Reverberation and delay are two methods of signal processing that are often incorrectly equated. The confusion comes from the fact that they are so closely related.
Reverberation is multiple blended sound images created from reflection. A few common reverb effects are Reverb Room and Reverb Hall. Reverb Hall would be like playing guitar in a small school gym. The sounds of the guitar would bounce around the room, reflected off the walls and floor and ceiling and would thus build into a new sound.
Delay is also called echo, though I think that blurs the line. Delay is one or more distinct sound images.
Here is where reverb and delay are related. Stand in a huge room and yell "hello." The very first sound you hear reflected off the walls is an echo. That echo quickly turns into reverb as the sound is reflected off a second, third, and fourth surface.
Think of delay as a single copy of the sound at a later time.
Reverb is commonly added to a voice to fill it out. Using the reverb knob (also known as the talent knob), offending frequencies can be masked. Reverb can give a guitar a fuller sound.
Delay is used primarily in two areas; speaker placement and guitar effects.
When a sanctuary is so big that it requires speakers in more than one location from front to back, delay is used on speakers not in the front. This way, sounds from speakers in different depth locations reach the person's ear at the same time.
Delay can be used on a guitar for effects which permit the player to play less but sound like they are playing more.
Reverb and delay are terrific signal processing effects which can sculpt a sound to fit the need.
morgan says
May 14, 2019 at 9:57 amprepping for my music tech exam- thank you!
Steve says
June 22, 2017 at 5:04 amIt took me 13 years to figure this out…..! It’s a KEY!!!! (To good tone).
Before I figured this my tone was NEVER going to be any good…
Hitesh says
June 11, 2017 at 8:23 amThanks, that was helpful
kefft1me says
November 13, 2016 at 2:34 pmThis was really helpful, it was hard to tell the difference before going through this article. Thanks!
Joseph Cardana says
April 2, 2015 at 5:13 pmTHANK YOU!!! I finally got it!
Anonymous says
March 20, 2015 at 2:20 pmcan reverb be use for vocal singing
Chris Huff says
March 20, 2015 at 2:36 pmmost certainly. See the mixing vocals guide.
Ronald says
December 20, 2013 at 5:16 amIsn’t David Gilmour using 2 delays? Is that possible?
Noah Gilbert says
December 28, 2015 at 6:16 amHi Ronald,
It’s very common for an electric guitarist to stack delays ( to have more than one active at the same time). This is done with a pedalboard which the guitarist controls using his feet. Stacking different delay types can have different sounds, depending on what the guitarist wants. I personally use an analogue delay as well as my Boss DD500 (another digital delay pedal). this fills the sounds out a little bit more and adds presence in the mix. combined with a heavy reverb i can also create more ambient sounds.
In short, yes it is possible, there is no limit to what is possible in music- it’s just creating the desired sound.
David McLain (@churchsoundguy) says
February 5, 2013 at 11:03 amReverb or Delay: Do you Know The Difference? http://t.co/E4cPavnA
James James says
October 26, 2012 at 9:09 amCan reverb and delay be used same time for guiter or keyboard?
Chris says
October 26, 2012 at 9:54 amYes. As long as you has a system that allows you to use both on the same channel. The trick is to use delay first and then reverb. Reverb should always be the last effect.