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.
Common Confusion
Pre-delay is not the same as putting a delay before a reverb. It is the gap between the dry signal and the start of the reverb tail, applied inside the reverb processor itself. Increasing pre-delay does not make the reverb longer or louder — it pushes the reverb back in time so the dry signal lands clearly first.
Sources & Verification
- Schroeder, M. R. — Natural Sounding Artificial ReverberationJournal of the Audio Engineering Society, 1962
- Izhaki, R. — Mixing Audio (3rd ed., reverb chapters on early reflections and pre-delay)Focal Press, 2017
Last verified: 2026-05-05