When i started recording music on my computer with easy access to effects, i used to say i hated reverb. However, i have realised i don’t hate reverb - i simply hate the over-use of reverb.

Yes, reverb can boost your performance but how do you know when to stop?

Reverb adds a sense of space and a sense of grandeur. Vocals sound bigger. However, put too much reverb on and the vocals will sound distant, with reduced impact, as if the singer is miles away from you and couldn’t care less about you. It’s tricky to find the fine line between enough reverb and too much reverb. Or is it?

A rule of thumb for using reverb on vocals is “if you can hear the reverb, turn it down”. You should put enough reverb to hear its effect (”yeah, the vocals sound more powerful”) without actually hearing the reverberated sound. If you push it up and your vocals still sound thin, then i’m afraid the problem lies with the vocals, not the effect.

Reverb on instruments can be used in a wide range. Sometimes, it is good to hear the effect, because this is well, the effect, you want to create. However, if you have the habit of using a lot of reverb on every track, your song will sound messy, with a lack of focus. As a starting point, drop the reverb on all cymbals/hi-hats, as well as bass and rhythm guitar. Also, it is important your parts are edited (see my previous post) - sometimes, we use effects to mask imperfections in the performance, so edit the performance first. If the music doesn’t sound great without reverb, then you need to re-record it, not drown it in reverb.

Reverb is great when you need a little boost, when you need to add the icing on the cake, to take your recording from sounding raw to sounding radio friendly. Don’t forget that most “raw” music you hear on the radio do use some reverb - the difference between them and Top 40 pop hits is the amount they use.

If you feel you cannot record without reverb, you might need to re-educate your ears. If you like PJ Harvey, i can recommend her “4 tracks demo” recording - this is a great example of talent and a simple but very efficient sound. In the same way that my hate of reverb was letting my recordings down, the love of reverb can ruin the best performances.

Reverb can make you sound bigger, but don’t be too greedy