Sound Smack! By AfroDJMac – Resampling Part III: Deja Delay & Reversed Reverb

Over the past few months we have discussed how resampling can rejuvenate your tracks and breathe new life into old gear (see Part 1 and Part 2in this series).  Over the next few installments, I want to talk about specific techniques you can accomplish with resampling, the first being a technique I like to call “Deja Delay,” as well as “Reversed Reverb.”

View this deja!

Delay is a time-based effect.  When you place it on a track, vocals for instance, the delay will last for a specified time after the vocal phrase ends.  There a couple of ways you can combine this (or any other time based effect, such as reverb) with resampling to come up with some interesting effects.

Deja Delay

Follow along in the video (at the bottom of the page) as I show you how to create what I call Deja Delay.

First I start with a vocal track with some delay on it.  Next I resample, or rerecord, that vocal plus delay on to another track, so that the vocal and delay are married together.  For the next step, I reverse that newly resampled vocal.

Now when listening back, the delay tail swells in and crescendos into the reversed vocal. From there, I trim off just the reversed delay and place that in front of the original vocal.

The result is that a reversed delay sound will swell into the original vocal line, creating an almost ghost-like effect.  It can be very useful in bringing vocal and instrument parts to life.

Reversed Reverb

Another modification of this technique, and perhaps not-so-distant cousin of Deja Delay, is Reversed Reverb.  This technique will create a reverb swell before the vocal (or any instrument) and adds anticipation and interest to a vocal performance.

Creating this effect requires some creative use of resampling:

First, reverse the untreated vocal.  Next, place a reverb on the reversed vocal.  Resample this processed vocal to a new track.  Now you have a reversed vocal with a reverb tail at the end.

To finish off the effect, simply re-reverse the reverb treated vocal and you will have a reverb swell before the vocal line begins.  Just align the newly resampled vocal track with the original to fit properly within your track.

Hopefully these techniques give you some ideas on how to treat your tracks, without the need for additional gear or plugins!

Do you have any interesting uses and applications for resampling?  Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned for the next installment for more resampling tricks and techniques.

AfroDJMac: (noun) One Man Musical Aphrodisiac; Simultaneously Futuristic and Nostalgic Indie Dance Party, blending Rock, Dance, Glitch, and Old Video Games.

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