Reverb and delay add space and depth to your mix. Reverb simulates acoustic spaces, while delay creates echoes. Used well, they make your tracks sound professional and three-dimensional.
Reverb Basics
Reverb simulates sound reflecting in a physical space:
- Room — Small, tight reflections
- Hall — Large, spacious sound
- Plate — Bright, metallic character
- Chamber — Warm, medium-sized space
Key Reverb Parameters
- Decay/Time — How long reverb lasts (0.5s = small room, 3s+ = hall)
- Pre-delay — Gap before reverb starts (keeps vocals clear)
- Wet/Dry Mix — Balance between original and reverb signal
- Damping — How quickly high frequencies fade
Delay Basics
Delay creates distinct echoes of the original sound:
- Slapback — Single quick echo (50-150ms)
- Quarter note — Rhythmic delay synced to tempo
- Ping-pong — Echoes bouncing left-right
- Tape delay — Warm, degrading repeats
Key Delay Parameters
- Time — Gap between echoes (often synced to BPM)
- Feedback — Number of repeats (more feedback = more echoes)
- Mix — Balance between dry signal and echoes
- Filter — EQ on the delayed signal
Using Effects in FlowState
-
Open the Mixer
Press 2 or click "Mixer" in the bottom panel. -
Find the send controls
Each channel has reverb and delay sends (labeled REV and DLY). -
Turn up the send
This sends signal to the reverb/delay bus. -
Adjust the master effect
Click on the reverb/delay bus to adjust settings.
Send vs. Insert: FlowState uses send effects for reverb and delay. This means all tracks share the same reverb/delay, creating a cohesive space. It's also more efficient than putting reverb on every track.
Reverb by Element
Vocals
- Type: Plate or hall
- Decay: 1.5-2.5 seconds
- Pre-delay: 20-50ms (keeps vocals upfront)
- Mix: Subtle, 15-30%
Snare
- Type: Plate or room
- Decay: 0.8-1.5 seconds
- Mix: To taste, often fairly wet in hip-hop
Synths/Pads
- Type: Hall or chamber
- Decay: 2-4 seconds
- Mix: Can be quite wet for ambient sounds
Drums (Overall)
- Type: Room
- Decay: 0.3-0.8 seconds
- Mix: Subtle, just enough to add space
Tip: Don't put reverb on kick drums or bass—it muddies the low end. Keep those dry or use very short room reverb.
Delay by Element
Vocals
- Time: Quarter or eighth note (synced to BPM)
- Feedback: 2-4 repeats
- Use: End of phrases, ad-libs
Synth Leads
- Time: Dotted eighth (creates groove)
- Feedback: 3-5 repeats
- Use: Fills space, adds movement
Hi-Hats/Percussion
- Time: 16th or 32nd note
- Feedback: Low (2-3 repeats)
- Use: Adds shuffle and complexity
Creative Uses
Throw Delays
Automate delay to only catch certain words or hits:
- Turn delay send up just for specific moments
- The echo trails off after those hits
- Classic technique for vocal production
Gated Reverb
Reverb that cuts off abruptly:
- Famous '80s snare sound
- Big initial splash, then silence
- Punchy but spacious
100% Wet Reverb
Use pure reverb for ambient textures:
- Put a sound through reverb with 100% wet
- Creates a pad or texture from any sound
- Great for transitions and intros
Common Mistakes
- Too much reverb — Makes the mix washy and unclear
- Reverb on bass/kick — Muddies the low end
- Wrong decay time — Long reverb on fast songs causes overlap
- Ignoring pre-delay — Vocals get lost in reverb
- Unsynced delay — Creates rhythmic clash
Using Voice Commands
Add reverb to the vocals
Put a delay on the snare
Make the reverb longer
I want more echo on the vocals
Quick Settings
| Intimate vocals | Small room, 0.8s, low mix |
| Big snare | Plate, 1.2s, medium mix |
| Ambient pads | Hall, 3s+, high mix |
| Tight drums | Room, 0.3s, subtle mix |
| Vocal delay | 1/4 note, 3 repeats, low mix |