How to Add Reverb in FL Studio: Insert and Send Setup

To add reverb in FL Studio, route your vocal or instrument to a Mixer insert and load Fruity Reeverb 2 in one of that insert’s effect slots. Start with a subtle wet level and play the sound in the full mix. Adjust decay and pre-delay while listening to the end of phrases and the clarity of the next note.

You can also put the effect on a separate send Mixer track, letting multiple sources share it. Insert and send routing use the same plug-in differently: a send normally keeps its plug-in’s dry level at zero so the source’s direct path supplies the dry sound.

Method 1: add reverb directly to a Mixer insert

1. Route the source. Select the vocal or instrument channel and assign it to a Mixer insert. Play the project and confirm that insert’s meter responds to the sound you intend to process.
2. Load the effect. Select that Mixer insert, open an empty effect slot and choose Fruity Reeverb 2 if available in your installation.
3. Set a starting balance. Keep the dry sound audible and bring in the plug-in’s wet level gradually. The Dry and Wet controls are separate levels, so changing one does not necessarily set the other.
4. Adjust the tail. Shorten or lengthen DEC (decay), then compare the transition between phrases. Try pre-delay if the direct sound and tail need more separation.
5. Compare and check output. Bypass the effect, match playback level as closely as practical and listen to the same section. Check the insert and master for overload before exporting.

Image-Line’s Fruity Reeverb 2 manual documents its controls. Effects availability and interface details can vary by edition and version; check your installation.

Method 2: create a reverb send

1. Choose an unused Mixer track for the reverb and load Fruity Reeverb 2 in an effect slot on it. Confirm that this destination track can reach the master output.
2. Set the send effect’s balance. Image-Line recommends DRY 0% and WET 100% when using Reeverb 2 on a send. Its separate early-reflection control also affects the reverb output; review the plug-in controls as needed.
3. Route the source to the send. Select the source Mixer track, then activate the send control on the destination track. The send-level knob controls how much of the source reaches the reverb.
4. Keep the intended direct path. By default FL Studio keeps the source routed to the master when you add a send. Check routing before changing it, and avoid creating an unintended extra dry path.
5. Blend and compare. Bring up the send amount gradually while the whole mix plays. Repeat for another source if desired; the sources can share the same effect while having different send amounts.

Image-Line’s Mixer routing guide explains selecting the source, enabling a destination send and the default master route. Its Mixer documentation describes the normal sends as post-fader; verify your project’s routing if the effect level changes when you move the source fader.

What do the main Fruity Reeverb 2 controls do?

Control	Purpose	Listening check
DRY and WET	Set the relative direct and reverberant output levels.	On an insert, compare the blend; on a send, check that the plug-in is not adding an unwanted second dry signal.
DEC	Controls the reverb decay time.	Listen for tails covering the next syllable or snare hit.
DELAY	Sets pre-delay between the direct input and first reflection.	Compare the clarity of the vocal onset and the timing of the tail.
SIZE and DIFF	Shape the simulated room size and reflection density.	Listen for a suitable sense of space without assuming one setting is correct for every mix.
H.CUT and L.CUT	Change the frequency content sent through the reverb.	Check whether the tail is too bright or contributes low-frequency buildup.

These are listening choices, not universal vocal settings. A longer tail or louder effect can sound impressive in isolation but obscure a busy arrangement. The reverb guide explains reflections, decay and dry/wet balance.

Why can’t I hear the reverb?

Symptom	Check
No source meter movement	Confirm the channel routes to the Mixer insert you are editing and that the source is playing.
Source plays, but no effect	Check the effect slot is enabled, the plug-in’s wet level is raised and the correct insert is selected.
Send track is silent	Confirm the source-to-send route, send amount and destination-to-master path. Check the send track and effect are not muted.
The sound is doubled or too loud	On a send, check for a second dry path and verify the plug-in’s DRY and WET settings. Compare at a similar output level.
Words are washed out	Reduce wet or send level, shorten decay or adjust pre-delay. Listen in the full mix and keep a copy of the earlier settings.

Compare a reverb effect outside FL Studio

The free Saturalabs audio reverb tool adds a simple synthetic effect to a supported short MP3 or WAV locally. Adjust decay and wet mix, preview the actual export and download it. Its four feedback delays can sound metallic, and its tail is cut at the selected duration; it is not Fruity Reeverb 2 or a replacement for FL Studio’s send routing.

If you import the result into FL Studio, keep the original, align the starts and listen to the end. WAV preserves the tool’s decoded output frame count including its added tail; MP3 re-encoding may add delay or padding. For recording and mixing workflows, see recording vocals in FL Studio and mixing vocals in FL Studio.

Common questions

Should I put reverb on an insert or a send?

An insert is convenient for processing one source directly. A send provides a separate wet path that multiple tracks can share. Either can work; check the dry and wet routing.

Why set DRY to zero on a send?

The source already has a direct path in a typical parallel send setup. Image-Line recommends DRY 0% and WET 100% on the send effect so the send contributes the reverberant signal rather than another dry copy.

What are the best reverb settings for vocals?

There is no universal preset. Start subtly and adjust decay, pre-delay and level while listening to the words and the complete arrangement.

Does the online Saturalabs effect edit my FL Studio project?

No. It processes a separate supported file in the browser. Import the downloaded result yourself and check timing and the tail.