When it comes to using reverb as a mixing tool, there are no definitive guidelines, and use of reverb is even more of a creative, stylistic choice than studio staples like EQ and dynamics. Still, there are certain tips, techniques and rules of thumb that are worth knowing – here’s a selection of our favourites.
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| Reverb Mixing Tips |
01. No two algorithmic reverb plugins are created equal. One might have a distinctively bright sound, whereas another might sound softer; one may specialise in shorter room ambience, while another will tackle huge spaces with aplomb. Get to know the nuances of the reverb plugins at your disposal, so you can select the right tool for the right purpose. And don’t discard the cheaper-sounding reverb plugins out there! Sometimes a harsh, metallic reverb tone can be exactly what you need to add the bite needed to make a sound poke through the mix.
02. When using headphones, it can be difficult to apply reverb accurately, as it’s all too easy to misjudge things and blend in too little or too much ambience. Try to leave the bulk of your reverb mixing for times when you can work on monitor speakers. If you don’t have monitors, try to test tracks on other sound systems (car systems, laptop speakers, and so on) to get a feel for the ‘bigger picture’.
03. There are no strict rules about how much reverb and of what type should be applied to a particular instrument, but listening carefully to tracks in your chosen genre's should give you ideas about what works and what doesn’t for that style. In most genres, however, it’s accepted practice to avoid reverb on your kick and bass sounds, or at least roll off the reverb’s low-end, to prevent low-frequency clouding.
04. Don’t confuse room size with decay! While it might seem logical that a big room would have a massive long tail, if you think about it, it doesn’t have to – in the real world, the walls of such a room could be heavily damped, for instance, so that the tail dies down quicker, for example. Put this to use when mixing by remembering that a big, spacious sound doesn’t necessarily mean 10-second reverb tails. Likewise, if you do want long, flowing reverbs, don’t forget that room size is still fully adjustable once you’ve set the decay time.
05. With many modern virtual instruments now offering some sort of onboard reverb module, it’s quick and easy to apply ambience inside a synth. But it’s likely you have a better option at your disposal in your plugins folder. Try turning off the instrument’s reverb and using a dedicated software reverb (either as an insert or on an aux return) for a more polished reverb effect.
06. Obvious, full-range reverb was popular in the 80s, but nowadays, many producers like to use reverb in a much more stealthy fashion. To conceal your reverb in the mix, thus lending space in a more discreet manner, roll the top and bottom end off of your reverb channel with EQ.
07. Don’t just rely on plugins – you can capture your own room ambience. Solo and play back a signal from your speakers, then record that output using a microphone. Mix this room recording back in with your dry signal to add your room’s ambience to the sound. Experiment with recording in different spaces!
08. You may encounter situations where your reverb interferes with the impact of sounds, or the transients are masking the reverb, meaning you have to turn it up more than you’d like to get a spacious effect. In such situations, try slowly increasing the predelay parameter to put a little distance between the initial transient and the subsequent reverb reflections, giving both space to breathe.
09. Another tactic to seat reverb more neatly in the mix is to use limiters, compressors or transient shapers on your ’verb return to reduce peaks, allowing transients to poke through. Try placing the processor before the reverb, too, for a subtly different effect. Of course, a classic use for dynamics processing is for gated reverb.
10. If you just can’t get the spacious sound you require from reverb, try subtle delay instead. Think of it as you would a reverb, dialling in your delay to gently fill the required space.
