Why reverb makes the vocals become distant | How to spread it out naturally while keeping it in front

Adding reverb to vocals can make the words become more distant instead of wider. This is caused not only by the amount of reverberation, but also by the fact that the original sound and the time, band, and movement at which the reverberation begins overlap too much.

1｜Retain the outline of the original sound with pre-delay

If the pre-delay is too short, the reverb starts at the same time as the consonant and hides the contours of the word. Starting from about 20 to 80 ms, search for the position where the original sound is heard first and then the reverberation spreads.

2｜Organizing the low range of reverb

If you add full-range reverberation to a recording with a low voice or a strong proximity effect, the area around 200 to 500Hz tends to become muddy. Add a high pass to the reverb side to reduce unnecessary low frequencies without losing warmth.

3｜Do not make the high range too bright

When the high range of the reverb is strong, lines and breaths linger for a long time, making the entire voice sound painful. Use a low pass or de-esser on the reverberation side to separate the brightness of the original sound from the softness of the reverberation.

4｜Check early reflections

Presets with large early reflections make the walls of the room seem closer. If you want to bring the vocals to the front, try lowering the early reflections or trying a shorter, denser plate system.

5｜Automate the send amount

It is not necessary to send the same amount for the entire story. You can achieve both clarity and breadth by reducing the number of words and adding more words only at the end or before an interlude.

6｜Reducing reverberation only while singing by ducking

Place a compressor on the reverb and input the vocal original sound as a side chain input. By lowering the reverberation a little while singing and then bringing it back at the end of the words, you can feel the space while keeping your voice in front.

When making decisions, avoid soloing the reverb and maintain the same perceived volume throughout the song. A natural starting point is that you feel a little lonely the moment you stop playing, but you don't become too conscious of its existence while it's ringing.