The extensive use of reverb across six decades of music production makes it a staple and trustworthy effect for producers.

Revamping Reverb 2025: Reverb is a beloved effect in music production, scarcely finding a track from the last seven decades that hasn't utilized it in some capacity. While it seems simple at first glance — slap it on a track, and voila, instant vibes — there's much more to it than just setting and forgetting.

Reverbs can enhance virtually anything, but only when used with appropriate finesse. A well-placed reverb can elevate a song to new heights, imbuing it with an enchanting sense of space or grandeur. Conversely, a misapplied reverb can single-handedly bring down a mix. So, think of reverb as a delicious sauce — applied in the right amount, it enhances the flavors already present, but overuse and you're left with a sloppy mess.

In this latest installment of our educational series for beginners, we dive deep into the mysterious world of reverbs, exploring their inner workings, the functions of all the controls, and how to get the most out of them. And the best part? If you have a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), you likely already own several top-tier reverb plugins. So let's get started — open up your DAW and let's get to know reverb!

Reverberation: What is it?

Exploring Reverberation

Reverb is the result of sound waves emanating from an initial sound source bouncing off surrounding surfaces and eventually reaching your ears. Imagine clapping your hands together inside a tunnel, and the wash of sound you hear remains after the clap — that's the reverb. Think of it as an echo, but instead of a single repeat, there are multiple overlapping ones.

Reverberation in the audio world emerged as an attempt to lend life to overly sterile recordings. Engineers began experimenting with capturing ambient sound in recording spaces, running audio through stairwells, bathrooms, and eventually purpose-built rooms known as chambers. As technology progressed, mechanical reverbs like plate reverb and spring reverb gained popularity in studios.

By the late 20th century, digital technology sparked the development of digital reverbs, capable of recreating both physical and mechanical reverbs alongside new, previously unheard ones like Eventide's ShimmerVerb, which adds pitch shifting to the reverb cloud. Today, plugin reverbs dominate music production due to their affordability and convenience.

Most plugin reverbs employ algorithms to generate spaces, generally categorized (in order of increasing size) as rooms, chambers, and halls. These virtual spaces can also mimic plates and springs. Another popular type is convolution reverb, using 'samples' of physical spaces or hardware known as impulse responses (IRs) to generate reverb.

Modern reverbs can feature numerous controls depending on the developer's whim. However, common controls can be narrowed down to four basics: Size, Decay, Pre-Delay, and Early Reflections. The Size control alters the perceived reverb space's character, usually influencing the dissipation time of reflections, but this could also be regulated separately as Decay.

Another frequent parameter is Pre-Delay, which adjusts the length of time between hearing the sound and its reflections, providing clarity to vocals or drums. Lastly, early reflections refer to the first reflections reaching the ear, typically associated with room reverb. Employing these correctly can enhance acoustic sounds' realism.

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The Importance of Understanding Reverb

The Importance of Reverb

The advent of reverb gave music producers more control over the sound of their recordings. By recording components dry and then imbuing them with reverb, they could position musicians within any desired space, real or imagined. Reverb is also indispensable for mixing, essential for creating the three dimensions often said to be key in a good mix, with reverb influencing the perceived depth of sounds.

To familiarize yourself with reverb, try adding a reverb plugin to a track in a song you're working on. Any audio will do, from drums and vocals to guitars, although basslines can be tricky due to low frequencies quickly building up and complicating the mix. For now, let's steer clear of basslines and kicks until you're comfortable with reverb, in general (sorry, techno producers).

The first step is deciding whether to place the reverb plugin directly on the audio track as an insert or on an auxiliary track accessible to others via a 'send.' Using auxiliary tracks offers control over the wet/dry balance; however, most modern plugins will likely offer this feature built-in. Another advantage of auxiliary tracks is the ability to send multiple audio signals to the same reverb, fostering a sense of cohesion in the track and minimizing CPU usage.

