Beatrice Lang
Reverb is a common effect used by guitarists to create a sense of time, space, and mood in their playing. It is created when sound waves reflect off surfaces in a room, causing a large number of reflections to reach your ears. While reverb is often used as an on-or-off effect on an amp, there are several types of reverb that can be used to create different sounds, including room, hall, plate, spring, space, and shimmer. Each type of reverb has its own unique characteristics and can be used to achieve specific effects, such as creating a sense of isolation and intimacy or making the guitar sound more artificial.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main types of reverb | Room, hall, plate, spring, space, and shimmer |
| Room reverb | Sounds like you're in a regular indoor room |
| Hall reverb | Sounds like you're in a music hall, large church, etc. |
| Plate reverb | Fabricated reverberation simulated by an apparatus with a plate; pretty neutral sounding |
| Spring reverb | Another fabricated reverb simulated by an apparatus with a spring; has a classic "drippy wet" sound |
| Space reverb | More of an effect than a proper reverb; has a "whooshing" sound like stars traveling in space |
| Shimmer reverb | N/A |
| Purpose of reverb | Create a sense of time, space, and mood to the music |
| Reverb effect | Reflection of the world around us |
| Reverb in recording | Placing microphones to capture the natural sound of the room |
| Reverb pedals | Strymon BigSky, Surfy Bear Metal, UA EMT 140, AKG BX20, PCM60, Eventide 2016, Vermona spring reverb, Fender Twin |
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What You'll Learn
- Plate reverb: a fabricated reverb that uses a driver to amplify a signal onto a metal plate
- Spring reverb: a challenging effect to capture digitally, spring reverb is very interactive with the guitar
- Hall reverb: recreates the sound of a music hall or a large church
- Room reverb: placing microphones to capture the natural sound of the room
- Space reverb: more of an effect than a proper reverb, it has a whooshing sound like stars travelling in space
Plate reverb: a fabricated reverb that uses a driver to amplify a signal onto a metal plate
Plate reverb is a fabricated reverb that uses a driver to amplify a signal onto a metal plate. It is a popular effect used by guitarists, and it involves a process of reverberation simulated by an apparatus with a plate inside. This type of reverb is often used as a production and engineering tool to give space to instruments in a mix or to "glue" them together.
The plate in this apparatus is typically a large sheet of steel, measuring around one by two meters, suspended within a tubular steel frame. The plate simulates the acoustics of a large concert hall or church, with a decay time (RT-60) of about five seconds at 500 Hz. To activate the plate, a driver is attached, causing it to vibrate as sound waves travel through it. This motion is then captured by contact microphones, which add the reverberated signal to the dry signal at the mixer.
There are different ways to construct a plate reverb setup. One method involves using a bass shaker transducer and a Monacor AR-30 transducer, both powered by an amplifier, to drive the plate. Another approach uses a piezo microphone connected to an amplifier driving a surface transducer on a steel sheet.
The driver installation process is crucial. It involves drilling a small hole in the centre of the plate, screwing in the driver, and neatly attaching a speaker cable to its terminals. Once connected to an amplifier, the plate reverb comes to life, producing a smooth and natural sound without the twang or boing associated with spring reverb.
Plate reverb offers a broad range of sounds by adjusting the EQ and plate tension. It provides a classic sound that has been featured in many iconic records, including those of The Beatles and The Moody Blues.
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Spring reverb: a challenging effect to capture digitally, spring reverb is very interactive with the guitar
Spring reverb is a unique effect that has been used by many guitarists over the years, from 1960s surf rock to modern pop songs like Britney Spears' Toxic. It is created by using a pair of input and output transducers to inject an instrument's dry signal into a set of spring coils, capturing the reverberations as the sound bounces back. This results in a distinct, "drippy" sound with long decays and lively trails.
While spring reverb has a classic and charming sound, it can be challenging to capture digitally. Many digital pedals have attempted to emulate this effect, but some guitarists feel they have fallen short. The spring reverb sound is highly interactive with the guitar, and it can be difficult to replicate this symbiotic relationship in the digital realm.
However, there are a few companies that have created spring reverb pedals that sound excellent. For example, Demeter and Surfy Bear make real spring reverb pedals that have been well-received by guitarists. Surfy Bear, in particular, has gone to great lengths to accurately recreate the decay of the original Fender 6G15 Tube Reverb circuit, resulting in a spring reverb pedal that truly comes to life when played.
When choosing between spring reverb and other types of reverb, such as plate or hall reverb, it ultimately comes down to musical context and personal preference. Spring reverb has a high mids/trebley nature that can give a guitar a cool lo-fi sound, especially when combined with single coils. It is also very versatile, as it can be used sparingly for specific lead parts or as an "always-on" effect.
In conclusion, spring reverb is a challenging effect to capture digitally, but it is a highly interactive and versatile effect that can add a unique, classic sound to electric guitar playing. For guitarists seeking to recreate the iconic spring reverb tone, spring reverb pedals from companies like Demeter and Surfy Bear offer excellent options that accurately capture the nuances of this beloved effect.
