What is reverberation? How does reverberation affect how we hear sounds?

Reverberation is the persistence of sound after the original sound source has stopped emitting sound waves. It occurs due to multiple reflections of sound waves off surfaces like walls, ceilings, and floors, which cause the sound to reach our ears at different times. This creates a lingering sound, or an echo-like effect, even after the source is silent.

Reverberation affects how we hear sounds in several ways: a) Clarity: As the reflections of the sound waves reach our ears at different times, they can interfere constructively or destructively, causing the original sound to become less clear. In indoor spaces with hard surfaces, like concrete walls, the reverberated sound may significantly degrade speech intelligibility and musical quality. b) Perceived Loudness: Reverberation can increase the apparent loudness of sounds, making them seem louder than they would be without any reverberation. This is because the direct sound from the source and its reflections combine to create an overall sound pressure level that is higher than the direct sound alone. c) Localization: The perception of the direction from which a sound is coming can be impacted by reverberation. As the reflections of a sound reach our ears from different directions, it may become difficult to determine the direction of the original sound source. This can be especially challenging in environments with a lot of reflective surfaces. d) Fullness: Reverberation can provide a sense of fullness or spaciousness to music or speech. In some situations, like concert halls, a controlled amount of reverberation can enhance the listening experience by filling the room and giving the sound more character. In summary, reverberation is the persistence of sound caused by multiple reflections, which can affect our perception of sounds in terms of clarity, loudness, localization, and fullness.