Reverb is an integral part of near every finished recording. It creates space in the mix, and ambience and body for individual instruments. For some types of sound design, a huge, cavernous reverb is an integral part of the overall sound. When playing live, however, consider pulling back on the artificial ‘verb.

Live spaces have their very own, natural “room” reverb/ambience. Unless you’re in a super-dead space, you generally don’t need to create a “room” for your instruments and vocals, you’re in a real room. On stage you need just enough ambience to create the tail, or consider trying a short delay instead.

You may love the sound of guitar with reverb, but the audience will get that reverb from the natural acoustics; adding additional artificial reverb to create a space is unnecessary. If you’re using reverb as an effect — for example, getting that dense, delicious Fender tube spring reverb tank sound for surf guitar — remember that the room will be adding natural reverb on top of whatever you’re putting on the signal.

So keep on using reverb, but use your ears to decide how much is right in the context of your performance space. You may want to reduce the ‘verb level to account for the acoustics. You’ll find that reining in your reverb will help you keep your live sound from getting muddy and washy, and it will still sound “wet” enough thanks to the real ambience of the room.

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