Setting up effects (reverb / delay) on an analog console - Stage Left Audio

A look at routing reverb and delay using outboard gear with an analog board.
Adding the right amount of reverb in a live sound setup can make a big difference for the entire show. Adding the right amount of delay is very critical, and should only be used when needed.
Too often, high amounts of reverb and delay are used when those amounts are not required.
The process showed in this video should work with most any console that has auxiliary sends and available channels for returns.
Important: effects such as reverb and delay can be very personal things to artists and performers. Respect their vision and always work with them to come to a solution that works.

[@kps2015]

That cleared all my doubts about reverb and delay, especially those long delays in the middle of the songs. I always kept wonderin how people do it. Thanks for such a detailed video with tips and tricks. Keep up the good work, sir!

[@dk2428]

For someone like me, getting into analog boards, this is absolutely ace! Thanks so much for sharing! New sub.

[@stageleftaudio]

Welcome aboard!

[@patrickcarroll1754]

Man, this is a fantastic tutorial. Thank so much!

[@stageleftaudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Kleyver]

Thank you SO MUCH for such an incredible clear instructional video. I´m new to live sound and I´ve been buying equipment and trying to learn my stuff along the way but now and thanks to your channel and awesome videos I´ve cleared up LOTS of doubts. Thanks again for taking the time and effort to make this kind of material. Pure Gold right here. Greetings from Venezuela.

[@stageleftaudio]

Thank you for the comments. I'm glad you are learning from the videos.

[@paulmenkens4671]

Well, I'm not new to it but I just recently picked up the 32 channel version of this board used. I've been getting good results learning as I go except I've been getting frustrated with the effects (I use an old Alessis Quadraverb Plus) That's how I found your channel and I think that this weekend's show will be a lot better (to me, the guys in the bands think it sounds great now) I've never had any probs with the effects with my old Peavey board, but the A & H is so much better I'm not going to go backwards. I see you have a lot of videos featuring this board and I intend to watch every one (several times over). This is a great resource and I thank you for it! One thing I wouldn't mind seeing is a vid on how you go about EQing the various drums, I've come to the opinion that the secret to good sounding drums is drummers who know how to tune their drums, but I know there's more too it then that. I run the sound for a small outdoor summer concert series at a bar owned by my band mate from highschool (we graduated in 1972) and have played together off and on since until his death 3 years ago from a massive heart attack, it's now run by his sons and we get bands ranging from jam bands who are glad to play for free beers and burgers and have no idea how to do a sound check to guys who tour with national acts (they deff know how to do a sound check!) and everything in between. Thanks again for your great videos, and I plan to memorize all of them! P.M.

[@jackstech601]

Just got the same lexicon unit helped me set it up great 👍

[@stageleftaudio]

Perfect!

[@ibhienkeliat]

Thank you very much for this video tutorial... :D

[@mickeymiguel2726]

Excellent lesson 👏

[@stageleftaudio]

Thank you! 😃

[@0xLife]

Hey man, thank you for taking the time and sharing some of your knowledge! Keep up the nice work :)

[@swarupmondal2741]

great video sa thank you

[@bboygurhan]

Thanks man You are my hero Respect for you

[@stageleftaudio]

Glad I could help

[@AMusician64]

Great Video.Thank you

[@1984LHR]

Great!!!!! Thank you

[@LarryOohLaLa]

Great job brother ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@stageleftaudio]

Thanks ✌️

[@SriharshaaPrabhakar]

Excellent

[@krishnaroy3319]

Thank you sir

[@MinhHoang-sh3ki]

Thank you for this video. It’s helpful. Can I just rout one cable post aux send to the mx200 and have reverb and delay out from the effect unit because some mixing board doesn’t have 2 post aux sends.

[@stageleftaudio]

Yes, especially with the mx200. That effects unit allows the "stacking" of effects, i.e., you can have reverb and delay on one cable. Read the manual on which routing option to use for that type of setup. We use our mx200 units as 2 separate units, therefore, we use routing option #1 which is a dual-mono setup.

[@krishnamusic6897]

Hi how to connect boss digital pedal delay to Allen and heath 24 mixer (without FX)

[@Diggs5012]

Thank you for a great example in outboard efx processing. im using a 6 channel mixer with a single aux in and out- how can i run to the simplified board im using? TRS inserts on both ends? Or dual single 1/4" Im easily thrown off in knob vs fader layouts

[@stageleftaudio]

+Diggs5012 Aux outputs and inputs can use balanced (TRS) or unbalanced (TS) 1/4" cables. The use of "insert cables" will not work as designed in Aux outputs/inputs. "Insert cables" only work in outputs labeled as "Insert". You will need dual single 1/4" cables. If you only have one aux output and input on your board, you will only be able to use one outboard effect; however, some outboard effects units can support more than one effect on a single aux output. Thanks for the comment.

