Reverb is an intergral part of music production. Its roots trace back to the early days of sound recording where natural reverb was a byproduct of recording in large areas such as churches and concert halls. As technology evolved, so did the methods for creating and manipulating reverb, leading to its essential role in modern music.
In the 40s and 50s, studio engineers began to experiment with artificial reverb. The echo chambers at Abbey Road Studios are a big example. These chambers were rooms with highly reflective surfaces, where sound from a speaker would bounce around before being picked up by a microphone. This technique created a lush, natural reverb that could be added to recordings.
Later on in the 60s plate reverb was invented. A mechanical method where sound waves would reverberate across a large, suspended metal plate. The EMT 140 plate reverb (which was the first of its kind), offered a more controllable and consistent reverb effect compared to echo chambers. Plate reverb is used widely today in studios, providing the shimmering, dense wash that I personally have used on almost all of my compositions.
In the 1980s, reverb technology took another leap forward by creating digital reverb units. The Lexicon 224 allowed for precise control over various reverb parameters and introduced the ability to create entirely new reverb sounds that weren’t possible before.
Today reverb is available in several formats from hardware units to software plugins. Modern digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton or Pro Tools come stocked with reverb plugins that emulate classic hardware and offer increased parameters for customisation.
Producers often use techniques such as pre-delay to separate the reverb onset from the dry signal to enhance clarity in the signal. Additionally, using EQ on reverb tails helps avoid frequency buildup and ensures the reverb complements the mix rather than overwhelming it.