Sonnox Oxford Reverb User Manual
Page 16
6.3 Reverb EQ in Post Production
6 EQUALISATION
6.3 Reverb EQ in Post Production
For post-production effects and simulation of real spaces, the EQ serves to accentuate or
even insert tonal aberrations that we associate with particular spaces. Often we don’t
notice these aberrations when we are actually in the spaces, but when adding simulations
to dry sounds in a post-production environment, their absence can be a real limitation to
effectiveness. There is no hard and fast way to achieve successful results, as there are
several possible approaches to the problem. The following are presented as helpful
hints:
The major room node responses should be obtained using the appropriate room shape
and size within the Early Reflection setup stage. It is important that these match the
overall space characteristic, even if the frequency characteristics are significantly different
— because the EQ will be used to modify these later.
Odd shaped or complex spaces may be initially created using a combination of the
REVERB TAIL and DELAY COMP controls to simulate late reflections from distant areas of
the space, ie. L-shaped spaces, rooms with several distinct areas etc. Reducing the
OVERALL SIZE of the late reverb setting can produce a wide range of resonances that
suit smaller spaces.
Most rooms have a dominant resonance at lower frequencies, and several resonances of
lesser gains in the lower and upper mid ranges. The smaller the space, the higher the
frequency these are likely to be. They may be very large, reaching 10dB or even 20dB,
and they may have high Q values in the 7 to 12 range. Experimentation will reveal whether
the EQ matches natural expectations in the space.
Higher mid frequency resonances and dips are normally associated with near surfaces,
for example, a nearby wall or door. These reflection effects can be initially created using
the POSITION control in the Early Reflection settings section, and added to, modified or
accentuated with EQ if required. For high Q resonances of this type, quite small gain
values are often most appropriate.
Overall gentle response changes often accompany smaller rooms that contain large
amounts of soft furnishings (ie. living rooms etc.). This effect can often be accentuated by
the addition of LF boosting with lower Q values between 0.5 and 1.5, or by introducing a
band-pass low Q cut in the mid ranges.
Very large spaces may exhibit a reverberation that focuses mainly in the mid ranges. A
combination of high ABSORPTION settings and LF ROLL-OFF can often simulate this
effect. A small rise of around 1 or 2dB in the mid ranges may also be appropriate.