In 1979 engineer Hugh Padgham discovered "gated reverb" – by accident

3 days ago

Gated reverb is a technique that creates punchy, whip-like drum sounds by using a noise gate on a reverb return to cut the decay short.
The technique was accidentally discovered in 1979 by engineer Hugh Padgham while working with Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins.
A key moment involved a heavily compressed talkback mic and an SSL console, leading to the gated reverb effect.
Phil Collins popularized the sound with his 1981 hit 'In the Air Tonight,' recorded in a stone room at Townhouse Studios.
Early digital reverb units like the AMS RMX16, especially its 'Nonlinear' preset, were crucial for creating artificial gated reverb sounds.
Prince extensively used gated reverb from 1982 to 1987, often combining it with drum machines like the Linn LM-1.
Gated reverb became a defining sound of the 1980s, featured in tracks by artists such as Kate Bush, Duran Duran, and Hall and Oates.
After falling out of favor in the 1990s, gated reverb has seen a revival in recent pop music by artists like Carly Rae Jepsen, Lorde, and Taylor Swift.
Today, the sound can be easily achieved with digital samples and plugins, making it accessible without vintage hardware.

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