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Hall reverb: recreates the sound of a music hall or a large church
Reverb is one of the most commonly used tools by audio engineers and is common to almost every musical recording. The main reverb types include room, hall, plate, spring, space, and shimmer.
Hall reverb recreates the sound of a music hall or a large church. It is meant to sound like your instrument is being played in a large, resonant space. Before amplification, rooms in music halls and churches were designed to sound great and resonate sound. They were meant to have sonic space, not be dead environments.
The TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 Reverb pedal is a popular choice for guitarists. It offers versatility, durability, quality, and affordability. It includes four knobs to adjust the reverb: Decay, Tone, FX Level, and an 11-point selector knob. The Hall of Fame 2 also features MASH technology and Shimmer reverb, and it has three total TonePrint slots.
Another option for guitarists is the Boss RV-6, which offers eight different types of reverb modes, including Hall. The Electro-Harmonix Pico Oceans 3-verb is a good choice for those with limited pedalboard space, as it packs spring, plate, and hall reverbs into a small enclosure.
Hall reverb is a great option for guitarists looking to recreate the sound of playing in a large, resonant space. With modern digital technology, guitarists can experiment with a variety of reverb types and create an array of different tones.
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Room reverb: placing microphones to capture the natural sound of the room
Reverb is a commonly used effect by guitarists, although many do not understand the technicalities of it. There are several types of reverb, including room, hall, plate, spring, space, and shimmer.
Room reverb is a type of reverb that sounds like you are in a regular indoor room. To capture the natural sound of a room, a microphone is placed in a room or space separate from the main source of sound, such as a guitar amp. This technique is known as using "room mics" or "ambient mics". The purpose of a room mic is to capture the ambience of the space, adding depth and character to the recording, and creating a sense of space and atmosphere.
When placing room microphones, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to be mindful of phase cancellation, which occurs when the sound from the main source and the room mic cancel each other out. This can be mitigated by careful placement and experimenting with different mic polar patterns and techniques. Secondly, the 3:1 rule can be utilized, which states that for every one unit of distance from the source, the next microphone should be three times that distance from the first mic. For example, if a microphone is 42 inches from the source, the next microphone should be placed 126 inches from the source. Thirdly, it is important to consider reflections from surfaces in the space. Placing microphones too close to a wall or corner can result in the capture of unpleasant frequency build-ups. Similarly, placing the microphone in the dead center of the space will result in a weak recording.
Room mics can be placed in various positions to achieve the desired effect. For instance, placing a microphone in the corner of a room can create a sense of depth and spaciousness, while placing it closer to the source of sound can capture a more direct sound. Additionally, room mics can be placed in corridors outside live rooms to capture an indirect sound with a distinct tone. In larger spaces, vaulted ceilings or cornered-off sections can be utilized to capture late reflections and add a sense of air to the mix.
Overall, the use of room mics is a powerful technique that can add a unique character and ambience to a recording. It allows for the capture of the natural sound of the room, creating an immersive experience for the listener.
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Space reverb: more of an effect than a proper reverb, it has a whooshing sound like stars travelling in space
Space reverb is more of an effect than a traditional reverb, and it has a distinct whooshing sound like stars travelling through space. This type of reverb is commonly used in Radiohead songs. It is created when soundwaves reflect off surfaces in a room, causing a large number of reflections to reach your ear so closely that you can't interpret them as individual delays.
Space reverb is a great tool for guitarists to make their playing more expressive. It can fill in the space between notes to thicken the sound or make a guitarist feel more comfortable in a dry room. It can also be used to simulate a large space and make the guitar sound huge, creating ambient effects. However, it should be used to complement the song and the guitarist's playing.
Space reverb is often used to create a sense of isolation and intimacy, as in Jeff Buckley's cover of "Hallelujah." It can also add depth and character to a simple melody or a handful of slowly picked notes. For example, an adventurous player can turn a guitar into a synth pad using the Modulate voicing of an RV-6.
Additionally, space reverb can be used to make a guitarist's playing feel more natural and rooted in its environment. It can be essential for both solo guitarists and post-rock acts, creating new genres of music. It can also be used for simple tone enhancement, helping the guitar sit in the mix.
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Frequently asked questions
Reverb is an effect created when sound waves reflect off surfaces in a room, causing a large number of reflections to reach your ear so closely that you can’t interpret them as individual delays.
The main types of reverb are room, hall, plate, spring, space, and shimmer.
Room reverb sounds like you're in a regular indoor room. Hall reverb sounds like you're in a music hall or large church. Plate reverb is fabricated, and unless it's turned up loud, you might not notice it. Spring reverb has a classic "drippy wet" sound. Space reverb is more of an effect than a proper reverb, with a "whooshing" sound like stars travelling in space.
There is no definitive answer, as it depends on your personal preference and the specific sound you want to achieve. However, some popular reverbs for electric guitar include the AKG BX20, PCM60, and Eventide Plates for long surreal reverb. For spring reverb, the Surfy Bear Metal pedal is a good option, and for digital reverb, the Strymon BigSky pedal is a favourite.
