6 Common Reverb Mistakes to Avoid

[@Producelikeapro]

Do you have any reverb tricks you use when mixing?

[@thaggagangofficial4428]

Thank you for this Video 📹 👍

[@CrushingAxes]

I like to use a reverb from the right channel on the left channel and add a delay.

[@acommon]

Yes! Don't be afraid to compress your reverbs for some fun effects!

[@hondbanjer]

I feed a tap delay into a long reverb without sending it (delay) to the mix, works great on slow music.

[@timhewitt32]

I set up my most commonly used reverbs on aux tracks in a template I use for virtually all my mixes. These reverbs all have an EQ before and after the reverb - disabled to start - so I am always reminded that I may need to use this and don't forget. I also have a "little room aux reverb" that virtually all my digital instruments go into as part of almost every mix - but it's in my template so it's staring at me when I start the work and I don't have to remember to include it.

[@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.

[@chrisibbetson]

Do the same, it works well exactly as you descibe! :-)

[@patkelly3966]

@@chrisibbetson Me too

[@patkelly3966]

@@chrisibbetson By accident or ear anyway

[@pdbeck65]

try expander for the opposite effect!!

[@briancase6180]

In bitwig, you can use the audio-sidechain modulator with any reverb to control the mix or gain (or on any fx or any parameter like a filter cutoff in a synth) based on some other track's audio so the reverb tail lasts as long as needed. It's nothing special, it's like using another track as the automation, but you don't have to draw it (as with the compressor: it's like automation without specifying it explicitly).

[@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'.

[@zachary963]

I figured this out about two months ago. Great tip!

[@nikhillekhra]

Thanks! Great tip 👍

[@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

[@greensleeves32]

Yes, like Dave Pensado says, "clear out the middle!" I love super spreading my verb. Sounds huge yet defined still when the time isn't too long and washy sounding

[@BrandonStonerAEP]

Klanghelm stuff is stellar. I don't use many plug-in manuf. but they are by far the most underrated IMO.

[@EversonBernardes]

Yup, saturating and distressing the reverb signal is pretty underrated. Did a track with a bitcrushed reverb, the other day. Fun stuff.

[@lisabethlawrence]

@@BrandonStonerAEP love their stuff too!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 :)

[@theguvnor54]

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.

[@Davitod]

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

[@styrofoamghost5099]

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

[@Producelikeapro]

That's amazing to hear!!

[@pointsbeingmade7996]

Good for you. Its important.

[@NagoyaHouseHead]

Warren is a blessing and a national treasure

[@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.

[@greensleeves32]

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

[@joshdrewpic]

Perfect timing! Just trying to push my drums back a bit and was feeling concerned about making a reverberating mess! THANKS

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Joshua!!

[@kodykindhart8230]

Just bring up those room mics and back off the close mic bus 🤓😎

[@Producelikeapro]

@@kodykindhart8230 Indeed! If he has great room mics then that can work!

[@WillSpires]

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

[@zachary963]

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.

[@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.

[@morleychallenged]

Clap your hands. Snap your fingers. Impulse response is a beautiful thing!

[@mlssn]

My go to "trick" when having a hard time getting an "effect" reverb to both be present and not smear everything is sidechaining it to the dry signal. And when I just want some ambience I turn it up to where I can just start to feel it in the mix but not really pick it out, that's usually a great place for an ambience to live.

[@chrisibbetson]

Excellent!

[@ryanshreevedrums]

Totally agree

[@thomaspersson1533]

Super

[@inredair]

Using one send reverb for some tracks builts a great amtosphere

[@ktreier]

All these Mistakes videos are really educational in a useful way. Thanks Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! I’m glad to be able tobhelp

[@SHTMusik]

I agree about using stock reverbs, and stock plugins in general. It also makes your project much more compatible with other computers.

[@Producelikeapro]

Great! Yes, agreed!!

