reverbs

Reverb, short for reverberation, is the persistence of sound after the original sound source has stopped, produced by the cumulative effect of many reflections in an environment. It gives a sense of spaciousness and blend and decays gradually as energy is absorbed by surfaces.

Natural reverberation occurs in rooms and halls when sound reflects off walls, floors, ceilings, and objects. Artificial reverberation is generated electronically or digitally and includes algorithmic reverb, which uses mathematical models, and convolution reverb, which uses a measured impulse response from a real space. Classic hardware forms include plate reverb, which uses a vibrating metal plate, and spring reverb, which uses a coil spring, each imparting a distinctive character.

A key parameter is reverberation time, commonly RT60, the time it takes for sound to fall by 60 decibels. Other measures include EDT, T20, and T30. Reverb comprises early reflections—first echoes that aid localization—and late reverberation, a diffuse tail that creates the sense of space. The impulse response of a space characterizes its reverb.

In audio production, reverb is used to place a sound within a physical environment and to affect perceived depth and how well it blends with other sounds. Model types range from natural-sounding to highly artificial, and selection depends on musical style, the input source, and the desired level of clarity.

Architectural acoustics study reverberation to design theaters, studios, and auditoria. In hearing devices and virtual reality, reverberation enhances realism and intelligibility. Overuse or inappropriate matching of reverb can reduce speech clarity and muddy the overall sound.