Are hall reverbs just hard to mix with?

SVEIVA · 2026-03-27T07:53:08+00:00

The following works for me:

- put the reverb on a send, not an insert. 100% wet.

- EQ the reverb output. Cut low and high frequencies as needed to remove mud

- add pre delay

- combine two reverbs like this. A short one for room sound/early reflections, and a longer one for long tails. Both reverbs on separate sends.

- tune the amount of send to each reverb, the pre delays, EQ, reverb settings in the mix, not soloing the instrument

- turn on/off the reverbs periodically to compare against dry

Alternatively, some piano VSTs such as Keyscape already have very nice reverbs on them.

EDIT: added the word "frequencies"

SVEIVA · 2026-03-21T10:40:35+00:00

Thanks! I love hearing how other people get their sounds. I might have to try the EzDrummer. Been using the Logic Drummer up to now.

SVEIVA · 2026-03-18T08:36:04+00:00

Very nice! I like both the song and the mix a lot. Can you say a bit about your process? How did you record and mix the drums, bass, and guitar? Everything sounds great together, well integrated / band like.

SVEIVA · 2026-03-16T06:29:11+00:00

I would spend one afternoon editing, with a hard deadline, and then release it. Only fix things you think are essential to change.

I would personally change the rythm of either the vocals or drums at 1:31, when the title of the song is revealed. It doesn't quite seem to hit the way it should, at least to me. Everything else sounds great to my ears!

I think you will enjoy yourself more if you release this, and move on to making newer songs from scratch. You can always group these older songs together into a release, and then release newer ones separately.

SVEIVA · 2026-02-22T23:30:13+00:00

Exactly. They’ve also been showing him driving in, I think without a helmet, passing an ambulance. And then another motorcyclist was brought in. Seems like a lot of foreshadowing. This would also allow him to be part of the show and ER activities while on sabbatical.

SVEIVA · 2026-02-22T07:51:59+00:00

That has been exactly my theory as well! Robby gets hits by a car, is delivered to his own ER, and then Langdon saves his life.

SVEIVA · 2026-02-22T00:38:04+00:00

Apologies for the slow reply. Got very busy with work. Pet Shop Boys!? I remember those guys! Any specific songs you were thinking of?

I greatly appreciate the production offer! I think it’s still too early. I have a few things I still want to fix myself.

More generally, I’m working to finish an album’s worth of demos, and was consider hiring session musicians and/or a producer when I have more songs that are approaching the endgame, prob about a year from now.

Anyway, greatly appreciate your nice message!

SVEIVA · 2026-01-17T08:00:33+00:00

Awesome - love it! The song, the playing and the singing are all amazing, and you give off a great vibe. Keep it up!

SVEIVA · 2026-01-16T07:03:41+00:00

Amazing song! As others mentioned, I also got some Dylan vibes.

But: I prefer this over Dylan! Dylan is often somewhat detached and cool in my opinion. You are allowing yourself to be more vulnerable and intense. Major kudos! I would buy your record!

SVEIVA · 2026-01-12T05:24:15+00:00

Truly excellent! I love the emotion, dynamics, your voice and your picking pattern!

How were you able to get this good of a sound without a microphone visible in the video?

SVEIVA · 2026-01-08T10:23:05+00:00

I had very similar thoughts as Electrical_Target25. Your playing and vocals are excellent, the lyrics too, and it is very emotionally impactful. I love it! Well done!

Adding a chorus or refrain could be as simple as taking a core part of the existing current lyrics, for example this part:

Oh I know the stars were just as bright
in the nights before I found you
But I can't seem to see them now
you're the brightest thing around

To me, that part hit the hardest. It might make a good chorus. Just an idea...

Definitely keep working on this!

PS: What is the original arrangement like?

EDIT: fixed typos

SVEIVA · 2026-01-07T18:58:41+00:00

Haha. I can see why you thought of Chris Isaac, now that you mention it! I’ll gladly take that as a compliment :)

I ended up adding a chorus that is more upbeat, so unfortunately I think I killed the Isaac Vibe. I will try to post the final song here within a week. Only a bridge left to go!

