Gated reverb or gated ambience is an audio processing technique that combines strong reverb and a noise gate. This effect is often associated with the sound of 1980s British popular music. It was developed in 1979 by producer Steve Lillywhite and engineer Hugh Padgham while working on Peter Gabriel's third solo album (1980), after Phil Collins played drums without using cymbals at London's Townhouse Studios. The effect is known for demonstrating in Collins' hit song "In the Air Tonight" (1981).