Algorithmic Reverb v. Convolution Reverb

     Hello! My name is Marcos Cirino and I will be talking about the two basic reverbs in most DAWs. I am from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and am currently using what I have learned from this class to improve my band's performance and sound. Enjoy!
     There are two basic types of electronic reverbs in your DAW: convolution reverbs and algorithmic reverbs. Convolution reverbs use real sound samples, recorded from real rooms (or modified but based on real recordings in some cases) known as “Impulse Responses”.  They produce these in magical ways, and all you really need to know is that they use multiple microphones to capture the acoustics of a room and produce an IR file for you, so you don’t need to do any of that.
The reverb plug-in then filters your sound through this impulse response to generate a “believable organic tail” based on the characteristics of a real room.
     Since the effect process for these types of reverbs involves running filters over your signal and mixing that with another signal, they often have a larger impact on CPU (this is not always the case, but in general is true).  The CPU hit is similar to another audio track in your project.  So two tracks, each with a convolution reverb as an insert effect will make your DAW behave like it has roughly four tracks playing simultaneously. One common problem with reverb in general is the amount of bass build up they can cause.  Physics lesson: Lower frequencies tend to penetrate surfaces, and higher frequencies tend to bounce of surfaces (the effect we’re trying to produce).  Reverbs tend to just apply their tail to everything. Convolution reverbs, using their impulse response files, tend to exaggerate… you guessed it, the impulse response from your sound.  This is the initial collision between a sound and the surrounding material.  If this is not set up correctly, it can cause your bass to build up much faster than algorithmic reverbs. The good part about convolution reverbs is that they sound very realistic.
     We also have algorithmic reverbs. This is your standard reverb plug-in. They get the job done, but don’t sound amazing.  This is because a basic reverb is pretty easy to create, but very hard to master.
Algorithmic reverbs generate your reverb sound strictly based on parameters you set in the DAW, they try to generate the same thing as convolution reverbs but because they are simulating the impulse responses (as opposed to the convolution case) they can tend to sound fake especially when isolated in a solo instrument case.  Unless you have a very good reverb plug-in, I recommend not using algorithmic reverb on your solo instruments. The good thing about algorithmic reverbs is that they have less impact on your CPU.
Sources:

http://brian-doyle.com/2011/10/28/convolution-vs-algorithmic-reverbs/