Woodwind ensemble reverberation

[Sami Boman]

I could use some serious reverberation instructions, please. I recorded a small woodwind ensemble (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon) in a recording room with measures about 5m x 4m. I used 8 microphones. The main stereo pair was about 2,5m in front of the ensemble. This is the sound I’d mainly like to use. Then I had a room stereo pair about 5m in front of the ensemble and individual microphones for each player. The meaning of individual mics is just to enhance a single instrument here or there only if needed. What kind of reverbs should I use if I’d like to get the lush sound of a big scoring stage? My plugins include for example Vienna MIR and Vienna Suite. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

[jasensmith]

Well, it's kind of a trial and error thing but did you record this as an ensemble or multitracked?

I can't speak for MIR but the Vienna Suite has a church converb in it that has a nice lush sound.  Not to mention a cathedral.

Or you could go with the Hybrid Reverb which is more powerful than the Convolusion Reverb and gives you more control over the tone and color of the reverb. 

For an ensemble performance I'd probably go with the Hybrid Reverb.  You could find something in any one of the the large room presets.   

[Sami Boman]

Thank you for your answer. I recorded it as an ensemble. Should the main and the room mics have a longer reverb and the individual mics a shorter one or should all have the same reverb? How are these things usually done?

[Dietz]

Hi Sami,

You wrote that you own MIR Pro. :-) I would try to set up the close-mics of your recording in a Venue of your choice and get your main reverb from there. If you still want to hear more "effect", then you can reach out for some sweetening with rich, modulating algorithmic reverb (likr MIRacle) for all sources.

... MIR Pro's manual offers a tutorial section. Just replace Vienna Instruments with your recordings. Just don't forget to select  "General Purpose" Instrument Profiles for them. :-)

HTH,

[Sami Boman]

Thank you for your advise too, Dietz. Do you mean I should forget the main stereo pair and room mics completely and focus only on the individual close mics?

[Dietz]

No, not necessarily so. But you wouldn't be able to generate individual (and thus individually treatable) reverbs for each intrukemt from the main mic.

Personally I would try to optimize the main mic and add the "missing" flavours and FX from the spot-mics (... assuming that the main mic has an overall nice and balanced basic sound, of course).

HTH,

[Sami Boman]

Thank you so much again. One last question. Should the reverb be the same for the main mic and the spot mics? Or is it better to have a different reverb for the main mic?

[Dietz]

Dear Sami, 

there's no rule that suggests the one or the other approach. It depends mostly on the recording itself, your taste, the actual performane and - most of all - the composition and its arrangement. I wouldn't do you any favour if I gave you factual advice here. :-)

Trust your ears, and compare to existing recordings you like.

All the best,