Vocal Reverb Tricks to spice up your mix

Commonly used in the field of Audio Engineering, Music Production, and Sound Design, reverb is a sound effect that simulates the reflections of sound in a physical space, creating a sense of depth and ambiance.

Below given are just a few tips to help you improve the quality of your mix using reverb. The important thing is to experiment and find what works best for you and your mix.

1. Automate the reverb. You may generate dynamic and fascinating soundscapes by automating the reverb levels. You may, for example, enhance reverb during the breaks to give a feeling of space or decrease it during the sections where words are placed closer together to bring the parts closer together. Automating reverb on vocals may add depth and intrigue to your mix, and it's a great way for managing reverb intensity over time.

Here's how you can automate reverb on vocals:

1. Set up a reverb on a separate auxiliary track and send your lead vocal to the reverb track.

2. Record the automation: Record the automation by manually adjusting the reverb send fader to increase or decrease the reverb level at different points in time. You can also use the automation pencil tool to draw the automation curve.

3. Experiment with automation shapes: You can create a variety of automation shapes, including gradual increases and decreases, sharp spikes, and gradual fades. Experiment with different shapes to find the one that works best for your mix.

These are the basic steps for automating reverb on vocals. The important thing is to experiment and find what works best for your mix. You can either automate the dry/wet to increase or decrease the reverb, or you can just automate the Reverberation time to alter the size of the reverb.

2. Sidechain the reverb. Sidechaining a reverb with vocals is a common mixing technique that can help to create space and clarity in your mix. Essentially, you're using the level of the lead vocal to control the level of the reverb, so that the reverb is reduced whenever the lead vocal is present. This helps to prevent the reverb from muddying up the mix and conflicting with the vocal.

Here's how you can sidechain your reverb with your vocals:

1. Set up a reverb on a separate auxiliary track: This allows you to process the reverb independently from the other elements in your mix.

2. Send your lead vocal to the reverb track: This will cause the reverb to be triggered whenever the lead vocal is playing.

3. Set up a compressor on the reverb track: The compressor will be used to reduce the level of the reverb whenever the lead vocal is playing.

4. Set the sidechain input on the compressor: The sidechain input should be set to the lead vocal track so that the level of the reverb is controlled by the level of the lead vocal.

5. Adjust the compressor settings: The attack, release, and ratio settings of the compressor will determine how quickly the reverb is reduced whenever the lead vocal is playing. Experiment with different settings until you find the one that works best for your mix.

3. Layering different reverbs. Stacking up different reverbs can create a more complex and layered sound, and it's a useful technique for adding depth and texture to your mix.

Here's how you can stack up different reverbs:

1. Set up multiple reverb plugins: Add multiple reverb plugins to separate auxiliary tracks in your DAW. You can use a combination of different reverb types, such as plate, hall, room, and chamber reverb.

2. Send different elements to different reverbs: You can send different elements of your mix, such as your lead vocal, background vocals, drums, and instruments, to different reverbs. This will allow you to create different reverb textures for each element.

3. Blend the reverbs: Once you have the different reverbs set up, you can blend them together by adjusting the volume faders for each auxiliary track. Experiment with different levels to find the balance that works best for your mix.

4. Experiment with different reverb settings: You can experiment with different reverb settings, such as decay time, early reflection, and diffusion, to find the settings that work best for your mix.

5. Automate the reverbs: You can also automate the different reverbs by using send-level automation or sends to create a dynamic reverb sound that changes over time.

Stacking up different reverbs can create a rich and complex soundscape, but it's important to use it judiciously, as too much reverb can muddle up your mix. Start with a small amount of reverb and add more as needed.

4. EQ your reverb. EQing the reverb can help to shape the tone of the reverb and make it blend better with the rest of the mix.

Here's how you can EQ the reverb:

1. Set up a reverb on a separate auxiliary track: This allows you to process the reverb independently from the other elements in your mix.

2. Add an equalizer plugin to the reverb track: You can use any equalizer plugin that's available in your DAW.

3. Analyze the reverb frequency spectrum: Use a spectrum analyzer or another type of frequency analysis tool to analyze the frequency spectrum of the reverb. This will give you a visual representation of the different frequencies that make up the reverb.

4. Cut or boost frequencies as needed: Based on the frequency spectrum analysis, you can use the equalizer to cut or boost specific frequencies to shape the tone of the reverb. For example, you may want to cut low frequencies to reduce the rumble or mud in the reverb or boost high frequencies to add brightness and air to the reverb.

5. Experiment with different EQ settings: You can experiment with different EQ settings, such as shelving and bell filters, to find the settings that work best for your mix.

Note: EQing the reverb can be a powerful tool for shaping the tone and character of the reverb and making it blend better with the rest of the mix. Keep in mind that the specific EQ settings will depend on the reverb and the elements that you're processing, so be sure to experiment and find what works best for your mix.

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