What is Reverb? A Brief Overview of the Endless World of Sound
What is Reverb? Have you ever sat in your recording studio, listening to your freshly recorded guitar or vocal track, and thought it sounded a bit too dry? Well, this is where reverb comes into play! But what is reverb? Reverb is what adds a sense of space and depth to your sound, making it feel like you’re in a grand cathedral, a cozy room, or even a deep underground cave. Essentially, reverb is the collection of sound reflections in an environment that reaches our ears, and it can dramatically alter the listening experience.
In this article from Beat Craft Pro, we’ll introduce different types of reverbs and explain the application of each with practical examples. Along the way, we’ll also introduce some excellent plugins.
1. Room Reverb
Room reverb gives you the feel of a small to medium-sized room. This type of reverb usually features short, closely spaced reflections, providing a more natural sound. If you want your vocal or instrument to sound more like it’s being played in a real room, this reverb is the way to go.
Recommended Plugin: Valhalla Room is one of the best options for simulating this type of reverb. With this plugin, you can choose from various room types and add a unique vibe to your sound.
2. Hall Reverb
Hall reverb simulates the ambiance of a concert hall or a large venue. This type of reverb has longer reflections and gives your sound a sense of grandeur and expansiveness. If you want the feel of a live performance in a large hall, hall reverb is your choice.
Recommended Plugin: Lexicon 224 is one of the most classic plugins for creating this type of reverb. Widely used by sound engineers, this plugin provides a warm and rich sound that can evoke the atmosphere of a large concert hall.
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3. Plate Reverb
Plate reverb is one of the oldest types of reverb, popular in the 1960s. This reverb type features quick and bright reflections, making it ideal for vocals and drums.
Recommended Plugin: The Soundtoys Little Plate plugin is inspired by classic plate reverbs, allowing you to add a smooth and beautiful sound to your tracks.
4. Church Reverb
Church reverb gives you the feeling of being in a large church with high ceilings and stone walls. This type of reverb, with its long reflections and vast space, adds depth and a sense of spirituality to your sound.
Recommended Plugin: The Waves Abbey Road Reverb Plates plugin can simulate this type of reverb in the best possible way, offering you a large and vibrant sound.
5. Guitar Reverb
Guitar reverb is specifically designed for electric and acoustic guitars. This type of reverb adds depth to your guitar sound, making it warmer and more captivating.
Recommended Plugin: The Strymon BigSky plugin is one of the most popular plugins for guitar reverb. It provides a wide range of options to tweak your guitar sound and give it various characteristics.
6. Short Ambience Reverb
This type of reverb is used to add a bit of space to the sound without creating long reflections. It’s often used for instruments that need more presence in the mix.
Recommended Plugin: The FabFilter Pro-R plugin, with its precise controls and simple interface, allows you to perfectly fine-tune this type of reverb.
7. Non-Linear Reverb
This type of reverb lets you create unnatural and unconventional reflections. For instance, you can create reverse reflections, which are widely used in electronic and experimental music.
Recommended Plugin: The Eventide Blackhole plugin is one of the best tools for creating non-linear and spatial reverb effects. This plugin offers many options for creating unusual and creative sounds.
Conclusion: Why Are Reverbs Essential?
What is reverb? Reverbs are tools that allow you to place your sound in different spaces and add a sense of depth and presence to it. From a small room to a grand cathedral, reverbs can simulate any environment and add a new dimension to your music. So next time you record a guitar or vocal and feel like something’s missing, try adding some reverb and watch the magic unfold!
What is Reverb?