Recording Reverb in the Parking Garage

In this comprehensive video log I record samples of reverberation in my apartment's parking garage and apply the reverb to musical sounds in my digital audio workstation. I test several recording methods and post-processing techniques to see which one yields the most desirable result. At its most basic, reverb can be recorded with just a balloon and a field recorder, so anyone can accomplish this with basic recording equipment. Watch this video to learn about impulse responses, convolution, deconvolution, spectral noise reduction, and batch processing.

Chapters:
00:00:00 - 1. Intro
00:00:48 - 2. Overview
00:04:54 - 3. Preparation
00:09:08 - 4. Travel and Setup
00:13:16 - 5. Recording
00:14:43 - 6. Noise Reduction and Edits
00:22:32 - 7. Deconvolution
00:23:23 - 8. Checking the Impulse Responses
00:24:00 - 9. Noise Filtering the Deconvolved Impulse Responses
00:26:14 - 10. Comparing the Results
00:33:19 - 11. Conclusion
00:41:29 - 12. Outro

Download the impulse responses from this tutorial here:

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Software used in this video:

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Hardware used in this video:

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Other software mentioned in the video:

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Free Convolution Reverb Plugins:

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Music presented in this video (in order of appearance):

The Skeleton Boss - Freudian Slurp

Gymnopédie No.1 (excerpt) - Erik Satie - Performed by Kyle Kirkpatrick

Squarebeard - Freudian Slurp

Sunrays Through the Waves (Part 2) - Kyle Kirkpatrick

Sunrays Through the Waves (Part 1) - Kyle Kirkpatrick

Dew Web (unreleased, uncredited) - Kyle Kirkpatrick & Andrew Neville

Tailored Suit - Charles Street Messengers

Melody Jazz Samba (unreleased, uncredited) - Kyle Kirkpatrick

Genny K - Charles Street Messengers

Miniature Frog Party (unreleased, uncredited) - Kyle Kirkpatrick

Gymnopédie No.1 (excerpt) - Erik Satie - Performed by Kyle Kirkpatrick

Scarborough Fair (excerpt) - Performed by Kyle Kirkpatrick

Cognition Far and Away (unreleased, uncredited) - Kyle Kirkpatrick

The Skeleton Boss - Freudian Slurp

[TheSoulSynthesis]

This was extremely helpful. A no bullshit approach and a check on the dos and don'ts that are floating around the internet. Thank you for this passionate introduction to creating IRs for reverb.

Since I have to pack light I plan to do the clap / balloon technique. Since i travel by motorbike / bicycle i can not haul a good full range speaker around and the places i plan to go to have no access to electricity at all. I'd think that a bluetooth boombox would be fun to try out but those are not really linear and you have to rely on aptx decoding on top of that. my guess would be to focus on the right spot to pop a balloon rather than working hard to make a more wonky setup work.

As for content I'd say: do what you're interested in. I can tell that this was a topic you are very invested in and it shows. If you have other things that you would enjoy making such a deep dive into - go for it!

Thanks again, this helps me out so much.

[TheNewFlesh]

Solid video, just got a field recorder and am very interested in producing some impulse responses. I appreciate knowing some pitfalls to avoid, which should save me a few hours of experimentation and iteration 🎤

[pastorpeas]

This is a really well done video, and a rad technique. You’re a good man, and thorough.

[tractopellepictures]

Tres bon comparatif entre ces différentes techniques - mais pourquoi diable mettre de la musique d'ambiance sous les explications qui nuit a la compréhension (?)

Very good comparison between these different techniques - but why the hell put background music under the explanations which harms understanding (?)