A room reverb is a device that uses a customizable algorithm to turn a source sound into a reverberant version of that specific sound. Its aim is to mimic the natural sound of a small acoustic space, which translates into a faster sound and decay.
Small spaces are the perfect scenario to add realism to instrument recordings, especially those made with a close microphone positioning. The magic of room reverb is that it gives the impression that someone is playing the instrument in a real acoustic space. Drums and guitars are great examples of this reverb because they really benefit from this type of processing.
Room Reverb: When to Use It
Typically, musicians use it to enhance slap and echo effects, making them more realistic. The result becomes more evident if the mix involves real instruments. In addition, experts often use it as a substitute for echo and slap delay effects. Similarly, it works by decreasing the reverb’s time and prolonging the pre-delay time.
Be careful, though. On the one hand, if you exaggerate the room reverb in the mix, you might distort the consequent sound might. On the other, if the device is very simple, it might add unwanted resonances to the mix. In turn, these can become a musical disaster! Because of this, producers often prefer a more sophisticated device. Currently, however, simple devices are rare, since modern versions are mostly popular in combos. Modern units involve room, hall, and plate types of reverb within the same device.
Some Examples
ValhallaRoom plugin, a well-designed software room reverb, is a full stereo unit that mimics real acoustic spaces. GUI is designed for easy navigation, while early and late reverb sections are both stereo-in and stereo-out. The energy between the stereo channels includes 12 unique reverb algorithms and can be controlled over time. This function helps preserve the input spatial image.
