How to Use Reverb

Reverb software and hardware is something producers have used for years to give songs a certain sound. Every sound in the real world has reverb and without it instruments can sound unnatural.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• DAW (Music/Audio Editing Software) or
• Reverb Unit (hardware)

1. Figure out what part of a song needs reverb. Is it one sound or instrument? Is it just the drums? Just the snare? The whole mix? It's up to you what to put reverb on (although in general snares have more reverb than kick in drums).

2. Add the reverb software or hardware to the sounds you want to have reverb. If it's software you can generally choose what type of reverb you want. 'Plate' was traditionally used on drums (snares in particular), 'Hall' will sound like a hall, 'Room' will sound like a room etc.

3. Determine and set the 'size' of the room. The larger the 'size' setting the bigger the room your sound is in will appear. Large sizes give a very spacey and ethereal feel.

4. Determine and set the 'decay' or 'reverb time'. This is how long your sound will continue before it dies out. Some software/hardware links this to the room size setting.

5. Set the 'mix' level or the 'wet' and 'dry' amounts of the sound. This determines how much reverb will be on the sound in general, with 'wet' being the sound with reverb and 'dry' being the sound without reverb. Most sounds don't need too much reverb to sound "natural". Most likely under the 25% wet/mix value.

6. Depending on your reverb units there will be many other controls but in general you don't have to worry about them. Experiment until it sounds right!

Tips & Warnings

• Different types of reverb will produce different sounds, try other types out

[NuttyMomma]

on 2/3/2009 thanks for explaining reverb.

[3CMom]

on 1/29/2009 I had no idea what reverb was, learn something new everyday on ehow! Well-written article *****