Platinum: How do I record vocals with reverb without tracking reverb?

Previously, I recorded vocals with reverb using an external unit which was set up for me. When I updated to Platinum I got rid of the unit...very outdated.  I purchased the Dell XPS 8900 computer when I upgraded to Platinum.
 
I want to hear reverb and/or delay while recording without tracking the effects. I've searched everywhere and can't find a video tutorial that shows you how to set up.
 
If you've set up effects for this purpose can someone PLEASE provide instructions or send me a video link on how to do this, that is if one exists.
 
I'm working with 3 different producers and neither of them use Sonar, so they can't help me.  I need to get these songs recorded asap and reverb/delay aid in my performance :) 
 
D

Brundlefly is right. The first two suggestions don't make any sense.

Maybe I'm missing something here but.... I would just add a track, insert a reverb on the track, record and then delete the reverb. Your track will be dry.

Hi dlayna,

If I'm understanding you correctly you'd like to hear some reverb on a voice while recording but not have that reverb "print" to your track...what some folks call a "comfort reverb". I'm also assuming from your earlier posts about hearing your voice doubled that you're using direct monitoring from your interface and so hearing two copies of your voice when you enable input monitoring. Here's one way to do what I think you're asking:
 
1. Create the audio track that you'll be recording to and select your microphone input.
2. Add a bus with a reverb on it and create a send from the audio track you just created to that bus.
3. Click the button that says "POST" next to the send so it is no longer lit.
4. Pull the fader for the audio track all the way down and enable input monitoring.
 
Now you should be hearing the direct signal from your interface along with the reverb that's getting sent to the bus. Make sure that your reverb effect is set to fully wet or you'll hear some dry signal as well.
Hope that helps.
 
Dean

Have you lowered your buffer as low as it'll go without crackling?

brundlefly
The first two answers are the opposite of what you want. By default FX are applied to the output of a track so the input is always recorded dry unless you go out of your way to use a workaround like one of the above to capture the FX.
 
If you're capturing FX without intending to, I would guess you're using the onboard sound system to record, and the input in the onboard sound's mixer app is set to 'What U Hear' or 'Stereo Mix', which means it's recording from the sound systems output with the FX applied. In that case, you need to choose Mic or Line In as the input.

Actually both suggestions would work perfectly. If your interface has reverb it's almost never passed on to the DAW but instead used for direct monitoring. And the way DeeringAmps set up the routing you will record dry vocals and have a bus or aux track with reverb. It's true that you COULD record reverb to an aux track but not the way it's set up there.

If the interface does not have any reverb of its own the easiest way of doing this is making sure latency is low and doing everything in Sonar. Reduce buffer size as much as possible without getting popping/crackling/dropouts, turn off direct monitoring from the interface, create a track to record your vocals on, turn on input echo and put a reverb on it (or use a bus or aux track as was suggested and put the verb on that, good practice for mixing later on).

Sanderxpander

Actually both suggestions would work perfectly. If your interface has reverb it's almost never passed on to the DAW but instead used for direct monitoring. And the way DeeringAmps set up the routing you will record dry vocals and have a bus or aux track with reverb. It's true that you COULD record reverb to an aux track but not the way it's set up there.

Why would you need the bus though?

Where in the preferences do I change that?  Is it under "Driver Settings or Sync and Caching?"
 
The one under Sync and Caching is set to 256 for both Playback I/O & Recording I/O.
 
Thanks - D'Layna

Hi, thanks for responding.
 
For the most part, I provide dry vocals and let the producer add the effects...but that's only because I trust them :)
 
I will add the LA-2A or 1176 compressors and some delay and reverb for my playback listening pleasure :)
 
D'Layna
 

Sanderxpander
You don't NEED it but it's common practice to put a reverb on a bus and use a post fader send from a track to the bus to set the reverb level. This allows you both to conserve CPU power (because you can use the same reverb on multiple tracks) and to use the same virtual space on multiple tracks (rather than ten different ones by inserting a reverb on each track). As CPU power increased and in the box mixing took over from outboard stuff, this has become less of a necessity and more of a rule of thumb, but it's generally considered good practice unless you are specifically ignoring the "same space" thing for some effect.

That said, if you want to be quick and just record some vocals before passing the file on for someone else to mix, you might as well put the reverb on the track and skip a step.

 
 

Hi and thanks for responding :)
 
I tried that as well and I'm still getting the echo from Input Echo button being on while recording :(
 
I'm crying buckets here :)
 

RSMCGUITAR
Maybe I'm missing something here but.... I would just add a track, insert a reverb on the track, record and then delete the reverb. Your track will be dry.

 
 
 

Whenever I record vocals I always start by turning all Fx plugs off.
This should reduce latency to a very small amount. Do this by hitting 'e' on your keyboard.
 
Now add a reverb plugin to your vocal track's Fx bin, right  click the bin and untick Bypass fx Bin
The reverb should now be the only Fx plug in operation.
 
Proceed as above - enable Input Echo and record your vocal.
If the latency is still too high then you'll need to adjust your driver settings

I really hate to even comment because everything that needs to be said has been. There is great solid advise here on this thread. Possibly a bit confusing as there is a few different ways explained. So I will try to keep my advise short.
 
When I set up to do vocals:
 
-Turn off all other track FX (Delays, reverbs, Chorus, EX) Okay to keep Guitar Sim FX.
 
-Insert the Sonitus Reverb directly in to the FX bin (no need to worry about saving resources we are not using a 1985 Texas instruments computer)
 
- Control the level of reverb from within the Sonitus plug in.
 
- Set your tracks Input to your Audio interfaces Microphone Input
 
- Set your tracks output to Master bus (or Vocal bus if you have one).
 
- Once this is complete, Right click on this track and choose "Save as Track Template".
This Track Template will now be your custom Reverb/Vocal track for all future Projects.
 
If you are experiencing and delays in signal I suspect your Latency is coming from your AI and buffer settings should be adjusted.
 
I sometimes use another method which entails creating a VOX bus and routing tracks outputs there. 
But I prefer the Reverb in the FX bin as each track can have independent amounts of reverb.
For example: I like more reverb on the track I am recording, but less reverb on already established Vocal tracks.
Once tracking is complete, I delete the Reverb FX from the vocal FX bins and begin the Mixdown process by using VOX buses and Reverb Bus sends.
 

DeeringAmps
Send your vocal track to an aux track or buss and insert a reverb.

I used the Sonitus included with SONAR, its light on the CPU.
That's track 1 on the left.
Adjust the send to "sweeten" to taste.
Make sure the "blue" buttons are on.
That makes them "live" when recording.
Hope this helps
 
T

I do this but use pre-send (post button off), then MUTE the track (1 in this case).
You can then monitor without doubling and record low -latency on track 1.
 

DeeringAmps
 
none of you use effects busses?

I do on every project, but not for tracking.
All my VOX tracks DO go to a Vocal Bus track but there's no FX in that Bus.
They are in the tracks Bins (which are removed after vocals are complete)
this isn't the 1990's were we have 280MB of RAM . im never concerned with CPU when tracking because My system can handle it. With that being said, I only use limited resources on all my other tracks while recording overdubs.
there's no Reverbs, Delays, Compressors until mix down. (except Guitar Sims/FX).
the only other FX I use is a touch of Reverb for when tracking vocals and I like to be able to use different amounts of reverb, different kinds of reverbs when tracking multiple Vocal tracks, hence the reason for using the FX bin = having independent control over each track.
 
But with that said, your way (using a bus with a send or in the FX bin of the bus) also works perfectly well and is a good choice no doubt. just not my way of doing it.
many different options here.