To Reverb Or Not To Reverb: That Is The Question

Reverb is probably one of the most widely used creative effects in the mixing process today. I love reverb. I use a lot. But sometimes it's difficult to tell if reverb should be used on a track or not. Will it help the track or will it just muddy up the mix? Let's look at some scenarios and maybe get a better idea of how and when we should be using reverb.

When NOT to Use Reverb

1. Bad Vocal Recording

So you've just recorded a lead vocal track and you're listening to it back in your mix, but something just doesn't seem right. The singer didn't really do the best take. Maybe it was lacking some energy or they were slightly flat at some parts. That's okay, once we slap some reverb on it, it will sound amazing! 

No.

It is essential that we do not use reverb as a "fixing" tool. Honestly, it's essential that we don't use anything as a fixing tool. We are trying to enhance a song not fix something that is broken. Reverb has a way of hiding problems. It can add a nice spacey dimension to a track and widen it up a bit, making it sometimes sound better than it really is. If you record a track, and it doesn't sound good without reverb, re-record the track. Get it sounding amazing dry. Then, when you do decide to add reverb, it'll sound even better. 

Also, remember that reverb can make a track seem farther away. When using reverb on a vocal, you will often make the track seem distant and not upfront which is usually the opposite of what you are trying to achieve with a vocal track. 

2. Acoustic Guitar

In most cases, I think it is best to leave your acoustic guitar tracks dry. Now, if the song is just an acoustic guitar and vocal, then you may want to add a touch of reverb to widen up the mix a bit and create a presence to the song. This is fine. However, if you are mixing a full band song and the acoustic guitar is double'd or more in the background, resist using reverb. It usually just muddies up the track and will sound chaotic. It's okay to leave some tracks dry. 

Probably the biggest problem that we have using reverb is that we use it too much. It sounds cool, so we think we should put it on everything. The key with reverb is to be subtle, and use it to add creativity to a track or to widen it. Be intentional about using reverb and know why you plan on using it. When combined across many tracks, you start to lose a sense of punch in your song and the reverb just makes everything too spacey. Don't be afraid to leave some tracks dry. 

When TO Use Reverb

1. Widening a Track

Sometimes when mixing we want to widen a track up without doubling it. One way you can do this is by sending the track to a stereo reverb bus. Take for example a lead guitar part. That guitar will most likely be panned up the center. But if it's the only guitar, you may want to widen it a bit. All you need to do is send it to a stereo reverb track and you'll get a nice, subtle, wide sound. The idea is to be subtle. We don't everything to be wide and huge. It's good for some things to sit in the center. But if you want to widen something up just a little bit, reverb can be a great tools. 

2. Adding a Live Sound to a Track

Some tracks, especially virtual instruments, tend to be dry and almost dead sounding. Strings are notorious for this. They sound good, but they just don't sound very present. They don't sound like you are hearing them in a room. One way to bring about a nice present sound, is to use reverb. This will essentially give the track a sense of space, almost adding a room noise, and make the track seem more live. I particular like to do this on strings but it works with other instruments as well. Snare drums almost always benefit from a touch of reverb. Depending on the genre of a song, you can really add some depth by using reverb. 

What About Vocals?

Reverb can sound amazing on vocals. It can help open up the vocals on a chorus or add to the overall feel of the song. Again, the key is to be subtle. When you start to add too much reverb, you make the vocal feel distant. This may not be the sound you are going for and you'll be fighting yourself trying to make the vocal up front. 

So what if reverb isn't working? What else can we do? 

Slap Back Delay.

If reverb isn't working for your vocal track, I highly recommend using a slap back delay. In fact, you may want to start with a slap back delay and see if you even need reverb. A slap back delay is going to give your track a nice clean, short, room sound. It sounds very natural and is much less likely to muddy up a mix than reverb. It can add presence to your vocals without making them seem distant. 

The bottom line is, don't over-think reverb too much. If you think a track needs it, pop it on there and see how it sounds. Know when you need to use reverb and when to just leave it off. Also, spend time with your reverb plugin(s) and learn what the controls do. Know how to achieve the sound you are going for. 

Hope this helps! See you all next time. 

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