When we talk about echo, it’s easy to confuse it with reverb, but the key difference here is that echo has a longer response time than reverb and adds a fullness to an audio or music sample, and you can create some truly strange effects on your recording to suit your needs.
The problem with a lot of these effects is that it seems like such a steep learning curve to not only understand how to use the effects but also to understand the scientific language used in audio.
For someone getting started, it can seem like a steep learning curve, so how can you get the most out of the echo effect to make your audio sound more professional?
This article explores what echo can bring to a track and how to use it in software packages like Adobe premiere pro.
Read on to raise your editing and audio to the next level, regardless of what skill level you are.
How Is Echo Used In Audio?
Knowing that echo is the delayed playback of your audio, we can use reverb with this to create a tone that can range from hypnotic to melancholic, and this can be done simply by manipulating parts of the audio to suit your needs.
There are three main ways that you can manipulate echo, and these are time, feedback, and level.
The first setting allows you to delay the length of the original sound.
Feedback works by allowing you to set the decay of the original audio, so you can create a warbling effect the further you move the slider to the right.
Lastly, the level allows you to set the length of the echo on the original audio, and like the other two settings, you can adjust this on a slider to increase or decrease the effect, and the end result is interesting because it can be unpredictable.
You can use this with any type of audio you throw at it, and it could be used in live performances if you have a recording of it by using small loops on multiple devices.
From smartphones to software, you can find this potential and use it in various ways to distort your vocal audio.
Ways You Can Use Echo
With A Microphone
If you’re using a mic to record audio through an application or software package, you can use this for live and recording sessions, and it is as simple as plugging the mic into the input echo device.
To turn on this effect, you can turn the blend or mix controls up or down to mix the sounds of the dry and wet signal, and you’ll hear this effect in smaller venues where you can experience this type of mixing.
Here you can turn the feedback control on the echo up or down to control the number of echoes, and you can control the delay so that you can control the speed of the repeat echoes.
The use of this type of echo allows you to give emphasis to a vocal recording or performance, and this switching works well with people who might not have access to a professional set up.
On Your Phone
This system is very simple as all you need is to have GarageBand installed on your phone, and you can take vocal or instrumental recordings and edit them as you like.
At the top of the screen, you’ll see the play and record buttons, and next to these is an option marked FX that allows you to filter and wobble the recording and includes an echo.
You can also adjust the amount of echo or reverb by using a slider, and it’s best to try this feature out on different types of recording, so you can see what is possible with these sliders.
Editing Software
You can get more specific with your echo by using software like the Adobe pro or Logic Pro X that can either be bought and installed or come as standard with your machine, so you’ll want to select a program that you know or can learn to use.
If you find a voice recording is too monotone, you can take full advantage of this by adding a delay to your project, which is going to echo the whole recording, but you can go in and mute parts for a nice touch-up.
You can isolate parts of the recording to delay certain parts, so if you want a second perfect echo to match with your instrumentals, it just makes sense with the type of result you’re looking for.
On A DJ Set
Delay lines with mixing processes, as it allows you to create depth and dimension to your music, and you can use this with audio samples and can be played back over defined intervals.
You can sync your parameters with the DAW plug-ins to create tight rhythmic delay effects, you can add some individual groove to your delay patterns, and you can use as few, or as many as you think is adequate.
With your stereo delay, you can use pretty much any instrument that is available with the plug-in, and here you can have a lot of fun manipulating the sliders, and you’ll be able to hear any repetitions better.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s The Difference Between Echo And Delay Plug-Ins?
Put simply, these might be described as the same but have different parameters that make them unique, and a delay tends to be purely digital and refers to digital delay lines, which we’ve touched upon earlier.
Echo is used when we refer to analog tape-based delays, and both use tape loops to create their distinct sound.
The benefit of these is that you don’t need to have individual echo samples and instead use the tape loops to add saturation and flutter to your audio, and delay plug-ins are easy to find and install with your mixing software.
Do I Need To Use Echo As An Effect?
It really depends on what you intend to do with your recording or whether you’re performing live, as in this case, we can see the benefit of using this type of distortion to reach your audience and emphasize the synths and other instruments and vocals that are in the track.
If you’re mixing it as part of a set, there are many ways you can manipulate your audio, where you can use echo on a build-up, breakdown, acapella, and transitional mix, which can help you blend in other samples and songs into your mix.
So, there are definitely some perks to at least trying it out to see what you come up with.
What About Unintentional Echo?
You might be recording on a microphone and discover later that your audio sample has an echo without adding any distortion to it, and you can avoid this by upgrading your mic and headphones or muting the tab on your computer’s system.
This will ensure that you have a good sound and you don’t have any background distortions.
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