The Evolution of Reverb
July 16, 2024
Reverb, or reverberation, is a critical element in audio production, providing depth, space, and atmosphere to sound. Its journey from the humble stairwells of the 1940s and 50s to the sophisticated digital reverbs of today is a fascinating one, reflecting both technological advances and creative ingenuity. Lets explore the evolution of reverb.
Early Beginnings
Stairwells and Chambers
In the early days of audio recording, producers sought ways to add a sense of space and depth to their recordings. One of the simplest and most effective methods was using natural reverb from stairwells and echo chambers (usually basements).
By placing a microphone at one end of a stairwell and a speaker at the other, they could capture the natural reflections and decay of sound waves bouncing off the walls. This technique was widely used in the 1940s and 50s, providing a rich, organic reverb that enhanced vocal and instrumental recordings.
I visit an osteopath regularly, and getting to his office involves walking up three flights of stairs. I have to say, those stairs have some of the best reverb I’ve ever heard. The sound is incredibly rich, with excellent top-end reverberation. I often find myself making silly noises just to enjoy the acoustics.
While concrete stairwells can provide amazing reverberation effects, they are primarily designed for building access or emergency exits in larger buildings, so setting up a speaker and microphone in such spaces is neither ideal nor practical. A better, more convenient solution needed to be found.
The Stairwell at The Power Station Studios in New York, famous for its lush reverb.
EMT 140 Plate Reverb
Plate Reverb
In the early days of audio recording, producers sought ways to add a sense of space and depth to their recordings. One of the simplest and most effective methods was using natural reverb from stairwells and echo chambers (usually basements). By placing a microphone at one end of a stairwell and a speaker at the other, they could capture the natural reflections and decay of sound waves bouncing off the walls. This technique was widely used in the 1940s and 50s, providing a rich, organic reverb that enhanced vocal and instrumental recordings.
I visit an osteopath regularly, and getting to his office involves walking up three flights of stairs. I have to say, those stairs have some of the best reverb I’ve ever heard. The sound is incredibly rich, with excellent top-end reverberation. I often find myself making silly noises just to enjoy the acoustics. While concrete stairwells can provide amazing reverberation effects, they are primarily designed for building access or emergency exits in larger buildings, so setting up a speaker and microphone in such spaces is neither ideal nor practical.
The EMT 140 was used on these classic recordings
Boing boing Boing
Spring Reverb
Around the same time that plate reverbs were gaining popularity, spring reverbs also started to make their mark. First developed for use in guitar amplifiers, spring reverb consists of one or more metal springs through which sound is sent. The vibrations travel through the springs, creating a distinctive reverb effect characterised by a “boingy” or “twangy” sound.
Spring reverb found its niche in the world of electric guitars and became a defining feature of many classic amp models. It was particularly popular in surf music and rock and roll during the 1960s. While it may not offer the same lush, expansive sound as plate reverbs, the unique character of spring reverb has ensured its continued use and popularity in both vintage and modern audio equipment.
The Klark Teknik DN 50 Spring Reverb was introduced around the mid-seventies, just prior to the launch of digital reverbs. It was famously used on the Eurythmics classic, Sweet Dreams.
The Spring Reverb ‘tank’ showing the simple method used to create an artifical reverb sound.
EMT 250 Digital Reverb
Algorithmic Reverb
As technology advanced, the desire for more versatile and manageable reverb effects led to the development of digital reverbs. Algorithmic reverb was the first such development, and it uses mathematical algorithms to simulate the reverb effect. By adjusting parameters such as room size, decay time, and diffusion, users can create a variety of reverb sounds. Algorithmic reverbs are highly versatile and are often used in real-time applications due to their efficiency and low latency. All early digital reverbs such as the EMT 250 and Lexicon 224 are algorithmic designs.
Top view of the EMT 250’s controls
The EMT 250, introduced in 1976, was the first digital reverb unit and revolutionised the audio industry. It used early digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to simulate reverb, offering unprecedented control over decay times, pre-delay, and other parameters. The EMT 250’s ability to produce a wide range of reverb effects made it an instant classic, and it set the stage for future digital innovations. Its unique interface made the unit look like something out of a sci-fi movie, but as digital technology moved on (and it did so quite rapidly) there was no longer a need for the relatively large size of the EMT 250, and manufacturers like Lexicon managed a far more compact and practical solution with the release of their first digital reverb, the Lexicon 224.
The EMT 250 is often referred to as R2D2 as it resembles the fictional robot character in the Star Wars, but its large levers (see to the right) made tweaking the EMT 250 a breeze.
The EMT 250 was used on these classic recordings
Sony DRE-S777 Sampling Reverb
Convolution Reverb
Convolution reverb, introduced in the late 1990s, uses impulse responses (IRs) to recreate the acoustic characteristics of real spaces. An IR is a recording of an acoustic environment’s response to a brief sound, like a clap or a sine wave sweep. By convolving an audio signal with an IR, convolution reverb can accurately reproduce the reverb of any recorded space, from famous concert halls to unique soundscapes.
The Sony DRE-S777 Sampling Digital Reverberator introduced audio professionals to a revolutionary approach in sound processing. This advanced digital effects processor recreates the natural reverberation of concert halls, theatres, and sound stages with unmatched depth, presence, and richness. Unlike conventional processors, the Sony DRE-S777 achieves this naturalism through sophisticated processing (Convolution Reverb) that blends audio signals with sampled data (Impulse Responses) from actual acoustic environments.
Sony introduced the DRE S777 in 1999, it was the first real-time convolution reverb processor to hit the market.
The Explosion of
VST Plugins
The digital era has also given rise to a plethora of VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plugins that emulate various reverb methods. These plugins offer the convenience of software-based reverb, allowing producers to access a wide range of effects within their digital audio workstations (DAWs). Some popular reverb VST plugins include:
- Valhalla VintageVerb: Known for its versatile and lush reverb algorithms, VintageVerb offers a range of vintage-inspired reverb effects.
- Altiverb: A convolution reverb plugin that features high-quality impulse responses from real spaces, making it a go-to for realistic reverb.
- FabFilter Pro-R: Combines intuitive controls with high-quality algorithmic reverb, providing a user-friendly interface and excellent sound.
Audioease’s Altiverb is one of the best convolution reverbs on the market, offering everything from stairwells to pyramids!
Vintage Reverb Impulse Responses for Altiverb
From the inventive use of stairwells in the early days of recording to the sophisticated digital reverbs of today, the evolution of reverb technology has profoundly impacted audio production. Each innovation, from the EMT 140 plate reverb to the EMT 250 digital reverb and beyond, has expanded the creative possibilities for musicians, engineers, and producers. With the continuous development of VST plugins, the future of reverb looks promising, offering even more tools for shaping the sonic landscape.
