6 Common Reverb Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting to EQ Your Reverbs
On my track, there is a reverb in my snare, and what I’ve also done is high passed before the reverb, because there is a low rumble at about 30 or 40 hertz, that we just don’t need to hear. What will happen if you don’t high pass, is the reverb will exaggerate that low end and give us a horrible, ugly, rumble which will kill all the definition and make the low end a mess.

2. Setting the Wrong Reverb Time
If there is a second between the end of one phrase and the start of another, you would think to put a second’s worth of decay on it, but I would actually set it a little bit longer, because there comes a point when it is decaying and it will be pretty inaudible.

Use your DAW to find out how long it is between each phrase, and use that to get an idea of what works. Going slightly longer than the projected time is generally a good strategy, though, because then you will not get to a point where the decay is inaudible.

3. Putting Reverbs Directly on Audio Tracks
If you put the reverb on the track directly, especially after you’ve been mixing, it is going to completely change the level. For example, If you have a lead vocal, and you want to make it sound like it’s just coming forward a bit, putting the reverb on the track will suddenly make it much quieter and you will not get the desired effect. Instead, create an auxiliary, and put the reverb on there, preferably with some EQ either on or before the reverb as well!

4. Underestimating Stock Reverbs
Whatever your DAW is, I am sure the stock effects in there are actually pretty darn good! It is also better to get to know your stock reverbs really well before you add on to it. So take some time and see what reverbs are already included in your DAW!

5. Not Automating Your Reverbs
In my track, I’ve got the short reverbs going through the whole some, and they don’t change volume, but when we hit the chorus, where the song is much denser, the reverb and delay come up. Doing this is not going to make the whole track feel like it has been reverberated, but it help it to sound the same as it did on the verse!

6. Having Too Many Types of Reverbs
I like to use multiple reverbs at different level. I actually find that using three reverbs on a vocal is pretty normal. However, getting to carried away and using something really subtly different on 30 different instruments is a waste of time. As much as I love putting ambience on something, there are better ways of doing it!

You want to have control of things, and the last thing you want is to have so many different plugins going that you hear a buildup of reverb, and you can’t figure out where it is coming from. Make your life simple, and make sure you employ effects for a reason!

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[Producelikeapro]

Do you have any reverb tricks you use when mixing?

[BAADSessions]

On automation: I always automate the sends, not the returns. That way you can have a word 'explode' and the trails will remain on their 'natural path'.

[PrincipalAudio]

Here's a reverb tip I use regularly:
Using compression after the reverb to "extend" the tail loudness, so the decay becomes non-linear. It can help it to sustain longer without having to use an excessively long reverb decay setting. Once the compressor has fully relaxed, the reverb is now below the threshold of perception, ready for the next vocal/guitar/keyboard phrase.

[styrofoamghost]

Warren you read my mind! ive just today decided that my next thing to learn is to use reverb better. Thank YOU!

[Electricowlworks]

Being the naughty lad that I am, I often employ saturation and harmonizers on my reverb returns after the reverb.

I also like using the Klanghelm MJUC compressor (in dual mono mode) on stereo verbs to control the attack and bloom of reverbs in some instances. A de-esser before the reverb plugin is another trick that helps reduce the "ping" and "boing" artifacts that you sometimes get with sources that have sibilance or bright percussive transients.

My ITB mix template has a bus that I send reverbs and delays to. I use a U73b vari-mu style compressor (in limit mode) and then stereo widening set to 150% as a starting point on this bus, which them feeds into the mix bus.

Great video, Warren. Thanks so much!

- chaz

[arthur.monticelli]

I gotta say this. Every now and then I have to come back to this channel and learn new stuff. Not only you demonstrate that you are a great professional through the results of your work (your mixes), but also you know how to teach those things, how to communicate in the best way possible. Your videos are so didactic, the language is so intuitive, it's amazing. Thank you very much for putting the time to share your knowledge with us! We are privileged.

