What is forced reverberation
Forced reverberation refers to the intentional addition or application of artificial reverb to a sound or recording. In audio engineering, reverb is created by allowing sound reflections to persist in an enclosed space, giving the impression of depth and spaciousness. However, in some cases, natural reverb may be insufficient or absent, which is when forced reverberation is used to artificially create a reverberant effect. This can be done through various techniques, such as using digital reverb processors, convolution reverbs, or plugins, to add reverberation to a sound source.
Forced reverberation is a technique used in audio engineering to simulate the effect of natural reverberation in a controlled environment. It involves adding artificial reverberation to a sound signal using electronic devices or software plugins.
Here are the steps involved in creating forced reverberation:
1. Start with a dry audio signal: First, you need a source audio signal that doesn't have any natural reverberation. This could be a recorded voice, instrument, or any sound you want to enhance with reverberation.
2. Select a reverb unit: Choose a reverb unit, which can be a hardware device or a software plugin. Reverb units simulate the characteristics of different acoustic spaces, such as halls, rooms, or chambers.
3. Adjust reverb parameters: Use the controls on the reverb unit to adjust parameters such as decay time (how long the reverberation lasts), pre-delay (the time between the dry signal and the start of reverberation), and room size (simulating the size of the virtual acoustic space).
4. Set reverb mix level: The reverb mix level determines how much of the dry signal is combined with the reverberation. Adjust this to achieve the desired balance between the original sound and the added reverberation.
5. Experiment and fine-tune: Listen to the output and make adjustments to the reverb settings as needed. You may need to tweak parameters like diffusion, early reflections, or EQ to tailor the reverberation to fit the audio source and mix.
6. Apply forced reverberation to the audio signal: Once you're satisfied with the reverb settings, apply the reverberation to the original audio signal using the reverb unit. This will create the effect of forced reverberation.
By adding forced reverberation, you can make a sound appear as if it was recorded in a different acoustic environment or add depth and spaciousness to a dry recording.