Shimmer reverb, an atmospheric effect pioneered by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, adds an ethereal, otherworldly quality to guitars, synths, and other instruments. This blog post will guide you through the intricacies of shimmer reverb, its application, and how to achieve it using both dedicated plugins and DIY methods within your DAW.
Table of Contents
- The Magic of Shimmer Reverb
- Achieving Shimmer Reverb: Plugins & DIY
- Sound Design Tips & Tricks
- FAQ: Your Shimmering Questions Answered
- Conclusion
Section 1: The Magic of Shimmer Reverb
Shimmer reverb is more than just a simple reverb; it’s a gateway to creating captivating soundscapes that evoke a sense of spaciousness, otherworldly beauty, and sonic wonder.
What is Shimmer Reverb?
- Imagine a guitar note decaying not into a standard reverb tail but into a shimmering, cascading wash of sound that is pitched an octave higher than the original note. That’s shimmer reverb in essence.
- The effect creates a unique blend of reverberation and pitch-shifting, resulting in a sound that is both ethereal and expansive.
- Shimmer reverb is a beloved effect in ambient music, film scores, and various genres where spaciousness and a touch of the otherworldly are desired.
The Shimmer Effect: A Technical Breakdown
- At its core, shimmer reverb is a carefully crafted feedback loop between a reverb plugin and a pitch-shifter.
- The audio signal is sent through a reverb, and then the reverb’s output is fed into a pitch-shifter, typically set to shift the pitch up by an octave.
- This octave-shifted signal is then routed back into the reverb, creating a continuous loop that sustains the shimmering, ethereal effect.
Section 2: Achieving Shimmer Reverb: Plugins & DIY
Whether you prefer the convenience of dedicated plugins or the hands-on approach of crafting your own shimmer reverb, there are several paths to achieve this captivating effect.
Dedicated Shimmer Reverb Plugins (iOS Focus)
The iOS platform offers a variety of dedicated shimmer reverb plugins, each with its own sonic characteristics and features. Let’s explore seven standout options:
- Crystalline (Holderness Media): A classic shimmer reverb with a pleasant, non-metallic sound. It features intuitive XY pads for performance-oriented control. However, it lacks modulation options for shaping the reverb tail.
- Shimmer AUv3 (FourPockets): Known for its ambient, atmospheric, and dreamlike qualities. It boasts a detailed modulation section and a “sustainer” for extended reverb tails. The interface is packed with controls spread across multiple pages.
- Stellar (Georgie Georgie): This plugin stands out with its distinct metallic sound, unlike any other shimmer reverb. It offers a modulation section, but it doesn’t significantly tame the metallic character.
- TB Reverb (Toneboosters): More than just a shimmer reverb, this plugin is a versatile powerhouse. It requires activation of its “shimmer” mode to achieve the effect. Produces lush, dreamy, and ambient sounds with extensive filtering options and a feedback control for shimmer intensity.
- FAC Altesa (Fred Anton Corvest): Excels at creating a lush, dreamy, atmospheric soundscape with a blurry, chorus-like reverb tail. Features ducking capabilities based on AUv3 multi-IO, allowing for external signal ducking for dynamic interplay.
- Bliss Shimmer: Characterized by a pleasant overtone, almost a singing quality, in its sound. The interface is straightforward and colorful. Offers long reverb times (up to 30 seconds) and three pitch-shifter modes (Pre, Post, Feedback).
- Shimmer Verb: Produces a lush, ambient sound with an organ-like tone, especially noticeable at lower pitches. It features a touch strip for expressive modulation control, allowing you to define the amount and direction of movement. The higher pitches can become overly sharp.
DIY Shimmer Reverb: Build Your Own
You can recreate the shimmer reverb effect using plugins commonly found in most DAWs, even if you don’t have dedicated shimmer plugins. Here’s a general approach inspired by common practices:
- Creating the Send/Return Setup: Start by setting up a send/return (auxiliary) bus in your DAW. This bus will be dedicated to your shimmer reverb chain.
- EQ and Compression: Shaping the Reverb Tail: On the shimmer bus, insert an EQ to sculpt the frequency content of the reverb tail. Roll off the very low and very high frequencies for a cleaner sound. Then, insert a compressor to control the dynamics and sustain of the reverb tail.
- Pitch Shifting: Achieving the Octave-Up Effect: Insert a pitch-shifter after the compressor, and set it to shift the pitch up by an octave (+12 semitones).
- Reverb Selection: Choosing a Suitable Reverb Plugin: Insert a reverb plugin after the pitch-shifter. Experiment with different types of reverbs, but a long, washy reverb with minimal high-frequency damping is generally recommended.
- Modulation: Adding Depth and Movement to the Shimmer: To enhance the texture and movement of the shimmer, consider adding a modulation effect after the reverb. A subtle chorus or ensemble effect can work wonders.
Section 3: Sound Design Tips & Tricks
Once you’ve set up your shimmer reverb, whether using plugins or DIY methods, there are numerous techniques to further sculpt and refine the effect, pushing your sonic exploration to new heights.
