Add reverb in 4 steps:
- Select the audio you want to process (add silence to the end so the reverb tail has room to decay)
- Go to Effect → Delay and Reverb → Reverb
- Pick a factory preset (Vocal I, Medium Room, Church Hall, Cathedral) or adjust Room Size, Reverberance, and Wet Gain
- Click Preview, fine-tune, then click Apply
What Is Reverb?
Reverb is the rapid, overlapping reflections a sound makes when it bounces off walls, ceilings, and objects in a real space. It's what makes a voice recorded in a bathroom sound different from the same voice recorded in a cathedral. Audacity's Reverb effect, based on the freeverb algorithm, simulates that sense of space on a dry recording — turning a flat vocal, acoustic guitar, or podcast track into something that feels like it was captured in a real room, hall, or church. Ten factory presets cover the most common spaces, and ten parameters let you dial in custom reverbs from tight studio booths to vast cathedrals.
How to Add Reverb in Audacity
Step 1: Select Your Audio
Select the audio you want to reverberate. Before selecting, add a few seconds of silence at the end of your clip (Generate → Silence) so the reverb tail has room to decay instead of being cut off.
Step 2: Open the Reverb Effect
Go to Effect → Delay and Reverb → Reverb. In older Audacity versions it lives directly under the Effect menu.
Step 3: Choose a Preset or Adjust Parameters
Click Manage → Factory Presets to pick from Vocal I, Vocal II, Bathroom, Small Room Bright, Small Room Dark, Medium Room, Large Room, Church Hall, and Cathedral. Or adjust Room Size, Reverberance, Pre-delay, and Wet/Dry Gain manually.
Step 4: Preview and Apply
Click Preview to hear a short sample with the current settings. Adjust and preview again until satisfied, then click Apply.
Reverb Settings Explained
Room Size (%)
Controls the apparent size of the simulated space. 0% sounds like a closet or small booth; 100% feels like a huge cathedral or auditorium. Most vocal reverbs sit between 40–70%.
Pre-delay (ms)
The gap (0–200 ms) between the dry signal and the start of the reverb tail. Short pre-delays (0–20 ms) blend reverb into the source; longer pre-delays (40–100 ms) keep the vocal up front and push the reverb behind it, improving clarity on busy mixes.
Reverberance (%)
Sets the length of the reverb tail — how long reflections continue after the original sound stops. Low values (20–40%) give a quick, dry ambience; high values (70–100%) produce long, washy tails suited to ballads, ambient music, and cinematic sound design.
Damping (%)
Controls how fast high frequencies decay inside the reverb. Higher values make the tail darker and more natural — similar to a room with carpet and soft furniture. Lower values keep high frequencies ringing for a brighter, more reflective sound.
Tone Low and Tone High
Two tone-shaping filters on the reverb signal. Reduce Tone Low to roll off low frequencies so the tail doesn't turn boomy on bass-heavy sources. Reduce Tone High to tame harsh highs. Leave both at 100% for full-range reverb.
Wet Gain and Dry Gain
Wet Gain sets the level of the reverb signal; Dry Gain sets the level of the original. Increase Wet Gain for a more obvious, washy effect. Keep Dry Gain at or below 0 dB to avoid clipping after the two signals are summed.
Stereo Width (%)
Stereo tracks only. Higher values spread the reverb wider across the left and right channels, creating a more immersive space. Lower values keep the reverb centered and focused.
Wet Only
When enabled, the output contains only the reverb signal with the dry source removed. Useful for building a separate reverb track — duplicate the original, process the copy with Wet Only, then mix the two tracks independently for full control over the wet/dry balance.
Reverb Presets Reference
| Preset | Room Size | Reverberance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocal I | ~40% | Medium | Spoken word, podcasts, dry lead vocals |
| Vocal II | ~50% | Medium-long | Sung lead vocals, backing vocals |
| Small Room Bright | ~25% | Short | Drums, acoustic guitar, close rooms |
| Small Room Dark | ~25% | Short | Voiceover, dialogue, warm ambience |
| Medium Room | ~50% | Medium | Pianos, acoustic instruments |
| Large Room | ~70% | Medium-long | Live band feel, studio live rooms |
| Church Hall | ~80% | Long | Choirs, strings, organ, ballad vocals |
| Cathedral | ~95% | Very long | Ambient pads, soundscapes, cinematic pieces |
Common Use Cases
- Vocals — Add depth to dry lead vocals with Vocal I or Vocal II
- Acoustic guitar — Small Room Bright or Medium Room for a natural studio feel
- Drums and snare — Short bright reverbs for punch, plate-style for vintage character
- Podcasts and voiceover — A touch of Small Room Dark to remove the "in-the-box" feel
- Choir and strings — Church Hall or Cathedral for sweeping, cinematic space
- Ambient music — Long Cathedral tails for pads, drones, and soundscapes
- Audio drama and film — Match dialogue to on-screen locations (bathroom, hall, cathedral)
Tips for Best Results
- Add a few seconds of silence to the end of the clip before applying reverb so the tail is not cut off
- Start from a factory preset and tweak rather than building from scratch
- Keep Dry Gain at or just below 0 dB to prevent clipping when wet and dry are summed
- Duplicate the track and use Wet Only on the copy for independent reverb level control
- Roll back Tone Low on bass-heavy sources so the tail doesn't turn boomy
- Apply Noise Reduction and compression first, then reverb last in the effect chain
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Reverb effect in Audacity?
Go to Effect → Delay and Reverb → Reverb. In
older versions it lives directly under the Effect menu.
What are the best reverb settings for vocals?
Start with the Vocal I preset. For a natural lead vocal, try Room Size 40–50%,
Reverberance 50%, Pre-delay 20–40 ms, Wet Gain about -6 dB, and Dry Gain
at 0 dB.
What's the difference between reverb and echo?
Echo is a small number of distinct, repeated copies of the original sound with
clear gaps between them. Reverb is hundreds of overlapping reflections blended
into a smooth tail — what you hear in a real room or hall.
Why does my reverb sound cut off at the end?
The reverb tail extends past the original audio. Add 3–5 seconds of silence
after the clip (Generate → Silence) before applying
Reverb so the tail has room to decay.
What's the Wet Only option for?
Wet Only outputs just the reverb signal with no dry audio. Duplicate your track,
apply Reverb with Wet Only on the copy, and mix the two tracks independently for
full control over the wet/dry balance.
Download Audacity Free
Ready to add reverb to your audio? Download Audacity for free on Windows, macOS, or Linux.