Delay’s are one of the simpler effects to understand. Sometimes also referred to as “echo” a delay does exactly what the name describes, it delays the sound source. Depending on what your settings are will determine how many times the delay repeats, How loud those repeats are and how long the delay will wait until you hear it. Delays are often used the same way reverbs are which is to create space in the mix. Thats not the only things delays are used for though. You can also use delays to create many many different types of effects that add to the sonic landscape.
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Effect Parameters
Delay Time> how long before the sound is repeated
Tempo Sync> each repeat of the delay will be in time with the song, ¼ notes or 1/8 notes
Tap tempo> tap this button along with the song to set the delay time
Feedback> output is routed back to input for additional repeats
Mix/Wet-Dry> mix of original signal with delayed signal
Rate> LFO rate to change delay time
Depth> range of delay time change for LFO
Filter> usually a high cut filter, each repeat gets darker sounding
Stereo delays often have separate Left and Right controls.
Types Of Delays
The most common type of delays are ones that match the tempo. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 note delays. For example if you had a word that you wanted to repeat at the end of a verse you’d set the delay to 1/4 note, then increase the feedback setting to determine how many repeats you want to hear.
A slap back or slapdelay has a longer delay time from about 75 to 200 milliseconds. This is the sort of delay was a characteristic of the 50′s rock n roll records.
A ping pong delay uses two separate delay processors that feed into each other. First the dry signal is heard, the signal is sent to the left side, this delayed signal is sent to the right side, and the right side is sent back to the left.
Chorus, flanging and phasing can all be created with delays as well.
