REVERB’S BIG QUESTIONS

Q0 Q1 Q2
DOES THIS MIX NEED A DOES ANYTHING NEED DOES ANYTHING NEED
SENSE
SENSE OF
OF SPACE?
SPACE? TO BE
LONGER? TO BE WIDER?

Ask yourself these questions… With this style of reverb, you are elongating With this style of reverb, you are widening
the notes of an instrument. mono sounds into stereo sounds.
“Do my instruments feel like they’re in
different rooms?” This could be to make it "stick around" longer, Important settings:
or to help fill in the spaces between the notes, ER/LR Balance: Mostly ERs
“Does my mix feel two-dimensional or to create connection between phrases.
or flat?” Width: 50-150%
Important settings: Version 1: short pre-delay / large room size
If the answer is yes, then you need to create ER/LR Balance: Mostly LRs
the Mix Depth Matrix. Version 2: long pre-delay / small room size
Pre-delay: >40ms
Room size: Medium or Large
Decay Time: Timed to the tempo
of the performance
FOR MORE DETAIL, SEE
Width: 0-50%
HOW TO CREATE A 3D MIX Some reverb compression may be helpful

Q3 Q4 Q5
DOES ANYTHING NEED DOES ANYTHING NEED DOES ANYTHING NEED TO
TO BE THICKER? TO BE SMOOTHER? BE
more interesting?
With this style of reverb, you are beefing up With this style of reverb, you are softening up This could be…
the body of your instrument. the attack of harsh, overly-aggressive Changing the tone of an instrument
instruments.
Important settings: Creating a cool effect
ER/LR Balance: Mostly ERs Important settings:
Creating a “throw” to fill up space
Reverb Tone: Warm ER/LR Balance: Mostly LRs
Room size: Small Reverb Tone: Warm Creating a reverse reverb
Decay Time: 0.25 - 1.0 seconds Pre-delay: 0-15ms ...and anything else you could think of!
Pre-delay: 0-40ms Room size: Small
Width: 25-75% Decay Time: 0.25 - 1.0 seconds
Diffusion: High Width: 0-50%
Density: Low Diffusion: Low
Density: High