Deltalab delays

[firby]

I got my deltalab effectron for 60 bucks. It is the ADM 256. Its a good delay. I think they made a ADM1024 as well which would be better.

Old Ibanez stuff will give you that vibe.

My favorite delay is a symetrix 606. You could get a advanced degree for all of the stuff you can do with that.

[chandlersonic]

Thx firby

Actually I have a pcm42 and from what I've heard the 606 is basically a rip-off of the lexicon design so this is probably not the way to go.
It might be interesting though because I could use another 42 and don't have the cash right now as I'm buyng a lot of other stuff, how much do the 606s usually go for?
I was thinking something really lo-fi but not too crappy either for some tracks on this project, that's why something cheap is probably the way to go.
I'll have to check out the Ibanez stuff, I've never heard it. Which one do you like?

[chandlersonic]

There's a Deltalab AMD 1020 on ebay right now, anybody like this unit?

[dbbubba]

Once I got in the real world of PCM 41s and 42s in the early '80s I tossed all of the DeltaLab DDLs I had. I think that I had a 1024 and the smaller 256, but I used the cheaper/smaller units many, many times.

Deltalabs units use delta modulation istead of the usual PCM method of encoding/decoding. They definitely sound different!

A big factor is that they are -10 db units thrpugh and through.
They are VERY difficult to interface into +4db systems.

[chandlersonic]

Originally Posted by dbbubba

A big factor is that they are -10 db units thrpugh and through.
They are VERY difficult to interface into +4db systems.

Thanx for the info dbbubba.

That's good to know!! I don't know, I guess I really got nothing to lose in the end because they're so cheap but I'd still be pissed to rack it and take it out the next day. Problem is I can't find anybody I know that's actually got one of these so I can't hear it for myself...

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by chandlersonic

I was checking out these delays and people seem to think they're really cool for the price.
I'm gonna start working on an industrial/electronic/metal project with a band and from what I've gathered this delay is often described as mechanical which is really what I'm looking for, something cold and rigid ( but not in the way plug ins are cold and rigid ).

What model would you guys recommend and what do you use it for?

What's a good price for them??

What else is there around that might be interesting for this kind of sound.

effectrons are just plain cool... delete that "for the price". i'll take an effectron over one of those bullshit pod echo pro boxes any day of the week... depending on the sound i'm going for i may even take an effectron over a tc 2290...

i find effectron I & IIs sound "watery, liquid"... not mechanical... plug ins sound mechanical.. that pod echo pro thing sounds mechanical... i love industrial but i also find industrial sounds benefit a LOT more from vintage/colored gear than most other things... with all the synth/sampler textures the hardest thing is adding that real pro gear sheen or organic-ness tape provides... think of Flood's mixes vs prolly any other producer... gotta have that big 15 ips bottom.. gotta have transformer/tape & germanium slop... love it.

good price is $75-100. as far back as i can remember effectrons have always been $75-100... prolly always will be.

great thing about effectrons is playing the knobs as your track is printing... especially for weird modulation stuff... think bauhaus' "bela lugosi's dead" or reverend horton heat's "gin and tonic blues" and you'll get it...

LIQUID, baby = effectron

[7 Hz]

My favourite delay , the Effectron II ADM 1024.

I prefer it to a Space Echo.

One of the few outboard effect pieces I have (other is a spring reverb).

Good sounds, it's digital, but in an analog way! The modulation is off the hook crazy. Love the one-knob-per-function and the delay time switches 1, 4, 16, 64, 256, 1024.

If my studio wasn't in pieces, I would record some sounds for you. I can make whole tracks with an effectron and a mixing desk... no other instruments or audio source needed.

[chandlersonic]

Thanx guys!! I'm sold, I'm getting one of these!! Sounds like it's gonna be a nice addtion to what I already got.

Btw, anybody know the difference between the effectron I and the II? I can't seem to find that info anywhere...

[triez]

I have a Deltalab Accousticomputer in my rack, never used it, but it is fun to watch the LED's on the front counting binary....

