In simple terms, reverb is the simulation of sound bouncing off walls and surfaces in an acoustic environment. While you can use it in every premium DAW, we’re going to start with FL Studio’s Reeverb 2.
To add reverb to audio or an instrument track in FL Studio
1) Route the audio or VST to the mixer
2) On the mixer, Add Fruity Reeverb 2 as an effect plugin
3) Open it
4) Left-click on the Presets window
5) Select “Bright Hall”
The Quick and Easy Way of Adding Reverb in FL Studio
There’s more to it than that though. Let’s start with the basics first and then I’ll also share 6 of my favourite ways to use reverb at the very end (click here to go to the tips now).
In FL Studio, there are a few plugins that you can use to add reverb to your tracks. These are Fruity Reeverb 2, Fruity Convolver, and LuxeVerb. You can use Fruity Reeverb 1 too, but it’s not as good. In FL Studio Mobile, I believe there are only two.
LuxeVerb, however, is only available on FL Studio 21’s “All Plugin Edition.” Although, you can use the Trial version which works just fine.
You must upgrade to FL Studio’s All Plugin Edition or purchase the plugin separately if you use a previous version. Let’s start with the first one: the Fruity Reeverb 2.
1) Fruity Reeverb 2
For most people, it has all the settings parameters you would ever need to get the sounds you’re looking for. To use it, the first thing you have to do is the following:
A) Route the Audio Track to the Mixer
Before using the reverb plugin or any effect plugin on an audio file, you must send the audio file to the mixer on FL Studio.
You can do this by right-clicking the playlist track containing the audio. Then, choose “Track mode” from the pop-up menu. Now, select “Audio track,” then select any appropriate Insert from the list of available Inserts on the mixer.
Before this can be done, you need to send the VST to the mixer, which can be quickly done by pressing Fn + F6 on your keyboard (just F6 if you’re on PC) to open up the “Channel rack.”
B) Load Fruity Reeverb 2 on the Effect Chain
Now that you have routed the audio track or VST (virtual instrument) to the mixer, the next step is to load up Fruity Reeverb 2 as an effect plugin on the Insert slot the audio or VST was sent to.
Firstly, open the mixer using the keyboard shortcut “F9” (fn + F9 for macOS). Then, left-click the audio/VST insert slot on the mixer. Right-click on any empty effect “Slot” in the mixer’s effect window.
C) Open Presets Menu
The quickest way to add reverb to your audio is by using the presets in Fruity Reeverb 2. Depending on the type of effect you want on your audio, you can select from the list of presets to suit your Idea.
I won’t recommend using the presets for finer and more sophisticated reverb effects. You should carefully make manual adjustments to each parameter in the plugin to achieve what you’re going for, however, presets are always a great jumping-off point.
D) Manual Settings
To get the best result, you have to use the knobs in the plugin to adjust the character of the reverb. The Fruity Reeverb 2 Interface has a lot of sliders and knobs that serve various functions. You must know what each of these knobs represents and what they do so you can adjust them appropriately.
i) Dry (Dry Level)
This parameter allows you to adjust the levels of the original audio input that will be part of the final output. Think of it as the unprocessed audio signal without the reverb effect.
Its slider ranges from 0% to 125%. To adjust this slider, hold the left-click button and drag your mouse upwards or downwards to increase or decrease it.
ii) Wet (Wet Level)
This parameter is the most important in Fruity Reeverb 2 as it controls just how much of the processed reverb sound is mixed in with your audio.
Like “Dry signal,” the slider for this parameter ranges from 0% to 125% and can be adjusted using your mouse as described earlier.
I recommend increasing the values for the wet signal for a better reverb result, but you can get hyper-specific with just how much reverb you’d like to add.
iii) ER (Early Reflections)
The ER slider controls the level, or relative volume, of the first reflected sound in the reverb. The range of this slider is from 0% to 125% and can be adjusted by holding the left-click button and dragging your mouse upwards or downwards.
iv) SEP (Stereo Separation)
This knob is used to control the reverb’s stereo dimension, ie, how much of the sound is in the left speaker or right speaker.
It can be turned to the right for a more centred reverb effect or to the left for a broader one. The knob can be rotated 100% to the left or right, with a default setting of 0.
I recommend carefully adjusting this using your studio headphones for the desired result. You’re going to need a decent set of monitors for this.
v) Mid/Side Input
I recommend you use the “MID” mode when applying reverb to solo instruments, vocals, or audio Input without stereo effects. When adding reverb to a finished mix with stereo information, you should select “SIDE” mode.
vi) H.Cut (High-Frequency Cut)
You can use this knob to cut out unpleasant high frequencies from the reverb. The knob values range from 0.5 kHz on the left to 22.0 kHz on the right and can be adjusted to the desired level using your mouse, as described earlier. It can also be completely turned off by turning the knob to the maximum on the right.
vii) Delay (Predelay) and Delay Tempo Sync
The delay knob is used to dictate the time (rather than the level, like ER) between the dry input signal and the first reflection of the reverb effect. You can apply a delay between 0 ms (milliseconds) and 1000 ms by long-pressing the left-click button and dragging your mouse upwards or downwards.
