Connect a pair of headphones to the “Out” jack on the audio interface. Connect the audio interface to your computer via a FireWire or USB cable, depending on make and model. The audio interface acts as an input and output for Pro Tools.
Double-click the desktop icon to launch Pro Tools.
Launch the relevant song session. At any time, you may have multiple works-in-progress. Select the relevant one from the “File” menu.
Click “File,” “New Track,” “Stereo” and select “Aux Input” from the dialog box drop-down menu. Name the track “Monitor Reverb.” Auxiliary tracks are for routing effects, rather than recording audio.
Click “Send” and select “Pre Fader.” This is the alternative location to the typical “Master Fader” selection. There are two feeds from a mixing desk. Master Fader and Pre Fader. The former is what gets recorded, the latter is what you hear. They can be identical or they can be different, it’s a matter of preference. By sending to “Pre Fader,” you don’t commit the reverb to the recording, you just send it to the monitor feed. This way, as soon as the singer has finished, you can remove the reverb from the monitor mix. Once everything is recorded, you can spend as much or as little time as you like selecting the right reverb and tweaking its parameters to suit the song. Monitoring reverb doesn’t need to accurately represent the finished product, it is just to give the singer a rough effect so she can sing in a style that suits the effect.
Lower the fader marked “Master” to zero or hit the “Mute” button on the channel strip. This mutes this feed. All raised faders go to the monitor mix. The only way to stop them going to the monitor mix is to mute them or lower the fader to zero.
Click “Inserts” on “Monitor Reverb” and select “Reverb.” Click on one of the reverb plugins from the drop-down menu.
Sound-check this reverb. Have your singer put on her headphones and sing while you adjust the reverb parameters. For example, if she wants more reverb in general, increase the “Mix” dial on the reverb plugin. If she wants the reverb to last longer, but be quieter, increase the “Time” setting and reduce the “Mix.”