Reverb

What it changes in the music

Reverb can place a source at a perceived distance and connect events through their tails. Its useful level depends on the dry source, arrangement and other spatial references. A large wash alone does not guarantee depth. A clear foreground sound beside a softer reverberant layer often provides a stronger distance contrast than making every part equally diffuse.

A small experiment

Compare a dry chord, the reverb return alone and the combined signal. Keep the chord level fixed while deciding what the return contributes to the scene.

Keep this distinction clear

Reverb and delay can both create repeated energy, but a distinct echo and a diffuse reflected field usually serve different perceptual roles.

Related sound terms