[@nakanda]

I'm a Cubase user, and about the stock reverbs, they are interesting, but I love the Softube TSAR-1R! :) it sounds so perfect!

[@AlexReidStudios]

learning about stock plugins is a must.

[@michaeltablet8577]

Thanks so very much! Great video as always! Thanks also to the PLAP community! I learn so much by reading the comments. What a wonderful family!

[@quintmylodonrecorders8387]

I find myself using less and less reverb as time goes by but its really nice to see these tips as a reminder to not screw up the little bits of verb I do use

[@acommon]

Wow, great tips on this video! I generally avoid reverb for fear of muddying my mix. I'll have to give some of these a try

[@figlermaert]

#3 - Learning sending my tracks to an aux and then putting reverb on was a game changer.

[@moevans1058]

The thumbnail images on the last few videos are on point! Love it

[@Bluesparkle_]

Great advice Warren liked the explanation of advantages for using a send / aux bus rather than putting the reverb directly on the track.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Jeroen!

[@charliejones8052]

Absolutely brilliant what I learned from this, even just the amount this refreshed the basics of engineering for me, again brilliant

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Thanks Charlie

[@SteveSchuffert]

More good stuff. Adds to my bag of tricks 40 years on. Pretty cool. Thank you Warren.

[@SunlightOfTheSpirit]

I've just listened to some 70's soul, funk and disco and it set me looking for some answers. The music just sounded like it was shrouded in some magical essence that I can't quite figure out. so I though it must be reverb. So many questions and not enough answers

[@wspann1967]

TAL-Reverb does a great job of living up to that first point about EQ’ing your reverb. It’s a free plate reverb VST with a little 3 band EQ that affects the wet signal, it’s been my go-to reverb for quite some time now and I didn’t have to pay a dime

[@tylermcdonald7751]

Automating reverb! That helps so much! Thanks!

[@pdbeck65]

By mistake i used a reverb send from a scratch vocal. The singer is so good it was in time with the overdub. sounded great!!! Happy mistake.

[@christiangillmann9466]

Great video! It's an old trick, but very effective: Putting a gate after a large reverb. Works especially on a snare and makes it 'larger than life' without washing out the track. Hello Phil Collins ;-)

[@networkunplugged]

i do all of these fails... and I am getting better in continuing these failures :-)

[@Producelikeapro]

haha yes, indeed!!

[@Hexspa]

Thank you for putting the content in the description.

[@HitTheRoadMusicStudio]

Awesome, exactly in the right moment ! I checked Jordans channel where he recommend to use reverb only on one or two elements and delay on the rest for spacing the elements - seems like this week is dedicated to learn new ways about using reverb ! Honestly, that's why I love mixing, everybody got his own way and style and shares it, thanks Warren ✌

[@MixChecks]

That's definitely the fun part of mixing. So many cool techniques to try :)

[@SeanofAllTrades]

It makes so much sense to just EQ BEFORE the reverb, but I've always been EQing AFTER the reverb. This is revelatory.

[@clouds5]

Very much agree with the reverb fx bus or aux channel. I totally grew up digital and never really understood what these bus channels are for, until i had a reverb on a vocal track that got really messy because it heavily interacted with the compressor :D great "trick".

[@artofpretention]

I put the reverb directly on the track, but as a doubled main vocal, then mix it into the background. Can adjust how much reverb you want with both track faders. Works nicely! 👍

[@jimmyk9998]

So this has got be one of the best video’s on this subject. My daw of choice is studio One. The reverb is spectacular for my needs. In my opinion, learning to use the reverb you have adding multiple reverbs for multiple jobs putting them on auxiliary and learning how to use EQ with the reverb you have is way more important than buying another reverb learn to use fully what you have and in over 95% I feel of the recordings that you produce will sound accomplished and complete because you know how to make the best use of the reverb that you have instead of buying another reverb not knowing how to fully use it and never reaching the potential of what you’ve already purchased and purchased some more is really a waste and shows that perhaps a bit of personal growth in your mixing might take you a long way, sincerely Jimmy K.

