Essential Transition FX: Technique Masterclass

Reverse Crash

Another timeless effect that serves as a simple way of smoothing transitions and introducing new elements with application in any genre.

Step 1

Load up a crash cymbal sample. The longer the decay tail, the longer the rise – although you can always stretch the sample to the length you need if it’s not quite right.

Step 2

The next step is to reverse the cymbal. Again, the exact process here depends on your DAW.

Step 3

Line up the reversed cymbal so it ends at the close of the bar. Zoom in to get the end point accurate.

Next, apply reverb to the sound. This adds space and width to the sound but also helps to soften it and blend it into the mix. We’ve used Valhalla’s Vintage Verb, set the mode to Plate, kept the Color setting at 1970s, dialled in a mix of around 30% and pulled the decay time down to 1 second.