Sounds that do not take a direct route to a person’s ears, but which bounce first off of a stage, balcony, wall, or other non-absorptive boundary before arriving at the ears. The combined audio effect of all of the reflections of a sound is called reverberation. Early reflections are the first reflections to reach the ears and sometimes sound distinct, like little echoes. Closer instruments will generally have a longer delay between the initial dry signal and the first early reflections. See also ESS.