A 500 ms delay means the reverb will be heard 500 ms after the dry input signal. To ensure the delay effect is in sync with the tempo of your audio, you will need to left-click on “Tempo,” Once this is done, the intervals on the delay knob will range between 0.00 and 8.00.
viii) Size & Diffusion
The size knob determines the relative size of the acoustic space or room created by the reverb; turning the knob right to 100 will give a large room reverb effect, and turning the knob left to 0 will give a hollow space reverb effect.
The room size should be adjusted with respect to the delay time; I recommend using a shorter decay time with a small room size and a longer decay time with a large room size.
Diffusion, on the other hand, determines the number of walls reflecting the sound in a virtual room. If you turn the knob left to 0, the virtual room will have fewer walls, causing the reflection to be clearer and less intense.
If you turn the knob right to 100, the virtual room will have a lot of walls, increasing the number of reflections. Cool stuff.
ix) Modulation Depth (MOD) and Speed
This effect is mainly used to detune the reverb effect creatively. The knob ranges between 0% and 100%. At values greater than 60%, the saturation of the detuned reverb tail is more intense and audible. The modulation speed knob determines the speed of the modulation.
x) Bass Multiplier and Cross-Over
The bass multiplier knob determines how much boost the bass frequencies in the reverb get. The knob has a minimum value of 20% and a maximum value of 300%, which you can adjust using your mouse.
“Cross Over” decides the specific spectrum in the bass frequency that’s boosted. Its knob has a minimum value of 25 Hz when turned left and 2000 Hz when turned right. For example, If you set this knob to 500 Hz, bass frequencies below 500 Hz will be boosted.
xi) Decay Time
The decay time decides the duration of the reverb. The knob ranges from 0.1 s to 20 s. For a small room size, you should use a low decay time; for a large one, a high decay time is better.
xii) High Damping
The damp knob controls which high frequencies in the reverb decay. The knob ranges from 0.5 kHz to 22.0 kHz. You can turn off the damping effect by turning the knob to the maximum on the right.
2) Fruity Convolver
This plugin is essential for sound designers and professional music producers because it can create unique reverb effects using convolution technology and impulse responses. To use Fruity Convolver on your audio or VST, follow the steps below:
A) Load Fruity Convolver on the Effect Chain
The first step is to open up your mixer after importing or recording your audio or virtual instrument. Press “F9” (add Fn if you’re on macOS) on your keyboard to quickly access the mixer.
In the Mixer, left-click the audio or virtual instrument’s insert track. Next, left-click on a slot on the effect chain. Hover your mouse over “Select,” Lastly, find and left-click on Fruity Convolver from the pop-up menu.
B) Open the Presets Menu
Fruity Convolver, like every other plugin, has a lot of very useful reverb presets that can be easily accessed. If you left-click on the “Presets” window in the plugin, You can select from the various reverb options in the pop-up menu.
C) Manual Settings
For a better result, I recommend manually adjusting certain Fruity Convolver parameters. As explained earlier, most of these parameters are similar to those in Fruity Reeverb 2. However, This plugin has a few more unique features that add more quality to the Reeverb output.
i) Dry (Dry Input Signal)
Again, this represents the volume of the original audio recording without processing (the sound of the reverb). The knob has a range between -72.4 dB and 0.0 dB. I recommend you have enough dry Input for a better result.
ii) Dry Input Stereo Separation
Turning this knob to the left creates a wider stereo effect for the dry Input; conversely, If you turn the knob to the right, you will create a mono dry input, more like you’re bringing the Input to the center.
iii) Wet Signal
This represents the volume of the reverb or convolution effect – the processed part of the signal. You can turn down the dry input signal and increase the level of the wet signal to hear the effect properly.
The wet signal knob has a range between -72.4 dB and 0.0 dB. It is best not to excessively increase the wet signal level to avoid muddiness in the reverb.
iv) Wet Signal Separation
This controls the stereo effect on the wet signal. Turning the knob 100% to the left creates a wider stereo effect, and if you turn the knob 100% to the right, you’ll get a centred or mono-wet signal.
v) Delay and Stretch
Delay indicates the time it takes for the first sound reflection of the reverb to be heard. This knob has a range between 0 ms and 500 ms. You can adjust the delay time as you desire.
vi) Equalizer
Using the equalizer tool, you can eliminate unwanted reverb frequencies. To do this, left-click the equalizer icon to open the tool.
