Reverb is one of those things that even the most experienced of engineers are still trying to figure out.

It's like the Higgs Boson of the audio industry. Engineers have used and analyzed it for years, but they haven't quite cracked it yet.

Ok...maybe that's an exaggeration...

Even if you're not a seasoned engineer(or a quantum physicist) you can certainly learn to avoid a few stupid mistakes when it comes to using reverb in your mixes.

1. Not EQ'ing your Reverbs

EQ doesn't only belong on your recorded tracks. EQ is also extremely useful for making your reverb fit better in your mix. Use EQ to avoid unnecessary low-end clutter or reduce the highs to make the reverb blend in better. I talk about this in-depth and show you exactly what to do when you EQ reverbs in my EQ Strategies guide. 

2. Not Tweaking the Presets

The funny thing about all those presets is that they have nothing to do with what you're using them on. They're a generic, best-fit sound that might work on something similar to what you have in mind. How's that for ambiguous and vague?

However, presets create a good starting point. Reverbs have enough parameters so that you can easily tweak them to fit your session.

3. A need for the MOST EXPENSIVE REVERB!

The more expensive the reverb, the better it is right?

Wrong.

Sure, high quality reverbs usually sound great, but are they that much better than either your stock plug-ins or cheaper alternatives?

An old Home Recording Show episode touted the amazing sounds coming from the Valhalla reverb, and they recommended it as a cheaper alternative to the over-priced Waves reverbs. After that episode I went out and bought the Valhalla Room and have been using it on almost every session ever since.

Make do with what you have, and find the cheapest alternative possible if your stock reverbs absolutely suck.

4. You Use Too Much

I probably still do this sometimes. This is the classic beginner's mistake. Too much reverb drowns out your mix and makes everything sound "floaty" (for a lack of a better term).

Scale back on the reverb. Use it to make your tracks stand out, but don't make the reverb be the thing that stands out. Makes sense? You want the listen to the great sounding vocal. You want the reverb to be an inherent part of the vocal sound. You want the reverb to draw attention to the vocal, not itself.

5. Too Many Different Types

Too many different spaces in a mix sounds unnatural. If that's what you're going for, disregard what I'm saying. Otherwise tryt o stick to a few spaces. Combining different instruments and tracks into the same reverb works well to glue your elements together.

Using only one universal reverb is not a good idea either. Everything will sound too similar and nothing will stick out. It's a delicate balance of a few different reverbs used in moderation that is the key.

What problems are you having with reverb? Are you doing any of the things I just mentioned above? 

Hit reply and let me know.