The Types of Reverb (with Examples!)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert) · Solo episode
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Topics discussed
Host note
Reverb is all of the tiny delays that happen when a sound source slaps up against a surface. That's it, everything else is engineering history and creative choice built on top of that physical fact.
I run through each major type with actual examples: chamber (a physical room designed specifically to record into), plate (a large suspended metal sheet that vibrates and blurs, genuinely bizarre to look at in person), spring (which sounds exactly like surfing, no other way to describe it), and the nonlinear digital stuff that breaks the rules intentionally and gave the 80s its particular gated-drum signature. I also get into impulse response reverb, which can capture the actual acoustics of a real space and replay them on anything.
By the end you have a working vocabulary for reverb types and the judgment to use each one as a choice rather than a default, understanding not just what they sound like, but what problem each one was originally invented to solve.
Selected moments
- What is reverb? 0:00 I introduce the concept of reverb and how different environments affect sound.
- Understanding Flutter Echo 1:35 An explanation of flutter echo, its creation, and why it is often avoided in sound production.
- Reverb and Recording Styles 3:01 I discuss how the reverb effect became prominent in the 70s and its use in contemporary recordings.
- Chamber Reverb Explained 5:18 I talk about chamber reverb, its purpose, and how it is traditionally achieved.
- Plate Reverb Overview 11:18 A description of plate reverb, how it works, and its iconic use in records.
- Non-linear Digital Reverb 13:33 I survey non-linear digital reverb and the creative possibilities it offers.
- Spring Reverb Characteristics 14:19 My take on spring reverb and its distinctive sound, particularly in surf rock.
- Impulse Response Reverb 15:47 I introduce impulse response reverb and how it can simulate complex environments.
Selected excerpts
Reverb is all of the tiny delays that happen when a sound source slaps up against a surface.
It creates this thing called a flutter echo...it's a facsimile of it based on the computer.
That was a virtual version of it. Not nearly as harsh as it is in real life.
Most of the time, it's to create dimensionality in the box.
That's Capital Chambers, an audio plugin by Universal Audio; it's also an actual physical place that they modeled.
Plate reverbs are super, I got to see some of these things in real life...they sound really cool, they're very bizarre.
You can do that for outboard gear...it's going to have more mojo because it's running through physical things...
FAQ
What is reverb and why is it important in music production?
Reverb, or reverberation, is crucial in music production as it creates a sense of space and depth in recordings, mimicking how sound interacts in various environments.
What are the different types of reverb used in music?
The main types include chamber, plate, spring, digital, non-linear, and impulse response reverb, each offering unique characteristics and effects in sound.
How does chamber reverb differ from digital reverb?
Chamber reverb uses a physical space to create echoes and reflections, while digital reverb simulates these effects through algorithms.
Curated notes only — no public transcript. Listen on the links above.