More on the same subject.

I am looking for the best reverb for recording classical guitar.  The one that I am used to using for folk-type guitar with vocal isn't producing the "hall" sound that I need for the classical guitar.  Before I start experimenting on my own, I thought that I would ask for advice here.


The room that I have for recording is dead.  It is small, 12' x 12'  and full of absorbers, so we aren't getting any room sound.

Thanks in advance,

Tom

"Best" is subjective.

Start with a good clean and full recording of the guitar. Then experiment. 

Setting there trying one after another and playing with settings will likely not solve the problem. You will have so many options to choose from. Your ears will fatigue trying to choose the right one. 

Try to narrow it down to a few that you think sound good and save  them as presets.   Then come back later and try one or two, but in the mix, not soloed. (unless it is a solo performance of course) 

It's simply a matter of trial & error until you get it narrowed down. I find that even when I do hit the "perfect" verb and save it... the next time, in the next song, that verb isn't "perfect" and must be tweezed in one way or another. Amount, room size, decay, etc.... 

i like plate.

and of course, you've got to tweak every single parameter to find that perfect setting.

put the guitar mics in stereo panned, but put the reverb in mono.

I've never recorded classical guitar, but I think I'd start with the most natural-sounding room reverbs, as opposed to plates. I'd even forego my standard go-to algorithmic reverb, ValhallaRoom, and try a convolution first.

i've always thought that pure sound sources, like a classical guitar, should have a great room to record in.

and then, the 'room' sound, should be natural, like you say bit.


but, if you are looking for EFFECT....

a plate, very mildly used, seems to have more 'sheen' to it, than a room verb.


in other words, go for natural room reverb...with a room mic.....


or go big, with a fake plate.

heheh

I've usually only recorded classical guitar in larger halls and churches.  Some don't need any reverb, but those that do usually benefit from a good algo like Flux Ircam verb.  It is really nice as it allows the natural sound of the room to pass through without much trouble, and it is silky smooth unlike most "plate" simulations.  

If you are recording in a dead room, I would suggest using a convolution hall from either Waves or Aliverb (if you are in the market that is).  If the tail isn't quite right, a tiny bit of algorithmic reverb can smooth it out. 

I'm like you, and record in a "dead" room.  There is a nice preset in Breverb called "Segovia" that is rather nice - it uses a hall reverb.
 
I see you're not using X2 (which includes Breverb, although you can buy Breverb separately).  I have used a preset from Perfect Space (included in X1) called "Performance Hall - XY Close", which sounds pretty nice.

Tom, 

Many will let you demo their Reverbs - some quite liberally - like 'Redline Reverb' by 112db and 'EaReverb' by EaReckon to name a few.


Valhalla Room & their others are also very popular.

I think Altiverb[?] is highly regarded, but is not cheap. [I think that's what it's called.]

My personal favorite is 'Fabrik R' from tc electronic, although you need their hardware to run it - but 'top notch drop-dead georgeous' in my opinion. 

I don't agree that plate reverbs would be good for classical guitar. They are good for vocals because of the extra brightness and the way the sound bounces is maybe not so great for a classical guitar. 

Firstly convolution reverb is the better choice. I would be looking for a nice hall type sound but it does not have to be ultra big either. Try bringing the reverb times down to 2.5 secs and ease up from there. 

EQ on the reverb return for extra control. Play with the pre delay settings too. Early reflection settings are important. The Wet Dry balance is critical in this situation. This is a situation that requires you to edit the reverb especially if a factory preset is used as a starting point.

With care extremely realistic results are very possible. Do what I suggest and try the plate concept too. Compare the two. I think you will find the room or hall sound will work in better.

I've had excellent results with my old standby reverb- Lexicon Pantheon which came with earlier versions of Sonar.  It always takes some tweaking, but worth it in the end.

Good luck!