Echo - Reverb or Both?

Alan Sim · Post by **Alan Sim** » 21 Jan 2006 12:04 am

Hi Guys

Being new to the PSG,I was wondering whether I should use Echo or Reverb,or even both?

I would be interested to know what other players use.

Thanks

Alan

Nic du Toit · Post by **Nic du Toit** » 21 Jan 2006 1:16 am

Both....but just a little. The trick is to get it to sound as a natural extension of your sound. i.e. you should not be able to hear it, but miss it when when it's not there! Also, your style of playing will ultimately determine what effects, if any, you are going to add to your sound.
Regards,
Nic

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Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 21 Jan 2006 10:40 am

Exactly what Nic said.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 21 Jan 2006 7:11 pm

It's like putting some accoustics into the room where there is none. Heavy carpets and window draperies and stage curtains all absorbe sound at a tremendous rate.

By using "just enough" reverb....you can install in that room, some seriously lacking sound qualities; like the stuff an audience used to hear in the Ryman Auditorium. (BEFORE accoustics were replaced with ear shattering and unnecessary LOUD!!)

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 21 Jan 2006 8:44 pm

I ususally like a little reverb, except when playing my ZB. It seems to me like reverb robs some of the wonderful warmth of the ZB.

I like to crank up the delay sometimes because it gives me a psychedelic and/or New Age out-of-body experience without feeling like I'm demon posessed.

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 22 Jan 2006 7:46 am

Alan, echo and reverb are actually the same effect. The only difference being the time delay between the repeats.
It seems that many people refer to "reverb" as repeats that are so fast that the human ear can't detect the repeat. It is heard as a "decaying" sound.
According to some authorities, the human ear can detect two different sounds which are at least 1/10 of a second apart.
To manufacture a reverb effect with a delay device, you would need to set the delay at less than 100ms (milliseconds) and adjust the feedback loop for the desired number of repeats (total decay time).
For the record, I prefer to barely hear the repeat. This is what most people call a "delay" effect.

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T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 22 Jan 2006 8:44 am

John, I am pretty sure that reverb and echo are two different things. The term echo refers to discrete, equally timed repeats of the original signal whereas reverb is a random series of reflections that have a sort of signature, much like a room would. Reverb is very complex and echos are simple. In nature, you tend to hear echoes outdoors (e.g. canyon, fireworks near a big building) and reverb indoors(e.g. gymnasium, concert hall or a cathedral.
You are right that the brain can detect a discrete echo starting at about 100 Milliseconds. In my steel rig, I am down to almost no reverb and the slightest amount of echo at about 200 Ms. This seems to leave the space for the picked note to not be blended with and blurred by the reverb of the previous note(s). Of course, if a '50's or '60s retro sound is what your after, crank the reverb and turn off the echo.
TC[This message was edited by T. C. Furlong on 22 January 2006 at 08:45 AM.]