Pre-delay (Reverb)
Definition
A short delay applied before the onset of reverberation. Allows the direct signal to be heard clearly before the reverb tail begins, preserving transient clarity and preventing a muddy, smeared sound.
In Simple Terms
A tiny gap between the original sound and when the reverb starts. It keeps vocals clear and upfront even with a big reverb—you hear the words first, then the space fills in behind them.
In Practice
A pre-delay of 20–30 ms on a vocal reverb allows the consonants of each word to be perceived distinctly before the reverb fills in behind them.