Shimmer reverb
Shimmer reverb, from a glow to endless clouds
Shimmer reverb pitches the reverb tail up an octave and feeds it back, so sounds bloom into a bright, angelic wash. Bubble Bath does shimmer, plus everyday rooms and halls, in one easy reverb.
How to use shimmer reverb
- Use it on a send (100% wet) so you can blend and EQ the shimmer on its own.
- Start with a long hall: decay 4 to 8 seconds gives the shimmer room to build.
- Bring shimmer up slowly. A little sounds like a glow; a lot sounds like an ambient pad.
- Cut the lows of the reverb so it doesn't muddy the mix, and duck it under the dry sound so it blooms in the gaps.
- For a pad out of any sound, freeze the tail and play over it.
Watch it explained: Reverb making your mix muddy? EQ the reverb
Hear Bubble Bath
What you get with Bubble Bath
- 10 ready-to-go presets
- Four reverb types: Room, Hall, Plate and Spring
- Size, decay and pre-delay to shape the space
- Width, modulation and shimmer for wide, dreamy tails
- Freeze to hold a reverb tail like a pad
- Ducking, damping and low cut to keep your mix clear
Questions
What is shimmer reverb?
A reverb with a pitch shifter in its feedback loop: the tail gets shifted up an octave, then reverbed again, so it keeps rising and brightening. It was made famous on guitars and is now everywhere in ambient, pop and electronic music.
What sounds good with shimmer?
Slow, sustained sounds: pads, piano, guitar chords, vocal swells and long notes. On drums or fast parts it turns into a mess, so automate it in for the big moments.
Why does my shimmer sound harsh?
Too much shimmer or too little damping. Lower the shimmer amount, turn up the damping to soften the top, and keep the reverb on a send so you can EQ it.
Do I need a separate plugin for normal reverb?
Not with Bubble Bath: shimmer is one knob. Turn it down and it's a room, hall, plate or spring reverb for everyday mixing.
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