Best Reverb For Solo Piano Works ???

[leemusicmad]

Hi

Just looking to gain suggestions about what convolution reverb type should be used for a solo piano album, (slow piano soundtrack type) I've taken examples from other piano works and the spectrum is wide ranging from small rooms, concert halls to recording studios. I no it's a case of personal preference but in general what is the standard environment for recording solo piano.

[jnoelliste]

That's a really good question! I just composed and recorded a piano album this month and reverb application at the mixing session was quite involved. My recording engineer and I used a slightly different reverb setting for each piece and in MODERATION! Too much reverb can easily diffuse a piano track and literally destroy the focus of the sound. The application is too heavy when all we can hear is the effect of the reverb. It's so easy to go over the edge...I've been guilty of this many times! 

I like to run only 20-40% of the track input through a reverb processor. As for the type of reverb to use, small hall, large hall, ambient, dry room etc, it's best to imagine the ideal performance space of each piece.
So, for instance, on my track "DayDream", the reverb setting has a longer release which allows the sounds to linger...it really helped to achieve the sound world of the title.
Then, Kleiner Waltzer uses a lot of staccato articulation, so, the reverb setting was set to small room and used moderately...too much reverb would really kill the effect of the staccato notes. Lastly, the final track, Boundless Ascent, uses a large hall setting to fit the concert like proportions of that piece.
The effects are subtle, but, each track has a separate aural identity. Listen to the previews of these tracks on my website home page to hear the differences I just mentioned: www.jnoelliste.com

Ofcourse, this only scratches the surface of reverb setting application! There's so much more we need to know...experiment! Every day is an opportunity to learn more.

Joseph Noelliste
Solo Pianist and Composer
www.jnoelliste.com
www.facebook.com/jnoelliste

[oxy60]

Why not try splitting the track/output keeping one clean and mixing in another with the effects?

We do this with guitar so we always have a clean sound as a foundation.

[leemusicmad]

That's a really good question! I just composed and recorded a piano album this month and reverb application at the mixing session was quite involved. My recording engineer and I used a slightly different reverb setting for each piece and in MODERATION! Too much reverb can easily diffuse a piano track and literally destroy the focus of the sound. The application is too heavy when all we can hear is the effect of the reverb. It's so easy to go over the edge...I've been guilty of this many times!  

I like to run only 20-40% of the track input through a reverb processor. As for the type of reverb to use, small hall, large hall, ambient, dry room etc, it's best to imagine the ideal performance space of each piece.
So, for instance, on my track "DayDream", the reverb setting has a longer release which allows the sounds to linger...it really helped to achieve the sound world of the title.
Then, Kleiner Waltzer uses a lot of staccato articulation, so, the reverb setting was set to small room and used moderately...too much reverb would really kill the effect of the staccato notes. Lastly, the final track, Boundless Ascent, uses a large hall setting to fit the concert like proportions of that piece.
The effects are subtle, but, each track has a separate aural identity. Listen to the previews of these tracks on my website home page to hear the differences I just mentioned: www.jnoelliste.com

Hi Joseph

The reverb on (Boundless Ascent) is beautiful! thats the reverb i would want on most of my own pieces. (Love Song For Erinie) also had a nice reverb. PM sent.