listening test: Perfect Space and Pristine Space stereo comparison

There was great thread recently about True Stereo IRs:

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=1423225&mpage=3

I learned a lot from asking dumb questions and reading posts by Dave Clark, Jim Rosebury, Wiz, plectrumpusher, John and others.

There was some mild debate as to whether there was any real benefit to using True Stereo convolution. As far as theory goes, I sure learned a lot.

Anyways, the discussion caused me to go download Voxengo's Pristine Space VST convolution reverb plugin and give it a try. The fact that it's the big sister to SONAR's bundled Perfect Space suggests that a comparison might yield interesting results.

This evening I purchased a license to Pristine Space and I think I'm really going to enjoy learning more about True Stereo convolution.

Here's is a demonstration recording I prepared to make it easier for people to hear the sonic difference between Perfect Space and Pristine Space:

Kalimba_convolution_reverb.mp3

The source files are recordings of a kalimba:



The .mp3 is encoded at VBR best quality.

I hope you enjoy taking a listen.

best regards,
mike

I think that I see a little DC offset in the MP3. Not sure though.

Hi John,
I like to emphasize that these were all quick setups trying to use the basic parameters... I think there's plenty of room to tweak and scale back to get a realistic sound.

There are 3 sections. Each is a prerecorded clip placed in 3 respective tracks. So it's nine clips total... played back to back.

Clip 1 right to left 3 octaves-- Dry - Perfect Space - Pristine Space

Clip 2 left to right 3 octaves-- Dry - Perfect Space - Pristine Space

Clip 3 familiar arpeggio------- Dry - Perfect Space - Pristine Space

I used the Noise Vault impulses that came with Perfect Space for both reverbs.

Perfect Space uses:
Real Spaces \ Choir Room X/Y center

Pristine Space uses
Real Spaces \ Choir Room X/Y Left
Real Spaces \ Choir Room X/Y Right


I left all 3 IRs at their default lengths.

At first I had both reverbs mixed at 0dB gain Dry and -12.0dB gain Wet but Pristine Space was way livelier that Perfect Space in the way that it reacted to the impulses. So I made a slight adjustment to try to get them to sound less dramatically different.

Here's what you are hearing:

Perfect Space: 0dB gain Dry and -12.0dB gain Wet

Pristine Space: 0dB gain Dry and -15.0dB gain Wet

My initial thought is that you can use a lot less True Stereo reverb effect to get a sense of ambience than the sound that Perfect Space provides.

Just for info overload:

Schoeps MK41 super Cardiod mics as X/Y pair into 2 channels of a John Hardy M1 preamp. Sonitus FX Lo-cut filter on the clips to reduce proximity effect from close mic placement.

I'm glad you're taking an interest.

best regards,
mike

Great job, Mike! Good choice of instrument to demonstrate reverb, too (although I'd also like to hear these reverbs on strings).

I wish more folks would take the time to do this kind of demonstration instead of just throwing out opinions. I'll try to be inspired to do something like this in the future myself.

What I took away from the demo was that Pristine Space does sound better than Perfect Space, but not enough better to justify its purchase, at least not for me. That's just me, though. Reverb just isn't that important to me anymore. The better I get at other aspects of recording and mixing, the less reverb I actually use. I also suspect the difference would be much less noticeable in a mix, as opposed to a solo instrument.

You're all welcome.

I'm thankful I got to learn something yesterday and today. The discussion yesterday was really helpful.

I like the fact that this way everyone gets to make their own conclusions about suitability.

best regards,
mike

Thanks for checking it out Greg.

BTW, I just changed the title of the thread so that it may be more easily recognized as a listening test opportunity.

best,
mike

Nice work Mike! Thanks for making the effort.

UnderTow

What a great idea, Mike! Thank you so much for taking the time to do it; I know it was more than a couple of minutes!

I have Pristine Space, but I never A/B'd with Perfect Space like that. I thought the reason I loved it so much were the IRs I bought (www.samplicity.com), which are wonderful Lexicon samples.

What are the takeaways here?

1. "Pristine" Space is very well named.
2. I suddenly want to buy a Kalimba.

Mike,

I just wanted to pass on how much I hate you for making me spend more money on Voxengo products!

The better I get at other aspects of recording and mixing, the less reverb I actually use.

Great way of showing the diffs Mike - people should take an example - but I'm totally in agreement with Dave's statement. I've uttered it in different words a few times, and felt like cussing in church for it.

Hmm maybe I should change my sig again. 'Verb is the drugs'.

Mike,

Thanks for the post and all the work that went in to it.
Even on my laptop speakers I could hear the difference, not just in the reverb density but in the spacial qualities.

Thanks
... Steven