Premaster Reverb Practice Manual for Techno & EDM!

VST Plugin: Advanced Premaster Reverb with Spectral Filtering, Ambience Control & Customizable Tail

1. Introduction

This manual covers the use of a premaster reverb plugin tailored for Techno and EDM, featuring:

Frequency Filtering (Low/High Cut) – Isolate reverb to specific frequency ranges.
Ambience Controls (Room, Damping, Width) – Shape the spatial characteristics.
Host-Sync Pre-Delay – Time reverb to the track’s tempo.
Custom Reverb Curve (Time/Amp, Min/Max Time, Stages, Reverse) – Design unique tails.

The goal is to add depth and space without muddying the low-end or clashing with transients.

2. Core Controls & Their Functions

A. Frequency Filtering (Critical for Clean Low-End)

Knob	Function	Recommended Settings (Techno/EDM)
Low Cut	Cuts reverb below this frequency	80Hz - 200Hz (avoid reverb on kick/bass)
High Cut	Cuts reverb above this frequency	8kHz - 12kHz (reduce hiss on hi-hats)

Why Filter?

Keeps the kick and bass tight and dry (essential for club playback).
Prevents hi-hats/cymbals from becoming washy.
Lets only synths/vocals get the reverb treatment.

B. Ambience Controls (Room, Damping, Width)

Parameter	Effect	Techno/EDM Usage
Room Size	Larger = more space	Medium (1.5s - 3s) for club tracks
Damping	Bright (low damping) vs. Dark (high damping)	Slightly damped (50-70%) to avoid metallic tails
Width	Stereo spread	Wide (70-100%) for immersive synths

Pro Tip:

Narrower width (30-50%) on drums to keep them centered.
High damping helps dark Techno tracks avoid harshness.

C. Pre-Delay (Timing the Reverb)

Host-Sync Option: Syncs to 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 notes (or manual ms).
Techno/EDM Sweet Spot: 20-50ms (or 1/16 note for rhythmic tails).

Why Use Pre-Delay?

Keeps the dry signal upfront (important for punchy drums).
Creates a groovy echo effect when synced to tempo.

D. Reverb Tail Customization (Time/Amp Curve, Min/Max, Stages, Reverse)

Parameter	What It Does	Creative Uses
Time Curve	Shapes decay rate (linear/exponential/log)	Exponential = natural fade, Linear = abrupt stop
Amp Curve	Changes tail volume dynamics	Louder early reflections for presence
Min/Max Time	Sets shortest/longest decay	Min 0.5s, Max 3s for controlled tails
Stages	More stages = denser reverb	3-5 stages for lush synths
Reverse	Inverts the reverb tail	Build-ups, transitions

Techno/EDM Tricks:

Short Min Time + Long Max Time = evolving, dynamic tails.
Reverse before drops for dramatic effects.

3. Step-by-Step Premaster Reverb Workflow

Step 1: Filter First (Isolate the Reverb)

Low Cut: Start at 100Hz, adjust until kick/bass stay clean.
High Cut: Set around 10kHz to avoid washing out hi-hats.

Step 2: Set Ambience (Room, Damping, Width)

Room Size: 2s for club tracks, 1s for tighter grooves.
Damping: 60% for a balanced tone.
Width: 80% for synths, 40% for snare reverb.

Step 3: Adjust Pre-Delay

Sync to 1/16 or 1/8 note for rhythmic cohesion.
Manual 30ms if unsynced for separation.

Step 4: Shape the Tail (Curves, Min/Max, Stages)

Time Curve: Exponential for natural decay.
Amp Curve: Slight boost in early reflections.
Stages: 4 for dense, lush reverbs.

Step 5: Creative Tweaks (Reverse, Modulation)

Reverse for FX: Automate before a drop.
Modulate Min/Max Time for evolving textures.

4. Advanced Techniques

A. Sidechain Reverb to Dry Signal (Ducking)

Use a compressor to duck reverb when kick hits, keeping low-end tight.

B. Mid/Side Reverb Processing

Apply reverb only to Side channels for width without muddiness.

C. Layering Short & Long Reverbs

Short (0.5s) for drums, Long (3s) for pads.

5. Final Checks

✅ Bass Check: Disable reverb to ensure low-end stays clean.
✅ Mono Test: Collapse to mono—reverb should not phase badly.
✅ Automation: Modulate parameters for dynamic movement.

This reverb plugin allows surgical control over spatial effects in Techno/EDM. By filtering frequencies, syncing pre-delay, and customizing tails, you can add depth without sacrificing punch. Now go fill the space—responsibly!