OK. Here's a chance for EVERYBODY to chime in. I've been playing drums for 45 yrs, and recording other digital audio for 25. Although, I've rubbed elbows, and am respected by VERY accomplished musicians, I don't claim to know even half as much as the reams of volumes that others have already forgotten. I've never had one formally taught course, or lesson. All I know is that other extremely capable, and experienced musicians that have heard my work, and mixes has always complimented my work. As far as reverb, some of them say "Well, I might not put quite as much reverb, but I don't think your mix is "WRONG", or distasteful, or illustrates a particular incompetence, or ignorance about how to apply reverb. SOO, having said that, is there any consensus, or general rule that I'm not aware of for applying reverb, other than your EAR? PLEEZE bleed all over this. KC

I,too, have been fortunate to work with some really big names in our industry. Reverb is always a touchy subject. If you ask ten artists what they think, you will get twenty answers! I know the only thing that rubs me the wrong way is not so much the amount of reverb, but some people tend to put separate reverbs on every instrument. I agree there is a time and place for that technique. It sounds most natural to my ear to have all the instruments routed to a buss with just one reverb for a room. Example: When you go hear a performance in a concert hall, you don't hear separate reverb on every instrument. You hear the whole group in ONE space! Depending on where the instrument is in that space determines how much of the room you hear. This is what I learned from many, many years of touring and playing every size room you can imagine. I try to keep that in mind when I start getting a little too zealous with the reverb knob. Like I said, That's just my opinion. I'm sure there will be many more.

Well funny you should bring this up. Just watched a cool documentary called "Searching for Sugarman" Story about a musician who recorded a couple of albums in the USA in 1971-2 that never sold. He became a big hit in South Africa.

 Anyhow my son inlaw downloaded the soundtrack which was the 1970's recordings. Right away I said, "good lord did they every use WAY to much reverb in those days". For me it totally ruined the music, I could't listen to it. We then found a "Alive in Australia" a 1979 recording and what a difference,,, same songs, "better production". ( re: way less reverb and cheesy strings)    

My teaching has been turn the reverb up until you notice it, then back off a tad. 
Certain music styles do lend themselves to more efxs. So that's also one of the factors. 
Kinda like,, slow songs more, fast songs less ?? 

But if your buddies are telling you they think there's to much, then they're probably like me and would rather not "hear" reverb in a mix. 

I have been a recording hobbyist since the 1980's, starting out with digital and analog re verbs but not in software. Over the years, I have learned to use reverb sparingly. Nowadays I use software re verbs, currently I use the Waves IR 1 for most of my mixes, and I put it in an Aux in Sonar 8.5 PE and send everything that gets verb to that aux. I learned a long time ago that less is better.

Cactus. I heard a song on the radio the other day that I hadn't heard in quite sometime. Alabama, Love In The First Degree. You want to talk about the over use of reverb. Funny thing is, I don't ever remember the song having that much  reverb.

That's the great thing about being able to use automation in Sonar after you have found the settings you want on your reverb.

Make it heavier and lighter throughout the mix as needed.

I might have a couple of FX busses with their own Reverb depending on what routed to it.  Use the automation to really apply on certain things or take away. Just depends on the song.

I kind of get the feeling a lot of people just throw it in an FX Bin, turn it on and forget about it