[@davemac1648]

I'm always asked how I get such a 'professional sound'. After much consideration, I realised it's my reverb habits. Note - I'm also old skool mixer/console user, very used to making do with 2/3 auxes. All aux, all stock (Live).. 1. Room. 2. Room. (different settings - length, eq, reflections, hi/lo pass etc, to Room 1). 3. Very Short, almost delay style. 4. Hall/Cathedral. All EQ'd differently (after) especially different hi/lo pass points and all Saturated subtly. Sometimes subtle/gentle phaser on one of the Room reverbs or the Hall/Cathedral. The majority of the elements share aux reverbs, but not all. In particular different rooms on different/layered snares, hats and kicks. Rarely reverb individual elements excluding vocals (when mixing) and synths but usually no more than 2, and these elements will usually have some aux reverb(s) also. For me, this would be more for sound design, rather than mix (excluding vocals). Automation is also a big part of it perhaps, especially Hall/Cathedral to pick out little hits here and there, normally near, during, or after transitions, and to emphasise transitions overall. Even room and short reverb amounts change on some elements throughout song. This is just how I automatically do it, and only recently thought so much about it because of the relentless comments on the 'professional sound' that's apparently present, even on my pre-DAW material. Basically, I think the overall result would be called Glue.

[@MixChecks]

Adding some sort of modulation to reverbs is a good idea that I'd totally forgotten about. Thanks for reminding me! :)

[@smoreshaunted]

Im guilty of all of these! This video just changed my reverb game, Warren you're the best!!

[@Intrinsic.Recording]

I talked about tip number two once. About crossfading the reverb decay. Having the decay dying off before the next beat, or phrase. I once mentioned it in the comments of another video. At the time, someone told me not to do that... Anywho...not a hard and fast rule. But for dense, or heavy mixes, it's pretty useful to keep the verb from cluttering up the final result. Makes for tighter, punchier mixes for certain. At least for me, on not just vocals, but everything. I can see leaving it hanging GOING TO CALIFORNIA or BATTLE OF EVERMORE style on other stuff, but not super dense mixes where ya want punch. Just my take. As Warren says, "There are no experts here..." I am certainly not one myself. Loved the Phil Allen video BTW. Thanks for bringing that to the channel.

[@victorlipman]

Great video thank you ! I would add : sidechaining the reverb. Especially with long decay. For example, I do it on lead vocals needing really wide effect when the musical context demands it : compressor on the reverb channel, sidechaining with lead vocal as sidechain input. Very efficient to not drown the vocals in order to turn down the reverb tails when the singer starts another phrase.

[@patkelly3966]

Tip 2 was something I hadn't really thought about before.

[@twitchgrass3849]

So... Much... Sense... Thank you for this invaluable info

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@DavinPetersen]

Warren - great work and tips as always. Even though the audience is studio engineers, there's so much of this that's applicable for live engineers - especially when you consider the natural reverberation in a room.

[@jasonfella265]

Fantastic info as always, Mr. Huart! This is a great review of the do's and don'ts of reverb.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@TraxtasyMedia]

I always put the EQ first and then I add EQ. Never broken rule #1 Rule #4: FL Reverb 2 is awesomly crashing rooftops. I used that one on a snare drum and it went so off, that won't miss this Snare sample anymore. (Reverb on the snare was intended). I love it and I never automated a Reverb, gotta check this. OK panning the Reverb is new to me and a good tip. Have a nice day everyone.

