Reverb Cheat Sheet

Reverb Type	What It Does	Use It For	How to Use It	Recommended Plugins	Pro Tips
Hall	Simulates the acoustics of a large concert hall or auditorium, providing lush, spacious decay.	Vocals, orchestral instruments, full mixes, cinematic soundtracks.	Adjust decay time (2-4 seconds) and pre-delay (20-50ms) for natural space. For vocals, use on lead singers to add depth without washing out. On orchestral sections, blend for cohesion. For mixes, apply subtly to the bus for ambiance.	Valhalla Room Soundtoys EchoBoy Universal Audio EMT 140	Use longer decay for epic feels. High pre-delay preserves clarity.
Plate	Emulates the sound of a metal plate reverb, offering bright, metallic sheen with fast response.	Vocals, drums, electric guitar, percussion.	Set decay (1-3 seconds) and pre-delay (10-30ms) for shimmer. For vocals, add polish to harmonies. On drums, enhance overheads for space. For guitar, create lush sustain. Blend wet/dry to control intensity.	Waves RVerb Soundtoys Plate Reverb Universal Audio EMT 250	Great for adding brightness. Use on snares for extra snap.
Chamber	Recreates the sound of a reverberant chamber, with warm, intimate decay.	Vocals, acoustic instruments, strings, intimate recordings.	Decay time (1-2 seconds), pre-delay (15-40ms). For vocals, use on background singers for blend. On acoustics, enhance natural resonance. For strings, add warmth. Adjust size for intimacy.	Valhalla VintageVerb Soundtoys Little Plate Arturia Plate Reverb	Ideal for vintage warmth. Short decay for tight spaces.
Spring	Mimics the twangy, boingy sound of a spring reverb unit, with characteristic metallic artifacts.	Electric guitar, drums, vocals in rock/pop, surf music.	Decay (0.5-2 seconds), pre-delay minimal (5-20ms). For guitar, add classic amp-like sustain. On drums, enhance toms for depth. For vocals, use sparingly for character. Embrace the twang.	Soundtoys Little Microverb Waves RVox Strymon BigSky (spring mode)	Perfect for retro sounds. Use on guitar amps for that '60s vibe.
Room	Simulates small to medium room acoustics, providing intimate, realistic space.	Vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, small ensembles.	Decay (0.5-1.5 seconds), pre-delay (10-30ms). For vocals, add proximity without overwhelming. On guitar/piano, enhance room feel. For ensembles, blend elements. Adjust size for control.	Valhalla Room Soundtoys EchoBoy iZotope Reflect	Use for natural intimacy. Short pre-delay for close-miking effects.
Convolution	Uses real-space impulse responses for ultra-realistic, sampled reverb.	Any source needing authentic spaces, film scoring, immersive audio.	Load IR of real halls/rooms, adjust decay via wet/dry. For vocals, match to performance space. On instruments, use for accurate placement. In film, sync with visuals. Blend carefully.	Altiverb Soundtoys Convolution Reverb Waves IR-L	Capture your own IRs for custom spaces. Use for hyper-realism.
Algorithmic	Digital algorithms generate reverb mathematically, offering flexible, modern control.	Modern productions, EDM, electronic music, sound design.	Adjust decay (0.5-5 seconds), pre-delay, diffusion. For EDM, create vast spaces. On vocals, add modern sheen. For sound design, experiment with parameters. Use modulation for movement.	Valhalla Supermassive Soundtoys Little Microverb FabFilter Pro-R	Highly tweakable. Use freeze for infinite sustain.
Ambience	Short, subtle reverb for adding natural room tone without overpowering.	Vocals, acoustic instruments, drums (overheads), subtle enhancement.	Very short decay (0.2-0.8 seconds), low wet level. For vocals, add breath without space. On acoustics, enhance pluck/twang. For drums, glue overheads. Use as send return.	Soundtoys Little Microverb Valhalla Room (short settings) Waves RVerb	Subtle and natural. Great for 'air' without reverb.
Gated	Reverb with a noise gate, creating sharp, truncated decay for '80s drum sound.	Drums (especially gated snares), percussion, creative effects.	Decay (1-3 seconds), gate threshold tight. For drums, apply to snare for punchy gate. On percussion, add rhythmic interest. For effects, use on vocals for stutter. Adjust gate speed.	Soundtoys EchoBoy (with gate) Waves GTR3 (gated mode) Custom chains with reverb + gate	Iconic for '80s rock. Gate aggressively for tight sound.
Reverse	Plays reverb decay backwards, creating eerie, swelling effects.	Sound design, intros/outros, creative vocals, experimental music.	Decay (2-5 seconds), reverse the tail. For intros, build tension. On vocals, add mystery. For effects, layer subtly. Use automation for swells.	Soundtoys EchoBoy (reverse) Valhalla Supermassive FabFilter Pro-R (reverse)	Use for dramatic builds. Reverse the entire signal for full effect.