Karaoke Forums

Just wondering how often different KJs use reverb/delay etc.

I personally very rarely use it.

I have only had it requested about 3-4 times in about 200 shows by the singers.

I wouldn't run vocals dry, there's not a song in nearly every song in recorded history that doesn't have some kind of effect (at least a reverb) at minimum on vocals - even with live music, effects on vocals are pretty standard.
I often will run a reverb and delay combo depending on the song - just enough to not really notice (unless the song calls for it ie 7 - Prince or lots of 50's songs with the prominent backslap delay) but you would notice if nothing was there. Effects should enhance the vocals but never overpower - again there are some songs that do require it but usually a simple reveb at minimum is all one needs.
Surprising you have never had a request for it, I get people that are always asking for more - which I can just put in their monitor without affecting the main mix. I personally prefer a little reverb at minimum when I sing.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I won't sing through a dry system.... ever.

I won't sing though a system that sounds like you're in a tunnel either.... ever.

karaoke without adding some vocal effects, at least a bit of reverb......almost unheard of....... ......being a Botanist, working as a KJ.....I thought you'd be more of a Fungi......starting to have my doubts....

All the background tracks are effects-ed up the ying yang. Don't the totally dry vocals sound strange in the mix?

Isn't it odd that people don't comment more on things like that at the shows. I was wondering myself the other day why I so rarely get asked for a key change.

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Okay, who took my pants?

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I disagree. Hip hop needs very very little.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Good point.

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Okay, who took my pants?

I think my attitude about reverb is that we have a lot of beginning bands in town that use so much reverb that the vocals are just about incomprehensible. With so many local band using way to much reverb, I think most of my following has a negative attitude about it.

Not to say that it cant improve most songs, but depending on how the reverb is set it adds an unexpected level to the singing results, and I think that most of my regulars are used to singing without any.

Most people out to sing karaoke aren't superstar vocalists with incredible natural resonance. Reverb definitely helps.

Doesn't mean it should'nt be used, it should not be 'overused' to the point that it is drowning out the original vocal signal. It should be just an underlying enhancement to where you can't really hear it but notice if it wasn't there. If the live music engineers don't know how to use the effect properly, learn how to use it & apply it properly to your singers - don't just turn it off. They will thank you - maybe not so much in words, but in word of mouth.

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Too much use of effects can muddy up the sound as well. I've noticed that a lot of KJ's don't run their mic's through a seperate channel with at least a bass and treble adjustment and the whole sound is sort of muddy and "same sounding", or the music kicks butt and the vocals suck....

I like using a monitor (where I can) with seperate feed adjustments for the music and the vocals. More options is always better since you can't read a room before you play the room.

Good thread.

Mark

As soon as we start talking about effects, someone starts calling all effects "reverb." Good grief, that is possibly the worst example of a vocal effect on its own ... and the most common one, and the most overused. (Maybe it is the only effect available on a cheap system? Don't know for sure.)

Bothers me when I go to a show for the first time and may even be acquainted with the KJ - I take a quick glance at the board to make sure I'm asking for something that is possible, then ask to have a bit of efx added. Some say sure, then do something (not sure what) and think I'll believe they have added effects. In other words, many don't even know HOW to add effects. Nobody sings dry. PERIOD. On the other hand, you should never be able to hear the effects.

Dry vocal is like a lady without make-up;
good-look ladies look angelic with make-up
average looking ladies will look very pretty with the right make-up
the so-so looking ladies will be more presentable with proper make-up.

@Dr Fred: try this; use efx on the vocal channel, just enough, and see how many for the singers will request to sing without it.




ps: my above analogy is not meant to be a sexiest statement; if anyone is offended by it I apologized

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Yes, I use at least a little reverb almost all the time, sometimes add a tiny bit when requested. But my belief is "less is more". Can definitely be overpowering at times, but if its not there, then it's very noticeable.

Jian brought up something I missed the first and second reading. Are we talking about fxing the background music or just the vocal chanels? Vocal yes, music no.

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Okay, who took my pants?

Effect should only be used on vocal ( rarely used for music in karaoke setting)
Eq should be used for both vox and music; mainly as a corrective tool.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

EFX should only be used on the vocal/mic channel. I don't see any advantage to using effects on the music and in fact it detracts from the music.

I have difficulty understanding why everyone isn't using at least some vocal effects. There is a reason they were developed. Vocal effects make the voice sound richer, fuller and they cover up or disguise SOME vocal defects.

You can't make someone who is very bad sound good, but you can make them sound a bit better. You can certainly enhance even very good singers by adding some vocal effects. Bad is bad, even with vocal effects added, but there is no debating that you can enhance most vocals with properly administered vocal effects.

If you're not using them you're not using a valuable tool that is available and not difficult to use, adjust and master. Nearly every professional singer uses some sort of vocal effects. If it's good enough for professional singers then it's good enough for amateur singers.

Vocal yes, music, no.

As others have said, this is kind of a silly thread. You won't find any popular music on the radio, or even at clubs without everything from reverb to echo to that damn Auto Tune think. T-Pain, I hate you! . Even classical singers employ some reverb and echo, though lesser that pop singers.

I say bring on the vocal effects, don't over use them and you help not only the singer but the audience as well.

Mark

I use all the time my normal effect is a Wood Room Reverb, with a slight chorus and a short delay.