Marimba: Effects to soften strike and extend reverb?

[Kclark2001]

In the Chromaverb effect I’ve tried diddling with the settings with hardly any noticeable difference.

I also tested advice to try a compressor with hard knee compression (not knowing what that means…)

Thanks in advance!

[des99]

To soften the attack you can use the Enveloper plugin to smooth the attack transient, or you can use a compressor with a fast attack but if you're a beginner with that stuff that might be a bit tricky.

 

As for reverb, you'll want a reverb time of anywhere between 0.2-2secs but it depends on the part. I don't know what you mean that you get no noticeable difference with reverb - a reverb time of 0.5 seconds versus 30 secs is pretty noticeable! have you tried flipping through the reverb presets?

[David Nahmani]

It's going to be hard to notice any difference if you just try dialing settings without knowing what they do. For all we know, they could be doing... nothing at all. For example if the wet is all the way down and only the dry is up.

 

Here's an example of how to hear what you're doing:

1. Start with a snare sidestick drum sample that has no reverb at all. For example on a software instrument track, open the Library, choose Drum Kit > SoCal and insert a C#1 note.

2. Insert the Chromaverb plug-in in the Audio FX section of a the track's channel strip.

3. In Chromaverb, set both Dry and Wet to 100%.

4. Try adjusting the Decay to its min and max settings.

5. Option-click the Decay to set it to 1.00s.

6. Try adjusting the Distance to its min and max settings.

7. Option-click the Distance.

8. Try adjusting the Size to its min and max settings.

 

.... etc.

 

Some settings will have more subtle effects. To study all of the parameters of a plug-in I would recommend you consult the reference manual for that plug-in, where each parameter is described.

 

If you have specific questions, about one or two specific parameter, don't hesitate to start a new topic to ask.

[Kclark2001]

Thank you! Will respond when Mac book is back from the shop.

[David Nahmani]

Thank you! Will respond when Mac book is back from the shop.

Argh. Sorry to hear. Definitely get back to us after you've tried the exercise — you should definitely hear obvious differences.

[Kclark2001]

Hi Des99!

I'm very close to being back in operation! An adapter for my monitor arrives tomorrow.

What exercise? Being without the technology for over a month (supply chain problem) is disorienting!

[Kclark2001]

Thanks everyone, I'm back in action and will try out all the suggestions in this thread.

[David Nahmani]

What exercise?

That one:

 

Here's an example of how to hear what you're doing:

1. Start with a snare sidestick drum sample that has no reverb at all. For example on a software instrument track, open the Library, choose Drum Kit > SoCal and insert a C#1 note.

2. Insert the Chromaverb plug-in in the Audio FX section of a the track's channel strip.

3. In Chromaverb, set both Dry and Wet to 100%.

4. Try adjusting the Decay to its min and max settings.

5. Option-click the Decay to set it to 1.00s.

6. Try adjusting the Distance to its min and max settings.

7. Option-click the Distance.

8. Try adjusting the Size to its min and max settings.

 

.... etc. .

[paulcristo]

In the Chromaverb effect I’ve tried diddling with the settings with hardly any noticeable difference.

I also tested advice to try a compressor with hard knee compression (not knowing what that means…)

Thanks in advance!

Is the marimba a recording or a sample?

 

If it's a sample, you can try adjusting the attack on the sampler's ADSR, which will soften the attack.