What are the different types of reverb, and where did they originate?
Editor’s Note: A reverb effect is based on an acoustic phenomenon created when a sound is produced in an enclosed space. The reverb sound effect mimics the echoes and decays of the sound as they build up and then dissapate.
Analog Reverb
Well, back in the day, reverb was primarily created in one of two ways.
Method #1: A spring contraption located within the head of the amplifier would have sound channeled through it, and the sound would reverberate through the spring. A pickup at the end of the spring would channel that fade-out echo into the amp, because as the sound wave traveled it lost intensity, creating that “echo in an empty room” effect. Thus we have spring reverb.
Method #2: The second primary type of reverb is plate reverb, where the sound wave was run through a plate, a small sheet of metal that would reverberate with the sound. In my opinion, this creates a richer, fuller reverb effect. However, because of its cost, the spring reverb became the main type of reverb in vintage amps.
Digital Reverb
Fast forward to the modern age: digital reverb. The third and most versatile type of reverb. The sound wave of your guitar is fed through algorithms and an echo pattern is created that mirrors, or reproduces, that of a real reverb. There is no actual reverberation occuring within a spring or a plate of metal, it is a purely digital effect. This type of reverberation has opened the door to such reverbs as “hall” and “room” reverb.
Electro-Harmonix makes the Holy Grail reverb pedal (located at http://www.ehx.com/products/holy-grail) which contains a “flerb” setting, where the reverb sound has a flanger effect on it, causing the reverb sound to become slightly detuned and very space-y. I own a behringer digital reverb that has a “modulate” setting that also detunes the echo and makes the sound more out of this world.
So to sum it all up, spring reverb and plate reverb involve reverberation through their respective metals, and digital reverb imitates them as well as providing its own unique types of reverb.
For some of the most popular reverb pedals, visit http://www.ehx.com/browse/reverb
For the cheapest but still decent-sounding reverb, visit http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/DR600.aspx This pedal will also show you the different types of digital reverb.
The Types and Origins of Reverb
What are the different types of reverb, and where did they originate?
Analog Reverb
Well, back in the day, reverb was primarily created in one of two ways.
Method #1: A spring contraption located within the head of the amplifier would have sound channeled through it, and the sound would reverberate through the spring. A pickup at the end of the spring would channel that fade-out echo into the amp, because as the sound wave traveled it lost intensity, creating that “echo in an empty room” effect. Thus we have spring reverb.
Method #2: The second primary type of reverb is plate reverb, where the sound wave was run through a plate, a small sheet of metal that would reverberate with the sound. In my opinion, this creates a richer, fuller reverb effect. However, because of its cost, the spring reverb became the main type of reverb in vintage amps.
Digital Reverb
Fast forward to the modern age: digital reverb. The third and most versatile type of reverb. The sound wave of your guitar is fed through algorithms and an echo pattern is created that mirrors, or reproduces, that of a real reverb. There is no actual reverberation occuring within a spring or a plate of metal, it is a purely digital effect. This type of reverberation has opened the door to such reverbs as “hall” and “room” reverb.
Electro-Harmonix makes the Holy Grail reverb pedal (located at http://www.ehx.com/products/holy-grail) which contains a “flerb” setting, where the reverb sound has a flanger effect on it, causing the reverb sound to become slightly detuned and very space-y. I own a behringer digital reverb that has a “modulate” setting that also detunes the echo and makes the sound more out of this world.
So to sum it all up, spring reverb and plate reverb involve reverberation through their respective metals, and digital reverb imitates them as well as providing its own unique types of reverb.
For some of the most popular reverb pedals, visit http://www.ehx.com/browse/reverb
For the cheapest but still decent-sounding reverb, visit http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/DR600.aspx This pedal will also show you the different types of digital reverb.