[chandlersonic]

Originally Posted by triez

I have a Deltalab Accousticomputer in my rack, never used it, but it is fun to watch the LED's on the front counting binary....

That sounds like a true investment

[7 Hz]

The 1 doesn't have as many controls



Looks like the delay time / modulation width is shared by one knob, I guess you don't get to choose the delay time if
you want modulation? Also the delay time switches are combo types, up/down, up/up, down/down etc

The II has seperate knobs for delay factor and modulation width, and a seperate button for each delay time



Seems the II is better!

They made a bunch of other types of units, some more limited than the II, some are better, but harder to find. The
Effectron II seems to be the most common one and the most bang for the buck.

Here is an echotron!

[chandlersonic]

Thanks alot 7hz! I'll look around for an effectron II, I could use the extra controls that's for sure. I actually kind of like the look of these delays , basic but somewhat classy in an oldschool way, I think it'll look cool in my rack

Now I got to find one!

[7 Hz]

Now I have posted these pics, I want one of each!

Must... resist...

[firby]

I woke up early this morning after going to bed early from some work lag. I went into my studio thinking about this thread to give the ol effecton II a whirl. I had to patch it to an aux and get it going. At the 64 and below setttings it worked great but I flipped it to 256 and the overload light glowed in the return channel. It went bright red and it sounded like a torpedo plane was roaring through the studio.
This was unwelcome at 4:25 AM in my place.

Don't worry though. I ducked http://gearslutz.com/board/images/smilies/freak3.gif


Anyways, I get the mojo that you are looking for from these boxes even though mine looks to be broken. The modulation section can give you a huey if you want. I have a bunch of rack delays because I sometimes chase dub type sounds. I have Roland SDE 1000, Effectron, Symetrix 606, Ibanex DMD2000, and an effectron copy DOD 8900 ? The DOD is broken too but in a different way. Sought after by me is a good yamaha analog delay and perhaps a Klark Teknik multi tap.

Out of those delays the major mojo is the symetrix 606. However, I definitely see the attraction to delays with completely discrete controls.

The Effectron has a great sound and I played with it awhile last night. Does anyone know who can work on these or am I SOL ? The 256 setting is apparently hosed.

It seems to me that the mojo that the great delays impart is a good limiter on the input. You can hit them hard and they break up very nicely. The Ibanex delay that I have imparts alot of the same sound as the effectron and the DOD but it has digital controls which really messes up the mojo for live mixing.

regards

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by triez

I have a Deltalab Accousticomputer in my rack, never used it, but it is fun to watch the LED's on the front counting binary....

Dude! I've been jonesing for a DL-2 Acousticomputer ever since Berklee's audio department got one in 1980. In fact, that's probably the *last* time I've seen one! But I loved all the gnarley metallic low-fi stuff that it would do besides strict delay...like that "reverb" [sic] simulation, wtf were they thinking?

[Bassmankr]

I too have a DL-2 Acoustic Computer and I love it. Triez, you need to turn your's on and start turning knobs, it's a very fun piece of gear although it does not have any presets to store a good setting. You'll have to use the blank panel diagrams in the manual to write down a setting or use a digital camera.

These things were originally $2700, I bought mine for $800 about 25 years ago and thought that was a killer deal LOL. Now they come up every now and then on ebay for $100. The conversion is at the very beginning of digital but the analog in the box is top drawer. You can get some wild modulated effects like take any voice and make it sound like the devil/Darth Vader LOL. Steve Dawl the radio DJ out of Chicago (the guy that did the event of blowing up disco records at the White Sox stadium) used one for effect voices (voice of God/Satan etc.) for bits in his early years. If you cannot come up with an interesting effect on this box then just get out of the business.

One good thing about all the old gear that doesn't have digital screens and presets are they are fast to use and get a decent sound . . . turn some knobs and use your ears.

[robot gigante]

I have an Effectron II in the rack that I haven't used in a long long while. Thanks for inspiring me to give it a go again!

