What is Reverb?

Reverb is the collection of reflections that occur when sound bounces off surfaces in an enclosed environment. In the real world, every room has reverb — from the tight, fast reflections of a bathroom to the sprawling decay of a cathedral. In mixing, reverb plugins recreate these reflections algorithmically or through convolution (impulse responses captured from real spaces), giving you precise control over the virtual environment your tracks live in. The key parameters of any reverb are pre-delay, decay time (or RT60), and the wet/dry mix. Pre-delay is the gap between the original sound and the onset of the reverb tail — increasing it pushes the reverb behind the source, keeping the dry signal upfront and intelligible. Decay time controls how long the reverb rings out; shorter decays (under one second) suggest intimate rooms, while longer decays (3+ seconds) evoke halls and cathedrals. The wet/dry balance determines how prominent the reverb is relative to the original signal. Different reverb types serve different mixing roles. Hall reverbs provide lush, enveloping tails ideal for vocals and orchestral instruments. Plate reverbs — modeled after large vibrating metal sheets — deliver a bright, dense character that sits beautifully on snare drums and vocals. Room reverbs add natural ambience without overwhelming the source, making them perfect for gluing a drum kit together. Spring reverbs impart a vintage, lo-fi character common in surf rock and guitar amps. Choosing the right type for each source is as important as dialing in the settings.