I know VSL has great convolution and MIR reverb, but what do you guys think about algorithmic reverb? I read somewhere that classical recordings often have a lexicon (algorithmic) reverb applied. Do you think convolution would sound better in this situation? In the context of using VSL, would there be any reason to use both convolution AND an algorithmic on top of that? In order to mimick the live orch + lexicon scenario?
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types of reverb
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You are right, that's a very common setup.
Keep in mind that the synthetic reverb is used _on top_ of the real room, in theses cases. In our virtual way of thinking, this would mean to use MIR for spatialization, positioning and real room, plus some synthetic "sugar" on top in form of Lexicon, t.c. or Bricasti. There's nothing wrong about it :-)
/Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library -
A nice advantage of algo reverbs is that they are often pyscho-acoustically optimized, using knowledge from how our auditory brain functions operate. Mr. Griesinger, the scientist behind Lexicon has done some (imo) very interesting work in this area.
However, when you combine MIR ERs and an algo reverb, you should drop the amount of ERs in the algo reverb (to avoid ER overkill ;-) ), by which you actually "lose" the interesting area (0-120 msec) where these optimizations take place.
Anyway, this is indeed a very common approach in film music recording. A great and lively space, with a subtle reverb tail from a 960L or Sys 6000.