Hold left-click and drag your mouse over the frequency spectrum in the equalizer tool to eliminate unwanted frequencies.
3) LuxeVerb
LuxeVerb is the latest FL Studio deluxe reverb plugin. It’s a more sophisticated reverb plugin that enables you to add real-time reverb to audio or virtual instruments. You can do all kinds of stuff with it – only available in FL Studio All Plugins Editions.
A) Load LuxeVerb on the Effect Chain
After recording your audio or virtual instrument, the first step is to open the mixer by pressing “F9” on your keyboard. On the mixer, left-click on the audio or virtual instrument’s Insert track. Now, left-click on an empty slot on the effect chain and hover your mouse over “Select.” From the menu that pops up, find and left-click LuxeVerb.
B) Open Presets Menu
LuxeVerb has a lot of reverb presets that you can choose from. These reverb presets have been carefully configured to meet your various sonic needs.
C) Manual Settings
I recommend modifying the LuxeVerb parameters for finer and more intricate reverb settings. There are multiple sections in this plugin, with knobs serving different functions. The Important sections you should modify to get personalized reverb results are; Input, Reverb, and Output.
I) INPUT
a) Wet Input Gain
This controls the volume level of the original, dry audio Input before adding the reverb effect. The slider for this parameter ranges from -60 dB to +15 dB. It would be best to increase this cautiously to avoid a muffled output.
b) High-Frequency Cut
High-frequency cut is used to eliminate unwanted high frequencies in the reverb. This parameter’s knob can cut out frequencies between 40 Hz and 20000 Hz.
c) Low-Frequency Cut
A Low-Frequency Cut is used to eliminate unwanted low frequencies in the reverb. This parameter’s knob can cut out frequencies between 20 Hz and 5000 Hz.
II) REVERB
Before adjusting any parameter in the Reverb section, enable this section by left-clicking on the LED switch at the top right corner of the section. A white light indicates the Reverb section is active.
a) Decay time and Reverb Brightness
The Decay Time is the time it takes for the reverb tail to stop being audible. This knob ranges from 0.25 s to 20.0s.
Reverb Brightness increases the overall brightness of the reverb by enhancing the high frequencies. The knob ranges from 0% to 100%. You should carefully make adjustments to this knob.
b) Room Size and Diffusion
Room size indicates the size of the acoustic space created by the reverb. The knob ranges between 1m and 100m. A lower value simulates a hollow space, and a higher value simulates a large space.
Diffusion determines the intensity of the reflections in the simulated room. Ranging between 0% and 100%, you can adjust this knob to make the reverb smoother or grainier.
c) Delay Time and Character
The delay time (also called Pre-delay time) determines the time it takes for the first reflection of the reverb to be heard.
The knob values range between 0.0 ms and 500.0 ms. Click the “T” icon beside the delay knob If you want a tempo-synced delayed reverb effect; this causes the knob to have intervals that match the tempo of the audio.
Character controls the nature of each reflection in the reverb. The knob can be adjusted to values between 0.0 and 1.0, and a lower value causes the reflections in the reverb to be very distinct. A higher value allows the reflections to overlap, creating a slapback effect. For the best result, you should leave the knob at 0.5.
d) Reverb Freeze Mode
The Reverb freeze mode has three options; Normal, Freeze, and Sustain. Normal mode is the default mode. The Freeze mode disconnects the input signal from the reverb and sustains the sound indefinitely until it is deselected.
The Sustain mode works like the freeze mode, but the input signal is not disconnected, which causes the reverb to build up.
e) Modulation Amplification and Frequency
These knobs are used to modify the reverb tail’s pitch. It is used to create a detuned reverb tail. Except for creative purposes, I recommend not changing these parameters.
III) OUTPUT
a) Dry Output Signal
This is the volume of the original audio without reverb in the final output. The slider controlling this parameter has a maximum value of 15 dB and a minimum of -60 dB.
b) Wet Output Signal
This is the volume of the reverberated audio in the final output. The wet output signal represents the main reverb volume. The slider controlling this parameter has a maximum value of 15 dB and a minimum of -60 dB.
c) Output Stereo Width
This controls the stereo separation of the reverb. Setting the knob to a value of 0 will give a mono reverb, while a value of 1.25 will provide the reverb with the widest stereo separation.
6 Useful & Cool Ways to Use Reverb in FL Studio
Now that we’ve explored the basics of how to use the main controls of the 3 most popular reverb plugins, I’m going to show you 6 cool ways to use it in a practical setting. The first one has to do with where you set up the reverb plugin in your project.
1) Use A Send Reverb in the Mixer Track
Rather than loading up a ton of different reverbs on many different tracks, what you can do is create a reverb in the mixer, and then route all of your sounds through it.
This will take the load off your computer because you’re using fewer plugins, but it’ll also make mixing, control, automation, and nearly every other part of the process much easier. We already (sort of) did this earlier, but I think this is a more finely-tuned way of going about it.
