Size reverb is deliberately audible and implies an instrument was recorded in a larger space than it actually was

Unlike blend reverb, which is meant to be inaudible as an effect and uses a very short decay, size reverb is intentionally more audible and directly enhances the perceived scale of an instrument’s recording environment. Fading it up gives the impression the instrument is in a bigger space than it was recorded in; the more you apply, the clearer and more powerful that sense of a larger acoustic becomes, with secondary distancing and sustain as side effects. It allows a longer decay than blend reverb to create the room impression, but should still be balanced so those distance and sustain side effects stay secondary to the space enhancement. Match each space’s character to the sound’s attitude, and watch for masking — especially in the low end, so high-pass the return. Go easy on sustained stereo pads, whose chord changes a long reverb can blur.

Examples

Drum overheads or a tight small-room snare sent to a medium hall reverb at ~20% wet gain the impression of a larger venue without sounding too reverberant. The same long reverb on a sustained synth pad just smears the chord changes.

Assessment

Distinguish size reverb from blend reverb in intended audibility, decay length, and level. Explain how reverb level affects the perceived size of the recorded space, and name a hazard of size reverb on sustained pads.