[WillSpires]

"Employ Effects for a Reason" - great advice sir. I'm listening.

[AlexReidStudios]

learning about stock plugins is a must.

[bobbykanemusictube]

So happy to have these reminders. I remember the days of putting reverb directly on the track and wondering what happened. Such a kid I was. Still learning. Always learning. Pretty soon, I hope to have enough of a deeper understanding of all this stuff to start helping more and more. I'm learning so much. Thank you Warren.

[Davitod]

Absolutely fantastic person!!! Thanks for your videos and kindness. Cheers from Russia!!!

[therealjackfisher]

I am so happy i bumped in to your channel. So far my favorite studio channel was Glenn Fricker, but he dont teach us anything. He just yell at everyone.. You on the other hand are a diamond teacher. I dont even know how to thank you.

[Foodgeek]

Wow. Total game changer for me with the EQ on the reverb. That explains some muddy mixes I had a hard time getting clear :)

[jacquelamontharenberg]

I usually insert a Pro Tools stock reverb plugin onto an Auxiliary Channel and then whatever instruments I want to have an reverb effect is assigned a reverb send and is bused to the Reverb Aux. This saves me CPU and also keeps the reverberation timing the same between instruments as well as the timing of the song. I can also control reverb automation for each individual instrument. On When recording my Tenor Sax, I use 2 channels. One with a Royer R-10 Ribbon Mic with a tube pre-amp and one with a Shure PG-42 Condenser. When mixing, I vary the amount of reverb between the two channels by having one channel a little more wet that the other. In the chorus or the bridge I sometimes use an addition effect like stereo separation (S1 Imager) to grab the listeners attention. Also I assign an EQ (F6-RTA) Insert to each individual instrument to high pass prior to the Mix Bus to keep mud out. I am a Smooth Jazz Producer and multi-instrumentalist, so my palate of instruments are pretty simplistic focusing on melody and beat. In the mix, I usually apply reverb to the snare, not the whole drum set and my Tenor Sax. Most of the time, my virtual instruments are a little wet with effects, so there is no need to add reverb. What do you think...? Any suggestions Warren. Much appreciated. You have taught me a huge amount. Learning something new everyday.

[theguvnor]

Having said all of that, ‘for the most part’ I think you’re second to none in your talent and approach. Over the past few years’ you’ve taught me more than anyone - and that is a fact.

[morleychallenged]

You have attitude I love! I'm a live engineer. Listen to the room or the campsite. I couldn't listen to you. But I couold listen to the show and the audience; and move a bunch of sandbags if the crew believed in me.Rainstorms. Gotta love them.

[zachary]

Predelay! Putting predelay on the reverb is a great way to open up space. You can have a really dense, wet reverb on your vocal, and it may sound lost and muddy, but if you put a predelay - anywhere from 20 ms to 200 ms - it detaches the direct sound from the reverb and makes it feel “present” while also having the wet sound.

And of course, using one reverb for groups. I generally have a single reverb for my entire guitar buss, my entire drum buss, etc. Helps everything feel “glued together” while also feeling ambient. It’s also a great way to have lots of reverb without things getting washy. Of course, using 2 or 3 reverbs on the group, or having one track in the group with its own additional reverb is fun too.

I also like putting lofi effects on the reverb, just for more cool factor. I actually started doing that on this big band tune. The singer sounded nice and modern, but I put 1940s-style effects on the reverb and got a nice little Frank Sinatra-esque vibe.

[NagoyaHouseHead]

Warren is a blessing and a national treasure

[martin.alguien]

Thanks to your older videos, I only made 2/6 mistakes, you are amazing !, and I love the sound of your voice haha

[KhasrouhRecords]

i use eq after the reverb and i cut the low end and some of the high end !
great tips warren !

[greensleeves]

Love this video. Reverb has been more elusive to me than compression in many ways. Thx Warren!