an honest compare and contrast, but eventually, I'll dedicate a blog entry to it. I will say this, I do actually really like the sound of plugin reverbs. I got the TL Space convolution Reverb, and though its a super DSP hog, it does sound pretty stellar. In addition to a bunch of halls and rooms, its got an EMT 140 plate simulation. I happen to own a real EMT 140 plate, and I've gotta say the TL Space might be the closest I've heard a digital reverb emulate a plate, it sounds alot like mine. I also have Revibe, Eventide Reverb, Reverb One, Oxford Reverb, Waves Renaissance Reverb, Even Echoboy does some interesting Reverb simulations. I use them all and I actually like them all. I usually uses WAVES or my real plate for reverse reverb efx, I like Reverb One alot, and its inexpensive. Reverb One has a great room simulation and I like its Hall as well. I think Eventide's strengths lie in shorter verbs and smaller spaces, but alot of the stock settings sound great. The Organ Room really does sound great on organ, and i love the Eventide Plate Reverbs, even though they dont sound much like plates, they sound really cool. Each plugin has something special about it, kinda like outboard gear. I've owned a Yamaha SPX 90 for as long as i can remember. Overall i think it sounds like crap, but it does one thing very well that makes me love the unit.
Oxford Reverb seems to be really transparent with longer reverbs being its best strength to my tastes. Some of its rooms are really nice. I like Logic's Space Designer Reverb alot, which i use on both of my non-mixing systems, but not on my mixing system. It doesnt interface well with HD/TDM so i usually dont bother with it. Revibe sounds alot different than any of the other reverbs. I dont know how to describe it other than to say usually when i attempt to use it, i like it. I created a great gated room for live Toms the first time i used it. its pretty flexible too.
I'm definitely not afraid to dig in and edit the hell out of a sound til i get what i want. I had the good fortune of using Lexicon 480's, TC M5000's then M6000's, PCM 70's, etc... when i was learning the trade. All of these reverbs are very editable, especially the 480L which i've spent countless hours just playing, trying different parameters to see how they affect the sound. It was such valuable training and gives me the confidence and knowledge now to really dig in and shape my effects towards what my ears want to hear. If you've got your own rig, you should do the same. Really find out what these things can do. Really listen to how a parameter changes the sound. You'll probably find many inspiring creative ideas by doing this. Good luck
-Ken
posted by Protools Mixing at 7:08 PM
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