Reverb History & Development

Question 1

Natural reverb

Answer 1

The natural acoustic of a space
Captured during the process of recording
Room, hall, cathedral etc.
Use of ambient mic to capture

Question 2

Sound characteristics of natural reverb

Answer 2

Feels ‘bigger’ and more open, with a more realistic sense of distance between you and the sound

Often adds a warmth to the sound (High frequencies decays faster more quickly than the lower ones), gives our a more smoother and less harsh quality

Smooth decay, gradual fade away

Question 3

Chamber reverb (1930s)

Answer 3

An artificial acoustic room
Normally a very reflective room
Sound is played in through a speaker and re-captured with a pair of mics
Creates a natural sounding reverb

Question 4

Sound characteristics of chamber reverb

Answer 4

Warm and full

Smooth decay

Well-rounded frequency response

Question 5

Chamber reverb’s advantage over natural reverb

Answer 5

More consistency and control as chamber reverb is specifically designed for acoustic reflections

Can be tailored by adjusting the placement of microphones and speakers within the chamber, control over the reverb’s depth, length, and tonal quality

Question 6

Spring reverb (1950s)

Answer 6

Created by the vibrations of springs
Audio signal is converted via a transducer into physical movement
The springs vibrate back and forth
Another transducer converts back to audio signal

Question 7

Sound characteristics of a spring reverb

Answer 7

Metallic and ‘twangy’ due to the vibrations travelling through metal springs

Short, bouncy decay for a more compact and rhythmic quality

Question 8

Plate reverb (1960s)

Answer 8

Created by the vibrations of a metal plate under tension
Audio signal is converted via a transducer into physical movement
The signal travels across the plate
Transducers pick up all sounds from all directions and convert vibrations back to audio signal

Question 9

Sound characteristics of plate reverb

Answer 9

‘Washy’ sound
Smooth and dense reverb tail with long decay time
Bright tone especially in the high frequencies

Question 10

Digital reverb (1980s)

Answer 10

Created by layering multiple delayed signals
Delayed signals were increasingly dense and progressively quieter to emulate reverb

Question 11

Sound characteristics of digital reverb

Answer 11

Clear echoes with degradation or distortion
Consistent repeats without losing its clarity

Question 12

Convolution reverb

Answer 12

Mathematically applied process
A sample of an ‘ambience’ is taken with a balloon pop etc.
This is then applied to an audio signal
The audio then sounds like it has used the real thing, it’s reverb sampling
Incredibly processor heavy, a benchmark test for computers

Question 13

Gated reverb

Answer 13

A reverb has a gate applied to the decay of the sound
Stops the reverb from lasting a long time
Allows a large or wet reverb to be applied without cluttering the mix

Question 14

Sound characteristics of gated reverb

Answer 14

A cut-off to the reverb tail, creating a sharp, clean sound that contrasts with the typical smooth decay of traditional reverb

Short decay time with a punchy quality

Question 15

Reverse reverb

Answer 15

A sound where the reverb is played backwards
This can either appear before the audio or after it
The reverb itself is sampled and then played in reverse

Question 16

Sound characteristics of reverse reverb

Answer 16

Swelling effect as the reverb builds up before the original sound occurs, gives a sense of anticipation or tension

Creates an ethereal other-worldly effect

Begins with a crescendo, building in intensity as it approaches the sound

Question 17

Shimmer reverb

Answer 17

A reverb that has the ambience pitched-shifted
Often an octave up, but can be an octave down
Works by sampling the audio and pitch-shifting

Question 18

Sound characteristics of shimmer reverb

Answer 18

Sparkly effect and pad-like sounds
Ethereal and otherworldly quality, ideal for creating atmospheric textures