[@wapanglemdur]

Learning tons from you sir.... Love from Nagaland,

[@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

[@electricladyguitarsdevonuk1414]

Superb as always. Can't wait to get recording again

[@EthanNewsom]

Such a great help. I’ve been getting better at so many things in mixing but reverb is my weakest link by far

[@QuabmasM]

Great tips. I sometimes forget that I should be automating reverb. A tip I swear by is adding color/saturation to important reverb to compress & beef it up a bit to help it cut through. Also I like to be mindful of early & late reflections...my rule is if I want to coat the sound & get out the way, I try to get a subtle amount of the reverb to coat the dry sound & get out the way quickly. However, if I want a fancy tail to be heard & not just felt, I switch the way I think of reverb & I focus solely on getting the late reflections to time right with the pre-delay knobs & changing the length of the verb for longer. When I think like this, it helps me to not chase my tail trying to get both the early & late reflections to sound perfect using a single reverb which can be just as crippling as putting the reverb directly on the dry signal's bus as you recommended not to.

[@wado1942]

I used to have 4-5 digital reverbs at one time but I pretty much found myself using my old Lexicon 90% of the time, with some early reflections from another Lexi and a mono delay from an even older Ibanez unit. These days, those are the only units I have. In the box, same basic thing but I use an old, no-longer available reverb plugin. Life is easier and the mixes are cleaner.

[@danielpicard3994]

I always learn new tricks from your very valuable and classy tutorials, Warren. Keep on the great work!

[@OUT5IDE_]

Another very usefull course !! Thanks alot. I spent a lot of time struggling with reverb settings before changing my converter. Now I really hear what I'm doing.

[@neuroxik]

#3: You also have the option (when not directly on the track) to add sidechain compression that's triggered while the vocals are active to retain clarity without losing the ambience

[@stefangot7729]

This channel is fantastic. Lots of knowledge. TKS Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Stefan!

[@peterheinen6110]

Thanks for explaining these mistakes. I'm sure I've been guilty through the years, even after real life courses and the shame when listening back to my 'work'. 🎶👍

[@anahatamelodeon]

I like the idea of panning an instrument left and putting its reverb on the right or vice versa. I have heard of that before, but I'd forgotten how useful it is for building a nice stereo image.

[@MartinLuxen]

Thank you Warren, great reminders!!!

[@RC32Smiths01]

Always appreciate the work! We sure do learn from our experiences!

[@jonathanlavoie7401]

Exactly what I needed right now. Great video! Thanks Warren!

[@joshistitic]

This video made me realize something very important. I suck at mixing

[@MixChecks]

Nah. You're a pro. Just gotta believe! :)

[@SAVEMUSIC]

Thank you for your videos! I've become such a big fan of you channel, you offer some very useful bits of information

[@samchoate1719]

Thank you so much. I was fighting a particular NI reverb the other day. I was interested to see what verb you were using on that drum sound, because it sounded huge! D-Verb! Love it. Thank you for killing the GAS gremlins.

[@johncostopoulos7741]

Excellent tutorial! Greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much John!

[@jansonpig]

So so so much great tips in this video! Lots of note taking with this one. Thanks!

[@EversonBernardes]

Also on the "reverb on a send/aux" topic: it allows you to process only the signal going into the reverb. EQ is one aspect, but you might throw some modulation there, distortion effects, anything really. Lots of creative opportunities to add more character to the reverbs without messing with the original signal at all.

[@mariodario9033]

As always, fantastic tutorial. THX Warren ! All best.

[@TomBelknapRoc]

Great video! I noticed this in your tracks for the Valerie cover: your reverbs all lived in their separate channels. It makes that kind of "head-knocking" kind of sense to have the reverbs separated, once you've seen it. But I think that the wet/dry mix that comes with every reverb sort of implicitly leads you to the conclusion that they should live together. Thanks!

[@chrisibbetson]

i'll stick reverbs on certain things that are static with the mix setting just to create a constant space maybe a drum loop or a synth, for vocal reverbs and drums etc i'll go with a send always.

[@KhasrouhRecords]

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

[@MixChecks]

Me too :)

[@Reslo]

Great tips for adding verbs. I’ve found that verbs take you as far as far as your imagination. Try reverse verbs. Try compressors in conjunction with your verb aux. You’ll get some pumping that really helps out. Good stuff.