With your reverb plugin established, choose an appropriate 'space,' such as a room reverb for a snare or a plate emulation for a vocal. Experiment with the size/decay, taking care not to swamp the sound with unnecessary reverb — perfect for ambient tracks, less so for traditional folk songs. Employ the pre-delay settings to introduce a pause between the sound and its reverb, enhancing clarity. If rhythm is crucial to the track, attempt timing the pre-delay to coincide with the beat. Lastly, fine-tune early reflections to furnish an acoustic sound with a sense of realism. Once you're confident, explore additional controls such as EQ and dynamics to shape the overall tone.

10 Pivotal Tips for Manipulating Reverb

Selecting the Proper Reverb Type: Spend time familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of different reverb spaces. While it's possible to use a drum room preset on a guitar, you'll achieve the most convincing results keeping tradition in mind.
EQ Your Reverb: Some reverb plugins come with built-in EQ options or may require an additional plugin afterward. Use it to remove unneeded frequencies or maintain the desired character of your reverb.
Ducking: Ducking generates short-term control over the volume of the reverb effect by lowering it when the source signal is loud and raising it when quiet. To capture a massive '80s drum sound (e.g., Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight"), you'll need gated reverbs, which have a built-in gate that chops off the reverb tail abruptly. If your plugin doesn't include a gate, place your DAW gate after the reverb, setting the threshold to engage at the perfect moment.
Pairing Reverb with Other Effects: Combining reverbs with other effects like modulation plugins (e.g., chorus or ensemble) can result in unique and intriguing sounds. Experiment with the order of application to generate novel outcomes.
Unconventional Placement: The standard procedure when using delay is to place the reverb second, but consider putting it first for ambient-style washes. For aggressive lo-fi vibes, try sticking a distortion effect after the reverb.
Exploring Budget and High-Quality Reverb Plugins: Among various reverb plugins, it's vital to select the right one for the job. While some plugins will serve the purpose well, spending on higher-quality reverb plugins or vintage hardware units with exceedingly realistic spaces can significantly enhance your production.
Easing the Burden on Bass Sounds: Using reverb on bass sounds is tricky but achievable. To minimize complications in the mix, EQ the reverb to eliminate low-end content.
Pioneering Automation: Experiment with automating the size of the reverb, creating disorienting and psychedelic effects. While real-world spaces don't expand or contract haphazardly, controlled expansion and contraction can yield intriguing results.
Monophonic Reverberation: The only thing that sounds better than a massive reverb is a wide one. However, too many wide stereo elements can cloud the mix. For a change of pace, try a reverb in mono. This approach works best with spring reverbs on percussion.
Breaking the Rules: Contrary to popular belief, sometimes going against convention can yield exciting results. Trying out unconventional reverb parameters or extreme settings can result in unique and inspired sounds.

Delving Deeper with MusicRadar

Now that you understand the fundamentals of reverb, it's time to explore even more. Journey Beyond Your DAW's Stock Options: If you're looking for an external reverb, consider venturing outside your DAW's built-in options. Here's our recommended selection for guitarists seeking creative reverb in pedal form or those seeking to expand their studio setup with hardware units.

Spoilt for choice? We'll help you Choose the Right Reverb for the Job. Need a refresher on the basics? Join us as we Demystify Reverb and Answer Common Questions. If you're a novice to reverb, you may find some of the parameters baffling. Let us Break Down the Most Common Reverb Controls.

Explore creative spatial effects using your Reverb Toolkit. Discover how reverb can manipulate subconscious perceptions in listeners. Ready for even more bite-sized tips on manipulating space? Check out our Comprehensive Guide to Reverb, covering all aspects.

The enchanting quality of a well-placed reverb can imbue a song with an evocative sense of space or grandeur, elevating it to new heights.
In the realm of entertainment technology, music production stands to gain immensely from a nuanced understanding of reverberation, as it significantly influences the perceived depth and realism of sounds.

The extensive use of reverb across six decades of music production makes it a staple and trustworthy effect for producers.