Reverb on a outside concert? at DVinfo.net

Martin Labelle · April 10th, 2009, 08:59 AM

Hello
I have recorded a outside Jazz Funk concert(festival) +-20 000 people.
Lots of horns,3 guitars,2 back vocals, 30 performers on stage.
Its recorded from my Sony A1u, no soundboard but very good capture
with the cam mic in the middle of the crowd on a ladder(4 feet above the crowd).

The sound is ok but I wondered if putting a bit of reverb would be correct?
Does a outside recording have reverb?
Is it ok since its a rock show?
What is your preference?

I don't know how to explain the question but you probably understand, its more about
ethics or theory than technique.

Hanno di Rosa · April 10th, 2009, 01:16 PM

the ONLY place where you have no reverb is a wide open filed outside with no possible reflective surfaces for the sound to bounce off. So from what I understand you will not have a reverb. Putting one would falsify the perception and most probably make it sound cheap.
If you have a good quality reverb you could try it with some open space presets but I doubt you have such a device.

Seth Bloombaum · April 11th, 2009, 11:11 AM

If it sounds good, it is good.
- Duke Ellington

Jeffery Magat · April 11th, 2009, 11:30 AM

If it sounds natural... why not just leave it?

Jimmy Tuffrey · April 12th, 2009, 07:50 AM

It's only after adding reverb and regretting it that one learns to stop doing it. If it sounds natural then it aint broke.. so don't fix it. Reverb is an art form and difficult to use properly when required. Even harder when not.

Brian Berg · April 14th, 2009, 07:01 AM

The only part of the music that might really need verb is the vocals or a snare drum. Putting reverb on an entire mix would be horrible.

April 10th, 2009, 08:59 AM	#1
Martin Labelle Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: montreal Posts: 170	Reverb on a outside concert? Hello I have recorded a outside Jazz Funk concert(festival) +-20 000 people. Lots of horns,3 guitars,2 back vocals, 30 performers on stage. Its recorded from my Sony A1u, no soundboard but very good capture with the cam mic in the middle of the crowd on a ladder(4 feet above the crowd). The sound is ok but I wondered if putting a bit of reverb would be correct? Does a outside recording have reverb? Is it ok since its a rock show? What is your preference? I don't know how to explain the question but you probably understand, its more about ethics or theory than technique.

April 10th, 2009, 01:16 PM	#2
Hanno di Rosa Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tuscany Italy Posts: 38	no reverb the ONLY place where you have no reverb is a wide open filed outside with no possible reflective surfaces for the sound to bounce off. So from what I understand you will not have a reverb. Putting one would falsify the perception and most probably make it sound cheap. If you have a good quality reverb you could try it with some open space presets but I doubt you have such a device.

April 11th, 2009, 11:11 AM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	If it sounds good, it is good. - Duke Ellington __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

April 11th, 2009, 11:30 AM	#4
Jeffery Magat Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 186	If it sounds natural... why not just leave it?

April 12th, 2009, 07:50 AM	#5
Jimmy Tuffrey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bristol U.K. Posts: 244	It's only after adding reverb and regretting it that one learns to stop doing it. If it sounds natural then it aint broke.. so don't fix it. Reverb is an art form and difficult to use properly when required. Even harder when not.

April 14th, 2009, 07:01 AM	#6
Brian Berg Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Clare Michigan Posts: 71	The only part of the music that might really need verb is the vocals or a snare drum. Putting reverb on an entire mix would be horrible.