using compression and reverb

Use what ever sounds good for your song...

This fledgling at recording takes this approach: try anything; if you like it, keep it; if you don't like it , discard it. I don't think all tracks need compression, but I'll try it and see. If it doesn't improve the sound, I get rid of it, which is what CJ is saying. I tend to avoid reverb mostly, and use it very sparingly, as I think it can muddy a mix. JMHO.
Mark

I tend to use compression most of the time. The ammount depends on what sounds better. As far as reverb goes, I use it mainly on vocals. On instruments and drums, I use it for ambience. It's not enough to notice per se but it's there but when muted, you miss it.

ORIGINAL: themidiroom

I tend to use compression most of the time. The ammount depends on what sounds better. As far as reverb goes, I use it mainly on vocals. On instruments and drums, I use it for ambience. It's not enough to notice per se but it's there but when muted, you miss it.

Agreed. The best reverb sound is when you mix it so you can't hear it when its there, but if you disable it, it sounds bad.

Compression is a big topic. Run a search. It's a big topic.

Reverb advice:

In the real world, you never actually hear reverb unless you're in a cathedral or a parking garage or something. But it's always there, and it conveys a huge amount of subconscious information about the kind of space you're in. TRy to use artifical reverb in a similar subliminal way.

Time reverb decays to suit the tempo and rythmic feel of the song. Reverb tails have a big effect on the percieved density and duration of notes. Play with the way the track feels.

As a default, engange any high- or low-damping features of the reverb. If the reverb doesn't come with such features, consider bandwidth-limiting the send to reverb. Rarely are very high or very low frequencies improved by reverb.

As a starting point, use low densities and predelay of 40ms or more to maintain clarity. (Clarity is not always a good thing, BTW).

Use chamber or room reverbs as your default settings. Use plate reverbs for shimmery but sibilant vocals and leads. Use spring reverbs to sound old and twangy. Use cathedral or hall reverbs for big special effects like the haunted children's chorus or the toms that conquered the world.

Cheers.

Remember the EQ will do a lot for you along these lines combined with the compression and reverb

Although a lot less experienced, I gotta agree with kayehl: EQ first, compression and reverb second.

I love these kind of threads. I always like to see what and how other engineers/musicians process effects.

CJ

To make guitars fuller I like to clone the guitar track and set the pan of each track about 30% left and right repectively. I reverb one track and offset its timing by a few miliseconds and turn its volume about half of the original track.

When the decay of a note on the main guitar track fades, you hear nice overtones coming slightly behind on the other track opposite in the stereo field. Gives alot of presence.