---
title: "What is reverb and delay?"

description: "We've covered pitch (frequency) and loudness (dynamics). In this episode, we look at the third major component of music: TIME. I discuss my philosophical view of reverbs, delays and time-based effects—including spacial / binaural audio."

status: complete

date: 2021-12-06

kind: solo

guestSlugs: []

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/What-is-reverb-and-delay-e1bb696"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-is-reverb-and-delay/id1567355195?i=1000544138676"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/2FlqfMroKRqYtBkH2FHFYn"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Delay"
  - "Reverb"
  - "Effects"
  - "Music production"
  - "Philosophy"
  - "Spatial audio"
  - "Mixing"

hostNote: |
  All music exists within time, it's a linear art, and everything you do in production is a manipulation of that. Reverb and delay are the tools that put you somewhere. They're not decoration; they're the answer to the question: where is the listener standing?
  
  I work through the mechanics, delay as a recorded signal played back after a short interval, reverb as a cascade of overlapping delays that simulate a physical space, and then into what "wet" and "dry" actually mean in practice, and why pre-delay matters for clarity when the reverb tail would otherwise swallow the transient.
  
  The episode closes on something harder to quantify: the best production makes you stop hearing the techniques and just gets swallowed by vibe. Every reverb and delay choice should serve that, not announce itself.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Introduction to Time in Music"
    startSec: 0
    note: "I introduce the concept of time as a primary element of music, alongside frequency and amplitude."
  - label: "Manipulating Time in Production"
    startSec: 90
    note: "I discuss how time affects music production and the different perceptions of space created by reverb."
  - label: "Philosophy of Reverb and Delay"
    startSec: 136
    note: "I share my philosophical view on how reverb and delay can influence the emotional experience of a song."
  - label: "Demonstrating Delay"
    startSec: 271
    note: "A practical demonstration of delay, explaining feedback and its role in creating echoes."
  - label: "What is Reverb?"
    startSec: 360
    note: "I outline how reverb works by multiplying echoes to create the sensation of being in different spaces."
  - label: "The Concept of Wetness and Dryness"
    startSec: 453
    note: "Explanation of reverb parameters, including wetness and pre-delay adjustments for clarity."
  - label: "Binaural and Spatial Audio"
    startSec: 541
    note: "I explore spatial audio and how it replicates real-world sound experiences."
  - label: "Intentional Use of Effects"
    startSec: 765
    note: "I discuss the importance of intentional sound design and the emotional impact of production choices."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "All music exists within the plane of time. It is a linear art... we can manipulate this in a bunch of different ways."
    startSec: 47
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Reverb is using a series of time delays to create the artificial impression of space."
    startSec: 97
    reviewed: true
  - text: "My concept of mixing and creating audio in the digital space is that... I can take your ears on a journey and I'm going to put you in different spaces."
    startSec: 181
    reviewed: true
  - text: "If you have the wetness cranked all the way up... it's just swimming in reverb."
    startSec: 496
    reviewed: true
  - text: "The coolest stuff is what really immerses you... make it so that you stop hearing the recording techniques and you're instead just swallowed by vibe."
    startSec: 861
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Every part of the music creation and recording process should add value and do it in its own unique way."
    startSec: 946
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What is reverb and how is it used in music production?"
    answer: "Reverb is a time-based effect that creates the impression of space by adding echoes and reflections to sound. It is used in music production to enhance the depth and ambiance of recordings."
  - question: "What is delay and how does it work?"
    answer: "Delay is an effect that records an audio signal and plays it back after a short period, creating an echo. It can be manipulated through parameters like feedback to achieve different sonic textures."
  - question: "How can reverb and delay affect the emotional experience of music?"
    answer: "Both effects can influence the listener's perception of space and depth, enhancing emotional engagement by immersing them in the sonic landscape of a song."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---