A) Send the Recording to a Track in the Mixer
Then, click on the red “Track” region and choose a number. This corresponds to the numbered track in the mixer that you’ll bring up in a moment. I chose two because it made the most sense.
B) Rename the Track to Your Sound
C) Put A Reverb On Another Mixer Track
D) Click the Arrow to Route the Track To the Reverb Track
This is going to allow us to do a lot more fancy reverb tricks, including a sidechain reverb that I’ll show you how to do right now.
2) How to Sidechain Your Reverb for Vocal/Reverb Ducking
There’s a reason why I showed you how to route your sounds to a separate plugin first. After you’ve completed #1, you can assign a limiter to a new slot – usually last in the chain – and then turn down the threshold.
What this will do, is it’ll make it so that the reverb will play loudly when the guitar or vocal track is not playing, but when it is playing, the reverb effect will duck. In The Mix touches on this in more detail if you need info.
The same rule applies if you’re using compression too. The most prominent example of this being used in this fashion is with the kick and 808, or the kick and vocals. But you can use it for anything you want, really.
3) Set Up A Reverse Reverb Effect
Another cool thing you can do is reverse your sample in Edison, add Convolution Reverb, and then put it just before a vocal or instrument section in your Playlist.
The end result is a lot like what this girl, Karra, shows in her video. For the example, I’ve chosen to use the effect on a guitar track instead, but the process is fundamentally the same. Here’s how to set it up.
A) Double Click the Audio Track to Open Edison
Once you’ve done that, click the Edit in Audio Editor option. You can also use Command + E to bring it up, probably Alt + E on Windows.
B) Use PageUp to Zoom In on the File
This will make it much easier to see what you’re doing, that way you can be hyper-specific with your edits.
C) Highlight the Part of the Sample You Want
D) Use Command + Delete to Cut Out What You Want
E) Use Option + Left (Alt + Left for Windows) to Reverse the Sample
F) Click the Reverb Button, Turn Down the Dry, Then Accept
G) Add Your Clip to the Playlist
FL Studio makes this whole process really easy and efficient.
4) Apply EQ to the Reverb to Cut Out Undesirable Frequencies
This is very important when adding reverb to vocals or dealing with multiple tracks in a mix. Equalizing the reverb helps to avoid clashing frequencies that could make your overall mix sound unpolished and unprofessional.
I recommend you use high-pass and low-pass filters on your reverb, although, it’ll depend on what you’re trying to accomplish.
5) Automate the Reverb Anyway and Everyway
You can really get wild with this by setting up a separate automation track with the reverb. You can have it increase wildly in intensity in certain sections or completely subdued in another part. Here’s how to set it up, assuming you’ve already completed #1 in this list.
A) Open the Mixer and Right Click on the Fader > Choose “Create Automation Clip”
B) Create Automation Points with the Right-Click on Your Mouse
6) Repeatedly Compare the Final Output With the Original
Always compare the audio with and without reverb; this allows you to sense the quality and shortcomings of the reverb. I also recommend you listen to the audio in the complete mix.
The Difference Between Fruity Reeverb 1, 2, LuxeVerb, & the Fruity Convolver
At the end of the day, reverbs all perform similar functions but there are some differences between the Fruity Reeverb 1 and 2 and the Fruity Convolver that are worth discussing.
1) Fruity Reeverb 2
Of the three stock plugins, the fruity Reeverb 2 has the most user-friendly interface and controls. It’s also the 2nd oldest of the plugins and the most widely used, available in old and new versions of FL Studio.
This plugin is used strictly for adding reverb to audio and virtual instruments, however, it’s different from Fruity Reeverb 1 in that it has things like stereo separation, modulation depth, and a more detailed equalization section.
2) Fruity Convolver
Fruity Convolver, as you know by the name, creates convolution reverbs through Impulse Responses (which is basically like the audio version of a photograph of a particular reverb configuration).
This plugin is more sophisticated than Fruity Reeverb 2 in its ability to imitate or simulate locations, including their size, and equipment.
It has more inbuilt reverb and convolution presets than any other reverb plugin in FL Studio. This plugin also allows you to manually adjust the EQ of your reverb using its unique equalizer tool.
3) LuxeVerb
LuxeVerb is a relatively new algorithmic reverb plugin and it’s the most advanced. You can simulate almost any acoustic space, even if it seems like it’s not even of this world, which is similar to how the manual puts it. It also has things like pitch shifting and automation.
Other Articles You May Be Interested In
- How to Quantize in FL Studio
- How to Sample in FL Studio (REAL Guide)
- How to Pitch Your Vocals in FL Studio
- How to Remove Background Noise in FL Studio
- How to Add Reverb to Drums in Garageband
- How To Automate EQ in Garageband