Slow Attack Techniques
- Volume Pedal/Knob: For live playing, a volume pedal or the volume knob on your guitar can create gradual fades, gently bringing the shimmer reverb in.
- Gate Plugins: Experiment with gate plugins set to a long attack time. This can emulate a slow-attack effect by allowing the shimmer reverb to swell in gradually.
- Dedicated Plugins: For precise control over the attack, consider dedicated plugins, which offer specialized presets for bowed guitar sounds and other slow-attack effects.
Tailoring the Shimmer
- Reverb Choice: The type of reverb you choose greatly influences the character of the shimmer. Experiment with different reverb algorithms like hall, plate, or even unconventional ones like spring or convolution reverbs for unique flavors.
- Pitch-Shifting Options: While an octave-up shift is standard, explore variations. Try shifting by a fifth or two octaves up for different harmonic textures. You can even experiment with subtle down-shifting to add depth and dimension.
- Modulation Experiments: Don’t limit yourself to chorus or ensemble. Explore other modulation effects like flangers, phasers, or even tremolos. Gentle modulation can add a captivating swirl or subtle movement to the shimmer.
- Additional Processing: Consider adding more effects to the shimmer bus, such as a soft tape delay for extra depth, rhythmic chopping to create pulsing patterns, or granular processing for evolving, textural soundscapes.
Beyond the Guitar: Expanding the Possibilities
- Synths: Shimmer reverb is equally effective on synths. Apply it to pad sounds, arpeggios, or even lead synths to create ethereal textures and expansive soundscapes.
- Vocals: Add a haunting, angelic quality to vocal tracks with shimmer reverb. It can be particularly effective on backing vocals or harmonies, creating a dreamy, otherworldly backdrop.
- Experimentation: Don’t hesitate to experiment with shimmer reverb on other instruments and sounds. You might be surprised by the captivating textures you can create on drums, percussion, or even orchestral instruments.
Section 4: FAQ: Your Shimmering Questions Answered
Let’s address some common questions that arise when working with shimmer reverb:
Q: How do I avoid a metallic sound with shimmer reverb?
A: Excessive high-frequency content from the pitch-shifter can lead to a harsh, metallic sound. Here’s how to mitigate it:
- Use a High-quality Pitch-shifter: A higher-quality pitch-shifter will generally produce a smoother sound with fewer artifacts.
- Incorporate Modulation: Gentle modulation, such as chorus or ensemble, can help to smooth out the reverb tail and mask any metallic qualities.
- Use a Reverb with a High-cut Filter: Many reverb plugins have built-in high-cut filters. Use these filters to tame the high frequencies and reduce harshness.
Q: Can I use shimmer reverb for other instruments besides guitars?
A: Absolutely! Shimmer reverb is a versatile effect that can be used on a wide range of instruments, including synths, vocals, drums, and more. It’s all about exploring the sonic possibilities.
Q: How do I prevent the shimmer reverb from becoming too overwhelming?
A: Controlling the intensity of the shimmer is crucial for maintaining a balanced mix. Here are some tips:
- Adjust the Send Level: The send level from your source track controls how much signal is sent to the shimmer bus. Reduce the send level to decrease the intensity of the effect.
- Blend in Dry Signal: Mix in some of the original, dry signal with the shimmer reverb. This helps to retain clarity and prevent the effect from completely dominating the sound.
- Use EQ to Shape the Frequency Spectrum: Use an EQ on the shimmer reverb bus to carve out space in the frequency spectrum for other instruments. You can also use EQ on the source track to prevent clashes.
- Experiment with Ducking Techniques: Ducking uses side-chain compression to lower the volume of the shimmer reverb when the dry signal is present, creating a dynamic interplay that prevents the effect from becoming overpowering.
Q: What is ducking and how does it work with shimmer reverb?
A: Ducking is a dynamic processing technique that uses side-chain compression to automatically lower the volume of one signal (in this case, the shimmer reverb) in response to the presence of another signal (the dry signal).
- Internal Signal vs. Multi-IO Ducking: Some shimmer reverb plugins have built-in ducking capabilities that use an internal signal path. Other plugins support multi-IO, allowing you to send an external signal (e.g., the dry guitar track) as the side-chain trigger for ducking.
Q: What are some creative ways to use shimmer reverb?
A: Shimmer reverb is ripe for creative experimentation. Here are some unconventional ideas:
- Heavy Flanging: Insert a flanger before the reverb in your shimmer chain. Experiment with extreme settings for a swirling, psychedelic effect.
- Rhythmic Chopping: Use a synced chopper plugin to rhythmically cut up the shimmer tails, creating pulsing, rhythmic patterns that add a rhythmic dimension to the ethereal sound.
- Granular Processing: Process the shimmer reverb through a granular plugin to create evolving, textural soundscapes that morph and shift over time.
Conclusion
Shimmer reverb is a powerful effect capable of transforming your sound into something truly extraordinary. Whether using dedicated plugins or crafting your own with a combination of effects, this ethereal tool offers limitless creative possibilities. Embrace the shimmering magic and explore the soundscapes that await you!