[@DaidenFenrir]

Hey, I have a question. Why are you connecting the reverb return cable to a single input? According to the labeling, it says 'L/M,' which means that if you connect only one TRS cable, it will be taken as MONO, and the channel will transform it into stereo. However, this isn't the same as the stereo output from the reverb; instead, the console would take the 'L' channel from your reverb and transform it into mono before making it stereo.

[@stageleftaudio]

Good question. It's a mono return from the effects unit. As well, the setup in the video is for a mono live-sound configuration. The TRS cable is used to maintain a balanced signal (low noise), it is not intended to be used a stereo cable. We only do mono for live sound, never stereo.

[@DaidenFenrir]

@@stageleftaudio oh thanks man

[@dksound6602]

sir i want to know which type delay & reverbs effect mix live sound lead vocals by the alesis midiverb 4 processor.

[@stageleftaudio]

It shouldn't matter which processor you use. For vocals, start with something that is a "large hall"; then set the levels to match your desired effect. Make sure the reverb levels are not too "over the top". For delays, use something that matches "digital" delay. You will need to set the decay times and rates accordingly for each performance (if you use delay for each song), other than this, use delay sparingly.

[@embeddedgirl]

Is there any benefits to using a separate channel for the effects return? I've always used the built-in stereo returns that are designed for effects returns to save some of channel space for use of other things.

[@stageleftaudio]

Returning effects to their own channel provides more control over the effect; meaning, the effect can be EQ'd, compressed, gated, and routed to monitors (if it needs to go to monitors). The best advantage is being able to fade the effect in/out as needed. This is especially useful when mixing a delay back into the FOH mix (as shown in the video). Returning effects via the on-board route does work, but limits you to only returning the level of the effect. As well onboard returns work well if there's no need to adjust an effect (on the fly) to support dynamics. But as you mentioned, if channel space is limited, returning effects via on-board returns will do well.

[@ManoDennis]

Detailed Note on Reverb and Delay on a analog Board :)

[@XXSixStringsXX]

Basically!! I want to understand if I can have multiple effects added to all the channels simultaneously and also be in charge of controlling the levels of different Processor effect for different channel at the same time. Let's say..... I want Reverb on one vocal, compression and vocal on second vocal, delay on the electric guitar and chorus on the third vocal/???? Is it possible to do it with any Mixer and Processor combination in a live set up for a band?? Also what mixer and processor would you suggest for the same??? Please advice!!!

[@stageleftaudio]

What you are describing can be better accomplished with a digital console. Many of the digital consoles will do exactly what you need. You can get the same results using an analog board, but you would need to have the external reverb and delay units along with a compressor. What you are describing (on an analog board) can be accomplished using the "insert" points on the console's individual channels. As well, grouping of instruments and/or vocals into an effect can be accomplished using an insert point with the sub-groups on a console (assuming the analog board has sub-groups). As mentioned before, a digital console may be the best choice to accomplish what you are needing.

[@emersonjones7719]

so can you use a MX300 with patch cable and input into just channel 15 and add reverb and delay to l & r?

[@stageleftaudio]

Yes - you would use a special cable called an "insert cable" for the MX300. Using an effects device on a single channel will only affect that channel.

[@Bozha_Kapetanovic91]

What kind of cables you are using for connection (trs,ts,mono or stereo)?

[@stageleftaudio]

The cables are called "insert cables". They are specifically designed to be used in the "insert" ports of consoles.

[@cgutierrez7844]

I can’t thank you enough for this video. This is the only video of value I have found on this subject matter. I have the same exact board. I have a quick question, instead of putting the send and receive cables directly to the board, can I use a patchbay instead? If so, how would I connect the snake to the board?

[@stageleftaudio]

Glad it was helpful! Yes, you can use a patchbay. Make sure the patchbay supports balanced cables (assuming you are using balanced cables). You may be able to get by with using unbalanced cables, but if the unbalanced cables are too long (around 10ft/3m), they could introduce noise into the effects. Are you referencing a stage snake connection to the console? If so, the snake would connect as it normally does. Normally, there's no effects patches on stage-snakes.

[@cgutierrez7844]

@@stageleftaudio I have the Samson 48 point balanced patch bay. So how would I connect the board to the patch bay?

