Hello all.. new Pianoteq user. First post. Long time keyboardist.
Current project is a Rock / Blues type gig.
As a keyboardist, not the front of house sound tech, should I use any reverb on my piano presets?
Does it muddy up things?
Hi EnjoyRC, welcome.
Definitely lower your reverb to start with - then off - work it back up higher if it benefits. You might want to play a midi loop of your gig elements and walk to the mixing desk (and other places) to hear what the audience might hear, but esp. work on it with FOH. It's one thing to walk around knowing what you want, but the desk does most of that translation of ideas to the crowd in the mix.
I really recommend talking with your FOH and ask how you can pull the best sound in the space and work with them whenever possible. Involve them, they might love that - also perhaps, knowing your band members well, consider if it's for the best to also involve them in that kind of thing (egos and trust - don't overlook this, if the band wants legs).
Maybe don't begin by zooming in on reverb - you might hear back some things you didn't consider. Professional advice is probably the same in music as anywhere else and your FOH can really do wonders when a common goal is there.
Generally, live, if your keys are meant to be not too effects-heavy, it's likely to be better to have little or no reverb (leaving it to the room and the mixing talent on the desk) but of course if you do have a strongly custom trademark reverb-heavy or other specialized sound requirements, FOH might pull a fantastic (or improved for the room) sound with in-house effects.
Even if your trademark sound is aiming at some kind of totally natural ultra classy classic old-school piano gig or Bach, or some type of purist jazz or your version of vanilla, or a drop-dead gorgeous smokey old era flavour - there are probably multiple ways to help a room to sound more to those leanings. Some rooms will sound one way and require a bunch of alterations at the desk to make the same overall sound happen elsewhere. That all might be well beyond just your reverb - but just to point out that your own reverb might present another moving part which can make getting you a good sound a harder task through the desk (FOI may really know their desk/racks but your reverb could be an unhelpful extra puzzle piece to them at any venue change - maybe unless you're 100% working together forever and not just thrown together by venue/management etc on the night).
All that will be different for each FOH/venue/gig. Hoping you get to work with someone who is as keen as you to pull a great sound!
If it's just down to you and your own reverb with no help from FOH?
2 or 3 of these quick things can really help any gig:
a)
for each preset you use, save a version with your gig reverb, like "songname12-gig" or same name for presets but saved into a "gig" folder.
b)
slightly raise the 'tone' of any reverb (mud is mostly 'dark', lower freq). Unless you're playing in a tile covered or heavily glassed venue, it may help a lot. If a really reflective venue, try dropping the tone 10% back on your regular brighter 'gig' setting maybe - just because, some added trebles to any element can sound more shrill or make your lovely piano sound a little like it's in a tub.
c)
lower overall reverb - probably should be first on the list.
Awesome information. Thank you so much for such a detailed response. I will definitely apply these techniques.