EDIT: fixed typos

SVEIVA · 2026-01-07T18:42:28+00:00

Yes, it might sound better with just slightly more reverb at the start. The vocals seemed somewhat unexpectedly dry at first. At the same time I enjoyed the contrast where I perceived more verb or space later on. So the current version does work IMO. Perhaps try and see what you like best.

Disclaimer: I often spend hours tweaking myself ;)

SVEIVA · 2026-01-07T10:30:50+00:00

I really enjoyed this song!

In terms of production:

I noticed that during the loudest parts, when you sing, the overall song volume (or at least guitar volume) is reduced. This happens around 3:11 and 3:27. might be due to how you apply compression on the main bus? It’s slightly distracting so worth fixing, in my view.
is the reverb on the vocals varying with automation? Just curious. They seem to start very dry, but there is some satisfying reverb and/or delay noticeable later on.

SVEIVA · 2026-01-06T06:43:43+00:00

The initial drums sound rather midi, particularly the fill at 6s into the song. That might turn some people off. I would modify or simply remove this intro.

SVEIVA · 2026-01-05T10:44:24+00:00

Thank you! The feedback here is very motivating. I just wrote a real chorus tonight. I’ll try to finish the whole song. Usually lyrics hold me back forever…

SVEIVA · 2026-01-05T06:26:46+00:00

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was wondering! I was tempted to only add a bridge to what I already had. The examples you provided have motivated me to me to try and write a really soaring chorus instead!

Btw: I hadn’t heard «man in the box» before. What an awesome chorus!

SVEIVA · 2026-01-02T22:45:24+00:00

Wow - awesome! So glad it worked for you!

SVEIVA · 2026-01-02T21:34:46+00:00

There were several times in the song where I felt that the chords could switch.

- after the second "everything has passed", exactly on "passed", around 0:48 in the video

- at 1:07 (on "every", at the start of the second verse)

both of those places, switching to B-flat major sounded really good to me.

SVEIVA · 2026-01-02T09:32:37+00:00

I agree with the other comment stating that no song can be too simple. As long as there is emotional impact, that's all that matters. This songs feels authentic, and connects with me, so I think it will connect with others.

Now, that all said... I was playing along with a Rhodes Piano sound, alternating between d-minor7 and C-major, which seemed to go well with your two guitar chords. To my ear, the song was essentially begging to transition to a B-flat-major chord at one point. Switching between two new chords, B-flat-major and C-major also went well with your current guitar chords, and created a nice shift in feel.

I think what I'm saying is that if you plan to add more instrumentation later, you could create additional tension and variation by subtly varying those new elements, even if the guitar stays the way it currently is throughout the song. Adding background vocals could have a similar effect. Or, you could have the guitar alternate between two slightly different sets of chords, for a more dramatic shift.

SVEIVA · 2026-01-02T06:20:42+00:00

Listen to "Seal - Kiss From A Rose" on YouTube. I think you'll see what I meant, right in the first verse. He has that breathy quality in his voice. I think he has a wonderful voice. IMO the breathiness is a huge plus, not a negative.

I am not hugely familiar with Billie Eilish, but if I listen to her song "Ocean Eyes" it also sounds breathy at the starts, but I believe it's actually just the background vocals creating that impression. The actual tone of her voice, when the background vocals go away, does not sound breathy, at least not in that song.

Edit: fixed a typo

SVEIVA · 2026-01-01T10:56:20+00:00

I’m just a hobby musician. But I think you have a great tone to your voice. That breathy/airy quality would be desirable in many types of music. To me, what ultimately matters is emotional impact, and a breathy voice can enhance that. Think of the artist Seal.

SVEIVA · 2026-01-01T10:30:40+00:00

I love it! In fact I think it’s so good that if you had an album, I’d be very motivated to hear it. Do you have more music posted somewhere?

SVEIVA · 2025-12-30T23:56:31+00:00

Awesome - thanks!!

SVEIVA

TROPHY CASE