[@stageleftaudio]

Any cables that would be connected to an effects unit, would be connected between the console and the patch bay. You decide which patch bay inputs to use. Then, on the opposite (or back) side of the patch bay, cables would be connected from the patch bay to the effects unit. Basically, a patch bay just sits between the console and whatever is connected to it. For example, an effects send from a console could be connected to patch-bay #1 (on the front), and then on the back, #1 would be connected directly to the input on the effects unit. The return of the effects could be connected on the back #2, and then from #2 on the front, could be routed to a channel input on the console. Some patch bays may offer other routing than what would be considered basic. Check the manual for your Samson 48, it may have other information in it.

[@cgutierrez7844]

@@stageleftaudio but does the Allen and Heath also get plugged into the patch bay?

[@stageleftaudio]

The A&H doesn't have to; though, it depends on how complex of a setup you want. Patch bays are used to send signals around to/from other gear. Some people will patch their entire systems (all XLR, 1/4", etc...) into a patch bay... and then patch those same signals on to whatever the device is that is needing a signal... amplifiers, effects, drive-rack units, etc... This is not the best way to use a patch bay! Patch bays are usually used to make things simple if you have connections that require to be re-connected or re-routed on a continuous basis somewhere else (like compressors/gates/EQ in an analog recording studio) however... an overuse of a patch bay (patching signals when they don't actually need to be patched) can lead to a lot of issues and needless complexity. Stage Left Audio does not use patch bays. For our setups (analog and digital), there is no need for them. All of our connections are direct and do not need to be routed anywhere else other than what they are for (effects, FOH output, monitors). All connections into and out of our GL2400, are direct connections into whatever the device is (effects, drive-rack, monitors). Sound system wiring can be complex and it's usually best to keep it as simple as possible. When getting (or using) a patch bay... a couple of questions to ask: what will the patch bay improve upon that is currently a problem... what will the patch bay add to the overall efficiency of not using one.

[@audiorentalqueensnyc6818]

Hey is me again I heve question I heve the same rever but is getting signal in on L R but is not sending back to console as L R is there any seting I need to change in the rever I need to do

[@stageleftaudio]

Check the input configuration on it. This is the 4 led lights that are on the left side of the unit above the input knobs. There should be a "select" button to the right of the led lights. For stereo (2-channel) operation, I think that led light needs be on "1".

[@monmixer]

I love my mx 200

[@breaktime-BT]

HOW TO ASSIGN DELAY IN THIS CONSOULE .... NO FX ... AM FACING VIDEO AND AUDIO SYNK PROBLEM ... VIDEO SENDING TO SOME OTHER HARDWARE AND OUTPUT IN MONITOR BUT AUDIO SEND DIRECTLY TO THAT MONITOR .... SO I WANT TO SYNK ..... IS POSSSIBLE

[@stageleftaudio]

This console does not have a built-in delay. If you need delay, it would need to come from an external device (digital delay device).

[@breaktime-BT]

k thank u bro

[@pierre-andregueguelarpin1473]

As this Lexicon is a dual FX, have we only two mono outputs?

[@stageleftaudio]

Yes.

[@Bozha_Kapetanovic91]

isnt good to put faders on some same level (-5, 0 ) and add efx to chanell via aux ,how much you want?

[@stageleftaudio]

The faders should always be set to where the signal is good for the program being mixed. Any effects added to an input will be pre-fader, therefore, the fader location is irrelevant.

[@arghadeepdeb9404]

How to operate the lexicon vocal prosecor? Plz share....

[@stageleftaudio]

We will try to get a video of the processor. Though, take a look at the Lexicon manual. It would be a good place to start to get a basic understanding of how it functions. They are not difficult/hard to use, but do require some thought with the setup and setting of effects levels.

[@audiorentalqueensnyc6818]

Hi I have the same console as you are how can I send rever to monitor on stage from a console that I use for FOH n monitor on stage as the same time

[@stageleftaudio]

It's a little work to get reverb (and other effects) back to the monitor console. 1. Have a channel on the monitor console available for reverb. 2. At FOH, have the reverb unit return to one of the channels on the FOH console (you may already be doing this). 3. Use one of the aux sends on the FOH console to send the reverb signal to the monitor console. 4. On the FOH reverb return channel, route reverb signal (using the aux send knob that is assigned to the reverb (from step #3) 5. On the snake head (at the stage), connect a cable from the reverb aux return to the channel input on the monitor console (from Step #1) With the reverb channel now on the monitor console, that channel can now be mixed into the monitor signals.

[@audiorentalqueensnyc6818]

Do you have any video sending rever to monitor you can link me please

[@stageleftaudio]

We don't have a video available, but someone else might.

[@benjamintavareztv8271]

Ese lente enseñanza para los soniditas de RD ticol

[@violyarellano506]

Saan ang location ni Juan Bataan?

