If a processor for can be used for something other than its intended purpose, can the same be done with time-based effects? We see if you can get results using delay as reverb for a new flavour in your mix…

Of all the mix processors and effects available to us, reverb is perhaps one of the oldest mixing tools around. Having new flavours to try in your mix is always a good thing, and better still, your new favourite reverb might actually be sitting in your plugin folder right now.

Ambience and reverb have been part of recorded sound ever since their inception. As the process evolved from ambient minimal mic recordings to drier, closer, multi-mic setups, engineers quickly realised that in order to make a mix sound natural again, some kind of reverberation needed to be re-introduced artificially. From the earliest purpose-built chambers, through to later electromechanical and digital boxes, the modern engineer now has access to all of these sounds plus real spaces in the form of advanced convolution and algorithm based plugins that combine the best of all worlds.

Most people know what reverb sounds like, especially when they walk into a church or move house and take the furniture out of a room! Although discrete delays are less often heard in everyday life, they are nonetheless the basis of what we experience as reverb. If we want to try a new flavour of it, some delays can turn their hand to reverb offering an alternative reverb as a bonus .

Using FabFilter Timeless 3

FabFilter’s Timeless 3 has a number of features that lend themselves well to mimicking real life reverbs that might not be achievable with traditional delay tools.

• 2 delay lines, each with up to 16 delay taps. These can be controlled and modulated individually. Having so many taps available can add to the complexity of the effect, avoiding ringing artefacts.

• Up to 6 filters. These can be either the original, creative LP/HP/BP filters (with Style setting) or Bell/Shelving/Notch EQ filters. Filters can be created and deleted in the display, just like in FabFilter Pro-Q or Pro-R providing comprehensive reverb shaping

• Added 6 dB filter slope option. Having such a shallow filter curve is ideal for replicating the high frequency absorption that happens through the air in nature over time.

• New Stereo Width control

• XLFO’s allow you to modulate various parameters including delay taps and filter breakpoints for extra subtle control or extreme, standout effects.

The Best Of Both Worlds?

Sometimes, having a single plugin handling time-based effects can simplify things greatly, especially when a hybrid effect is needed. This is quicker than running delay plugins into reverbs to ‘blunt’ the repeats for example. Not only will pressing an advanced delay plugin into service for this streamline your mix window, but also will get you new sounds as well.