Why Your Reverb Sucks (Fix It!)
If you’ve ever loaded up a reverb plugin and thought:
“Should I be using a Hall or a Plate here?”
“What does Spring reverb actually sound like?”
“When would I use a Chamber instead of a Room?”
You’re not alone. Reverb is one of the most powerful tools in your mix, but all the different types can be confusing.
In this post, I’ll break down the 5 main types of reverb using one of my go-to plugins—Valhalla Vintage Verb. You’ll hear clear examples of how each type sounds, and I’ll even give you the exact plugin settings I used, so you can try them for yourself.
And yes—you can download all 5 of these presets for free (form above 👆).
Let’s get into it.
1. Room Reverb – Natural & Tight
Room reverb is the most subtle and realistic of them all. It simulates small environments like studios, bedrooms, or rehearsal spaces.
Perfect for when you want to keep a sound upfront while adding a bit of space.
🎛 Preset: Streaky – Close Quarters
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Mode: Room
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Decay: 0.8s
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Pre-delay: 10ms
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High Cut: 9kHz
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Mix: 30%
👉 Great on vocals, snares, and tight drum loops where you want presence without depth.
2. Hall Reverb – Big & Lush
Hall reverbs are built to sound like concert halls or cathedrals. Think long tails, smooth reflections, and loads of atmosphere.
This is your go-to for cinematic vibes, pads, and ambient vocal effects.
🎛 Preset: Streaky – Infinite Halls
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Mode: Hall
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Decay: 4.5s
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Pre-delay: 20ms
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High Cut: 8kHz
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Mix: 35%
👉 Ideal when you want something massive and emotional.
3. Plate Reverb – Smooth & Shiny
Plate reverbs aren’t based on physical spaces. Instead, they use vibrating metal plates to generate that iconic silky studio sound.
They’re bright, clean, and sit beautifully in a mix—especially on vocals and snares.
🎛 Preset: Streaky – Gold Plate Deluxe
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Mode: Plate
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Decay: 2.5s
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Pre-delay: 5ms
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High Cut: 10kHz
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Mix: 40%
👉 When you want something studio-polished and easy to blend, this is it.
💡 This preset is one of the most popular in my free pack—grab it above if you want a quick way to get that sound.
4. Spring Reverb – Vintage & Bouncy
Spring reverb gives you that boingy, retro sound—perfect for guitars, lo-fi vocals, dub effects, and surf rock.
It’s raw, bouncy, and has loads of character.
🎛 Preset: Streaky – Twang Tank
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Mode: Spring
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Decay: 1.8s
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Pre-delay: 0ms
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High Cut: 7.5kHz
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Mix: 45%
👉 A great way to add personality and movement to clean, dry sounds.
5. Chamber Reverb – Classic & Warm
Chamber reverb is based on actual echo chambers from legendary studios like Abbey Road. It’s warmer than a Hall, but more expansive than a Room.
Think of it as a balanced, vintage-sounding reverb that just works on vocals and instruments.
🎛 Preset: Streaky – Abbey Glow
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Mode: Chamber
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Decay: 2.8s
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Pre-delay: 15ms
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High Cut: 9kHz
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Mix: 38%
👉 Great for giving your mix that old-school depth and class.
So… Which Reverb Should You Use?
It all depends on the vibe you're after:
| Reverb Type | Best For | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Room | Vocals, Drums | Tight & Realistic |
| Hall | Pads, Ambient Vocals | Big & Lush |
| Plate | Studio Vocals, Snares | Smooth & Polished |
| Spring | Guitars, Lo-fi, FX | Retro & Bouncy |
| Chamber | Vocals, Instruments | Warm & Classic |
If you want to stop guessing and start creating better mixes faster, make sure you download my free Valhalla Vintage Verb preset pack above.
These are the exact settings I use day in, day out. Just load them up, and go.
🎧 Bonus Tip: Sidechain Your Reverb
One of the easiest ways to get your reverb to sit properly in a mix—especially when you're using long tails like Hall or Chamber—is to sidechain it to the vocal. That way, the reverb dips out of the way when the vocal is playing, but still fills the space between lines.
I show exactly how to do this in this quick video:
👉 Watch How to Sidechain Reverb Without Killing Your Vocal
This trick alone can instantly clean up your vocal mix and keep your reverb sounding big without being overwhelming.
Want Even More Reverb Presets?
If you liked the free presets, I’ve also created a full Valhalla Vintage Verb Preset Pack that goes even deeper:
✅ More instruments
✅ More FX styles
✅ More creative options
They’re the exact reverb settings I use in real mixes, and they’ll save you loads of time.
