Outboard Reverb Units, worth it?

[ketamine]

And how would I physically hook it up?

I'm running a MacBook pro through a Projectmix I/O... Does the verb go into the computer, or through the desk?

[DrastikMeazures]

Is a hardware reverb unit worth it? Short answer probably not, unless your getting a killer deal on a classic unit, most software reverbs can blow most 80's and 90's budget boxes out of the water. Usually you'd want to set up your verb on a send and return buss on your mixer to use it on multiple channels.

[ketamine]

Is a hardware reverb unit worth it? Short answer probably not, unless your getting a killer deal on a classic unit, most software reverbs can blow most 80's and 90's budget boxes out of the water. Usually you'd want to set up your verb on a send and return buss on your mixer to use it on multiple channels.

I'm thinking about a modern Lexicon unit. What's your opinion of that?

[wormcode]

Lexicons can cost more than cars. I agree unless it's an amazing deal, or you want hardware only with money burning your pockets, with software like Aether and convolution reverb + free impulses (including lexicon) it's not worth investing in for 99% of people.

Something more specific like classic spring reverbs or something like a Space Echo is a different story though since they aren't that expensive and generally are good investments as they retain value and have a much wider resale market than high end studio reverbs.

[nowaysj]

Seconded and thirded. Unless any one of four things are are true:

1. You just really like to work with hardware.
2. You sort of play live in your studio to create your tracks.
3. You play out and need a dedicated reverb on your live pieces of kit.
4. You like the sound of old shitty reverb, not being facetious, I kind of like "bad" sounding fx.

But in all honesty, for a new like high end lex, I'd way rather get a distressor or something. That's just me, though.

[Hircine]

boss re-20? not as expensive as a lexicon unit but amazing. My mixer has a fx section by lexicon, not the top of line but yet they have some great sounding reverbs, really organic.

[Sharmaji]

considering the prices of good used reverb units, if you'll use 'em, it's worth it. spx90's are like $200-- about the price of a plug in. i use my space echo and the re20 pedal daily, and would love to have an spx for those super-80s nonlinear verbs.

but, unless you're talking something funky like an old reverb tank or space echo, anything $-wise between that used spx and a bricasti m7 is probably not worth the dough. hardware reverb has kinda firmly become a sub $200 or over $3k world these days. with the cheap ones, you either want them for color-- splash on a snare or spring echo on something-- or for ease of use when building headphones mixes for vocalists.

edit: the exception being the korg units from 5 or 6 years ago-- the ad/da on those are amazing.

[macc]

4. You like the sound of old shitty reverb, not being facetious, I kind of like "bad" sounding fx.

Aye!

I've got all this fancypants mastering gear in my studio but if there was a fire, I'd be saving my £15 PSE spring reverb.

It's absolutely awful

[wub]

Agree with Macc and nowaysj, I love my shitty Alessis Midiverb, another £10 from eBay job

[DrastikMeazures]

I'm thinking about a modern Lexicon unit. What's your opinion of that?

Yeah Lexicon makes everything from kinda wonky budget units all the way up to some of the best and most expensive boxes in the world probably. (never been in the market for the later.) So googling the model # would tell you alot, see what they go for on ebay. But unless your getting a great deal on it, or just really like the idea of using hardware, chances are the reverb that came with your DAW is just as good or better than a lower end lexicon unit.

[e-motion]

For that money I would get an UAD full of stuff... but yeah I'm a bit anti-analog because you get more value for the cost in the digital domain.

[macc]

Agree with Macc and nowaysj, I love my shitty Alessis Midiverb, another £10 from eBay job

I just looked for the 'like' button *facepalm*

[JTMMusicuk]

Agree with Macc and nowaysj, I love my shitty Alessis Midiverb, another £10 from eBay job

I just looked for the 'like' button *facepalm*

i almost reported your post for that