Reverb Cheatsheet

Drums

- High-density reverbs like plates and chambers usually sound best. (To learn why, ​read
#4 in this article​.)

- Getting the decay time right is crucial. Use the snare as your guide. Time the decay so
the reverb disappears right before the next snare hit.

- Be careful when adding reverb to the kick. Often times, you’ll want to avoid this.

- Add reverb to the overheads first. Then add to close-mic’d tracks. This will often yield
more natural-sounding results.

Bass

- Sometimes a bit of reverb can help, but ​be​ ​very​ ​careful​.

- Stick with short rooms, and listen closely for muddiness.

- Don’t be afraid to roll off the low end on the reverb.

Vocals

- Add pre-delay to keep the vocal up-front in the mix.

- Halls with reflections that ramp up slowly can add a subliminal pulse that enhances the
groove. This can sound great on ballads and downtempo tracks, but often gets in the
way on up-tempo tracks.

- If the reverb sounds too sibilant, de-ess the signal heading into it. You can also roll top
end off the reverb.

Electric Guitar

- Delay typically sounds better. Try this first.

- Short rooms can add size and dimension, without getting in the way.
Acoustic Guitar

- I prefer plates.

- Add a bit of chorusing on the reverb to thicken up the tail and create a shimmery,
80’s-inspired effect.

Strings

- Go for halls, chambers, or rooms—these often sound more convincing.

- Listen for excessive high end, which can make the reverb sound artificial and scratchy.

Keys/Synths

- Try rolling off top end first. Often times, this can push the track back in the mix without
needing to resort to reverb.

- Watch out for excessive low end and for reverbs that ring out too long.

My Favorite Reverb Plugins

- Exponential Audio’s PhoenixVerb

Designed by ex-Lexicon guru Michael Carnes. A great all-around, clean reverb.

Excellent small rooms.

- UAD’s Ocean Way Studios

Some of the most convincing room sounds I’ve ever heard. Creates a natural sense of
depth—great for drum rooms.

- Audio Ease’s Altiverb 7

The industry-standard convolution reverb. Includes a great library of impulse responses

that cover a variety of halls, rooms, and vintage gear. Lots of options here.

For more mixing tips, visit ​BehindTheSpeakers.com​.

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