Skip to content

Convolve

Introduction to Convolve

Convolve is a convolution reverb which can be used to apply recorded impulse responses from real acoustic spaces. This makes it fundamentally different from algorithmic reverbs, like Verberate 2. Convolution reverb is perfect for adding lifelike ambiance to a recording, like the ambiance from a room, a hall or a parking garage for example. However, compared to an algorithmic reverb which often offers control over the decay time and room size for example, Convolve doesn't offer you this control. It relies instead on the impulse response you load to determine decay time, room size, and other reverb characteristics.

There are a lot of amazing free impulse responses available on the net. The following two websites are recommended:

http://www.openairlib.net/

http://www.echothief.com/

User Interface

Convolve UI

Parameter Settings

  • Dry level (-48 dB to 12 dB)

With this slider, you can control the amount of dry (unprocessed) signal to send to the output, specified in decibel.

  • Reverb level (-48 dB to 12 dB)

With this slider, you can control the amount of processed signal to send to the output, specified in decibel.

  • Pre-delay (0 ms to 1000 ms)

The pre-delay knob allows you to adjust the time is milliseconds before the reverberation signal arrives.

  • Topology

This drop down menu offers three different topologies. Mono input will sum the input and processes the sum using the left and right channel of the IR file to create a stereo output. Parallel channels will processes the left input channel with the left channel of the IR file and the right channel with the right channel of the IR file independently. Matrix processing requires one IR file for each input channel where each IR file defines how to process the input channel to the set of output channels. This is the only option that is "true stereo", which means that you will be able to hear the panning of the input signal in the reverb signal in a natural way.

When you select Matrix processing (true stereo) under Topology, you will need to load two IR files, one for the left channel and one for the right channel. This will look like this:

Convolve topology

  • IR file:

Here you can load an impulse response file. This file can be of any audio file format supported by Acoustica.

There are a lot of amazing free impulse responses available on the net. The following two websites are recommended:

http://www.openairlib.net/

http://www.echothief.com/