[@3guavamidnit]

Hello...can you please help us. I have A&H ZED-12FX mixer and Alesis midiverb4 effect. How do I connect frm the Alesis to A&H?

[@stageleftaudio]

The Alesis unit is a basic effects device. With the A&H board, the best way to use it is to run it off of one the AUX sends outputs. Basically, connect a phono cable between AUX-1 of on the A&H and the "input channel 1" of the Alesis, then connect another phono cable from the "output channel 1" of the Alesis to a phono input on the A&H (i.e. channel #11-12) into the L/M input; this input channel then controls the level of the return of the Alesis. Anytime an input channel needs the effects from the Alesis, you would send that channel level (using Aux 1 of the channel) to the Alesis, then move the fader on channel 11-12 up to mix the effect back into the mix. We have a video on our channel that covers how to connect effects units.

[@3guavamidnit]

stageleftaudio ...i did that....but for some reason seem like the Alesis didnt comporate with the mixer. I mean i using all this unit for homr karaoke. When I sing my voice sound the same as I turn on and turn off the Alesis. Do you know any good effect & echo unit out there? Planning to change this effect out. Please help.

[@stageleftaudio]

Sounds like it could be one of few issues; 1. The Alesis unit is not cabled correctly (make sure the inputs and outputs are attached correctly). 2. The Alesis unit is not configured correctly for what you are trying to do (make sure the Alesis unit is setup to produce the effect you are looking for. Make sure any input/output levels within the Alesis are set correctly - usually at -0- db) 3. Make sure the the output of the Alesis is connected to the correct channel input and that the input channel fader is up. 4. There could be something wrong with the Alesis, or the connecting cables (test the cables to ensure they work). The Alesis unit you have should work for what you need. We use the Lexicon MX200 units for effects. They are very basic and work exactly like we need them to.

[@3guavamidnit]

stageleftaudio .... Thank you so much for your help. We deeply appricated. I also Subscribe your channel. Again..thank you

[@daofficial2116]

Whats your mixer made in??

[@stageleftaudio]

See my other reply.

[@reshansupermusic]

👍👍👍👍❤

[@kevie3]

Still a great video (Just LIke All Of Your Educational Videos Are) for someone like myself who just loves learning about sound enginering

[@stageleftaudio]

Thank you for the comment.

[@lymariejohnson391]

Well I'm glad I fast faward

[@elias2660]

hello! 6:18 can you conect it in a mono channel too?

[@elias2660]

the board i use does'nt have a stereo channel so i conect the outputs in the stereo input of the auxiliars, but i wanna conect it in a channel so i can use the fader and send it to monitors

[@stageleftaudio]

Yes, it is acceptable to return effects to a mono channel. Most people do not, because it would mean that a mono (instrument) channel is being used for effects; however, if all you have is mono channels, then the effects can be returned to a mono channel

[@stageleftaudio]

If you need to connect a stereo signal, you can use 2 x mono channels; just connect each cable into its own channel.

[@elias2660]

thanks, we have a lexicon mx400 but after i saw your video i wish we have the mx200, so much simple

[@mizaelbautista6151]

how you connect the tc m300 ??

[@stageleftaudio]

Connect an "aux out" from the console to an "input" on the m300. Then connect the "output" from the m300 to a channel input on the console. You may need to set the gain on the input of the console channel.

[@mizaelbautista6151]

thanks alot keep it up u explain everything so clearly 👍🏻👍🏻

[@edgarporte3122]

Hi, Are you using insert cable for this setup?

[@stageleftaudio]

No. The cables are regular 1/4" patch cables.

[@edgarporte3122]

Thanks, Can you provide a Schematic diagram for this. I appreciate it

[@arnisapsitis6000]

With a better set up is! if i don't wanna sacrifice stereo channels???

[@stageleftaudio]

You can set your return(s) to a mono channel if needed. We use the stereo channels for returns (only using one side) because we do not do anything in stereo.

[@arnisapsitis6000]

@@stageleftaudio thank you

[@andywright7241]

I don't suppose you could make a DIAGRAM of this could you? From IN ALL THE WAY TO OUT!?!

[@Azzlad]

Pull back and use a wider shot, the camera movement is so bad it's giving me motion sickness and I'm not normally bothered by it so it must be bad. The camera is good enough to display a wide shot there is no need to be in so close and if you insist on having it so close then at least use a cut rather than twisting the tripod head. Sorry for the criticism but the info you are imparting is not coming across as professional and I guess you will be putting some people off.

[@audiorentalqueensnyc6818]

Hi I have the same console as you are my question how can I send the same rever that I'm using FOH to monitor on stage using the same console while I using the same console to FOH and monitor

[@lymariejohnson391]

Get to the point