What are the best types of reverb and delay for different genres and instruments?

3 Delay types and genres

Delay is a popular effect in music production, with a range of different types available. Analog delay produces a warm, organic sound, perfect for guitars, vocals, and keyboards in rock, indie, and psychedelic genres. Digital delay offers a clean and precise sound that works well with drums, percussion, and synths in pop, electronic, and hip-hop genres. Modulated delay adds modulation effects like chorus, flanger, or phaser to the delayed signal for added movement and texture. Finally, ping-pong delay alternates the delayed signal between the left and right channels to create stereo width and depth in electronic, dance, and pop genres.

4 How to use reverb and delay for stereo imaging

Stereo imaging is a technique used to create a sense of width, depth, and space in your mix. Reverb and delay can help you achieve this by adding dimension, contrast, and movement to your sounds. To use reverb and delay for stereo imaging, it's important to choose different types of reverb and delay for different elements in your mix. For example, you could use a plate reverb for vocals, a hall reverb for strings, and a room reverb for drums. Additionally, using different settings of reverb and delay can create contrast and balance between elements. Finally, you can use panning and automation to create movement and interest in your mix by panning instruments slightly left and right or automating the level, time, or feedback of the delay. With these tips in mind, you can create a professional mix that sounds great on any speaker or headphone.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?