[chandlersonic]

Originally Posted by robot gigante

I have an Effectron II in the rack that I haven't used in a long long while. Thanks for inspiring me to give it a go again!

You sure you don't want to get rid of it??

Just kidding, have fun with it! but really if you don't want it...ok I'll stop now

[the-oger]

I have two Effectron II 1024’s and I enjoy them thoroughly. They are a little noisy (hiss) and as someone mentioned they’re -10 so the clip light is way easy to trigger, but their inherent mojo TOTALLY makes up for it.

Where do I start… …real time knob tweaking makes for hours of freakin’ fun (think Space Echo)… the “Hold” button never fails to inspire, especially while capturing a “loop” and the slowing it way down (the graininess only adds to the vibe!)… the flanger is great, crank the feedback knob & “tune” with the speed knob to create some freaky almost vocoder-like sounds… add a bit of modulation to make the repeats a little more interesting.

Good clean sound? Hell NO…. good clean fun?... HELL YES!! Every studio should have at least one. Imparts a vibe that a plug-in certainly can’t. thumbsup thumbsup

[idylldon]

I just picked up an Effectron II and love it. As with all the older electronic gear I get, I recapped it with fresh electrolytic caps and it not only sounds great, it's quiet as well.

Great, old-digital-school delay, and I won't even qualify that with "for the price."

Cheers,
--
Don

[triez]

Originally Posted by Bassmankr

I too have a DL-2 Acoustic Computer and I love it. Triez, you need to turn your's on and start turning knobs, it's a very fun piece of gear although it does not have any presets to store a good setting. You'll have to use the blank panel diagrams in the manual to write down a setting or use a digital camera.

These things were originally $2700, I bought mine for $800 about 25 years ago and thought that was a killer deal LOL. Now they come up every now and then on ebay for $100. The conversion is at the very beginning of digital but the analog in the box is top drawer. You can get some wild modulated effects like take any voice and make it sound like the devil/Darth Vader LOL. Steve Dawl the radio DJ out of Chicago (the guy that did the event of blowing up disco records at the White Sox stadium) used one for effect voices (voice of God/Satan etc.) for bits in his early years. If you cannot come up with an interesting effect on this box then just get out of the business.

One good thing about all the old gear that doesn't have digital screens and presets are they are fast to use and get a decent sound . . . turn some knobs and use your ears.

Guess I had better run some signal through it.... : -)

[lozion]

Rare and killer sounding is the Echotron with a flashing led to indicate tempo...
Big time Dub delay!

[chandlersonic]

Originally Posted by lozion

Rare and killer sounding is the Echotron with a flashing led to indicate tempo...
Big time Dub delay!

Yummy, sounds sweet!

[cgarges]

The Effectron III (ADM 1030) is really the shit. It's almost the same as a 1024 except it has a little bank of four pushbuttons that will actually store the knob settings. So you can keep up to four different knob settings in the internal memory. It also has 1030ms maximum delay and an output level control on the back (I don't think the 1024 does). Otherwise, they're pretty much the same, sonically. I own two 1030s and a 1024. They're absolutely my go-to delays when I need something simple, grainy, and mono, even if I'm working somewhere with a 2290, H3000, SPX, AMS, or the like.

Deltalab also made a few speaker array delays (ADM 25, ADM 465) that are interesting as single-tap units. They have pushbutton-selectable delay times, balanced XLR I/Os, and a cleaner-sounding signal path. They're much more limited in their functionality than the Effectrons, but sort of cool for some things. They usually go for a ridiculously inexpensive amount of money on the second-hand market.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[mark mcg]

I used the 1024 for years in a guitar rig. I paid $175 new in 198???4 for the unit and definitely do not see paying $100 for it now. I don't see the speciality let alone "vintage" attraction to the sound of this thing. I do think it may sound a tad better than the SDE 1000 that I still have. Craig Anderton wrote some manuals for them and posted a some interesting info about the company and the 1 bit sampling: http://www.musicplayer.com/cgi-bin/u...24324/p/1.html

Mark