[@suadcokljat1045]

Play with panning and stereo width of reverb wet signal. Reverb does not always have to be fully stereo. It works great if you narrow it to 60-40 degrees. Works well on vocals, solo instruments and kick/snare.

[@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.

[@cornerliston]

One thing worth mentioning about length/timing is the damping factor of the reverb. In your example on vocal set to 6 kHz with -24 dB, meaning the decay will be a lot less audible at any given length measured in seconds than if not using the damping filter. One example of great vocal reverb is Beck's “Morning Phase.” Huge, dense and long sounding reverb but fits in the song just perfectly.

[@danielclem7409]

So much gratitude for this! Thank you

[@AlexeySolovievMusic]

Thank you so much Warren for all of your magical tricks, they work perfectly in the mixes :)

[@switchmuso]

Remember when engineers would put stuff like an isolated vocal with long reverb á la minute 6, on the B-side of singles? Loved that.

[@switchmuso]

BTW the cutoff on the reverb automation at minute 12 was a revelation. The way it drops before the next line was cool.

[@striatha]

Gracias por sus excelentes y expertos consejos. Aprendo mucho. Saludos y Thank you

[@coryclark9336]

Oh man this great. Thank you! But now I have to go back to a mix and EQ some reverbs

[@SimonLarkin-CSRecording]

Thanks Warren, this series of vids has been really interesting and eye opening 😎

[@UncleWalter1]

My big thing with reverb sends is always having my headroom for effects throws on the send. So rather than put my send at unity and having the return at -15dB, for instance, I'll either split the difference, or I'll have the reverb return closer to unity and then send from the channel is -15dB. Why do that? Well, if I want to do an FX throw, now it sounds way more natural because I'm not fading the level of a reverb tail from a previous phrase or word, which never happens in the physical world and to my ears sounds super unnatural. Instead I'm bumping the level going into the reverb so you don't hear this weird reverb tail of the previous word/phrase fading up and masking the word/phrase you want to emphasise with an effects throw. And when you pull it back again, you're not fading out the reverb tail, which effectively shortens the reverb time as it's going down.

[@peterrostgaardbojesen5790]

Thank you Warren - you are amazing!

[@jorgosagb]

I used to mix in Audition, before it became subscription based. Underestimated DAW if you ask me. Many of the stock plugins were really good. I especially liked the reverbs, delays an compressors. Anyway, great vid again.

[@marcbudicin]

The reverbs on The Doors' debut👌🏻

[@jazzman97813]

Thank you for sharing your knowlegde Warren, i deeply appreciate your videos. Very informative and instructive :)

[@ragingchimera8021]

11:42 LOL, made me laugh... love it Warren!

[@pooyamoradi8009]

amazing Helped a lot although i know most of them but it was like approval on my methods thanks a lot

[@MiguelAnHell]

EQ the reverb! Amazing tip 👍

[@josephmerrill2686]

I like to send dry signal to an aux and do mutation on the signal before the reverb. For example, do something weird with Waves Enigma before going into the reverb. The change of color and timing of the reverb input signal creates a bed of contrast for the dry signal, increasing presence. Setting reverb mix below 100% lets in more mutation.

[@walterearl5138]

Thanks for sharing I will watch more of your videos

[@evanfoster9078]

Thank you Warren, such great stuff!!

[@sgfdancecompany]

Bravo Warren, can be handy to comment IR reverb

[@PrincipalAudio]

11:30 - I loooove using this technique! (As you've already heard lol).

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha yes!! Thanks for sharing!

[@rome8180]

On the subject of stock reverbs, I think the Space Designer in Logic Pro X is an absolutely fantastic reverb. The possibilities in it are endless and they all sound great. Honestly, Logic is worth the $200 just for this one plugin.