Looking for a Specific Delay

[dlt123]

Hi all, I listen and write Ambient music and have noticed that a lot of artists use delays extensively in there music to give an Ambient, Spacey feel.

These delays seem to have very defined, distinct, long, clear and smooth delays.

I am currently using VST delays and cannot find one that gives me the kind of delays I've heard on CD's released by artists I listen to... It looks like I may need to think of getting hardware delay units, but do not know which delay will fill my need.

Again, I write Ambient Spacey music and need a consderable amount of control on my delays.

Can anyone suggest a new, used or vintage delay that isn't too expensive but will give an Ambient sound that I am trying to replicate? I am looking to spend around $500 either new or used.

Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks,
Dennis

[Rogervandeberg]

It's often a delay combined with a reverb or chorus. The TC electronic D-two is great if you already have a good reverb. Otherwise, the TC electronic M-one XL seems a good choice if you really want to go for that reverbed delay you need for those cloudy effects. Both boxes run under $ 500 i think....

[StrykeBack]

You want crazy spacey stuff check out the yamaha ud-stomp. not sure what your going to run into it but I used it a few times for guitar. The only thing I could find affordable to build up a U2 the Edge like delay wash of guitars in one unit compared to his multiple tap delay racks.

Do a search for it. They aren't made anymore but they are insane since u can do 8 different delays in one unit, some serial into each other and some can be parallel. U can build reverbs, choruses and long delays. Alan Howldsworth did a lot of the presets for them.

Not to pimp gear or anything but I'm planning on giving mine a new home in order to upgrade my main signal chain since i'm not playing guitar much anymore.

If your looking for just a plugin look into echoboy. a great sounding both new ambient and vintage type delays.

[Fretbored]

Originally Posted by dlt123

Hi all, I listen and write Ambient music and have noticed that a lot of artists use delays extensively in there music to give an Ambient, Spacey feel.

These delays seem to have very defined, distinct, long, clear and smooth delays.

I am currently using VST delays and cannot find one that gives me the kind of delays I've heard on CD's released by artists I listen to... It looks like I may need to think of getting hardware delay units, but do not know which delay will fill my need.

Again, I write Ambient Spacey music and need a consderable amount of control on my delays.

Can anyone suggest a new, used or vintage delay that isn't too expensive but will give an Ambient sound that I am trying to replicate? I am looking to spend around $500 either new or used.

Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks,
Dennis

Are you referring to a delay for mixing, or an effects box for an instrument?

[Fruition2k]

If its a hardware delay your looking for find a Sony M7. Its got several stereo taps maybe 4? and once dialed in its rediculus how lush it is...meaning as the echos die out you'll swear its reverb at times. Sony make a D7 also which I havent tried but I'm sure its near the same. Whispy hi end and non metallic, very deep programming for beyond any other device thats not a synth related.

[chandlersonic]

Originally Posted by Fruition2k

If its a hardware delay your looking for find a Sony M7. Its got several stereo taps maybe 4? and once dialed in its rediculus how lush it is...meaning as the echos die out you'll swear its reverb at times. Sony make a D7 also which I havent tried but I'm sure its near the same. Whispy hi end and non metallic, very deep programming for beyond any other device thats not a synth related.

The D7 is a great unit for the price.

The V77 is also a must have imo, it's kind of a best of all the sony 7 units and you find them pretty cheap these days. I got mine from a studio closing a while back for $300, they'd never even opened the sucker , it was still in the box!! I'd take it over any unit in that price range, you get some really nice modulations/delay/reverb with that box.

If I were starting a project studio and needed a all-in-one box this would be it.

[Kiwiburger]

What exactly are you missing from the VST delays you have tried? In my experience, some VST delays are just as good as some external digital delays. Analog delays, Tape delays and the effects of tubes and transformers are something else.

I like Sonic Flavours DP5 - that gives me all the features I expect from a digital delay, including modulation, resonant filter and saturation. I find the GUI very user friendly - because I usually like to work with numbers. If, for example, I have the urge to set up a 11ms delay on the left and a 17ms delay on the right, I like to be able to type in the numbers - and so many delay plugins don't allow this. Then, if I wanted to change my mind and set them to a 1/4 note and dotted 1/4 note - that's must a couple of clicks away. I love modulated delays, but very subtle, and very few plugins allow fine tuning of modulation (if they offer it at all).

Another great sounding plugin delay is the Ohmboyz one - but I found it's routing to be a little strange. I may still have to buy it, because I think it sounds so good.

[baikonour]

The Line 6 Echo Pro is hard to beat...

[dlt123]

Originally Posted by Fretbored

Are you referring to a delay for mixing, or an effects box for an instrument?

Excellent question...

Shoot I forgot to mention that I will be using this delay on my mixer send/return for Hardware Synths only, no Guitars.

I'm not sure if Synth VS. Guitar use has much bearing on a delay, but thought I would mention this...

On a side note, I recently purchased an older Lexicon LXP-15II unit that I like very much, considering the price.

Anyway, thanks for helping me be more specific.
Dennis

[dlt123]

Originally Posted by Kiwiburger

What exactly are you missing from the VST delays you have tried? In my experience, some VST delays are just as good as some external digital delays. Analog delays, Tape delays and the effects of tubes and transformers are something else.

I like Sonic Flavours DP5 - that gives me all the features I expect from a digital delay, including modulation, resonant filter and saturation. I find the GUI very user friendly - because I usually like to work with numbers. If, for example, I have the urge to set up a 11ms delay on the left and a 17ms delay on the right, I like to be able to type in the numbers - and so many delay plugins don't allow this. Then, if I wanted to change my mind and set them to a 1/4 note and dotted 1/4 note - that's must a couple of clicks away. I love modulated delays, but very subtle, and very few plugins allow fine tuning of modulation (if they offer it at all).

Another great sounding plugin delay is the Ohmboyz one - but I found it's routing to be a little strange. I may still have to buy it, because I think it sounds so good.

I just haven't been able to get the delay sound/feel I've heard on some CD I've listened to with VST and I'm afraid I may have to bite the bullet for a spendy delay.

I've not heard the Sonic Flavours DP5, but I'll check it out. Thanks...

Thanks for posting,
Dennis

[rcm]

I am involved in a lot of ambient stuff from time to time. I only use plug in delays for functional delays but rarely for vibe stuff.

The thing about getting ambient qualities from delays is usually a matter of delays that modulate and also processing delays and reverbs so that they feed into each other.

A great old delay with a lot of vibe is the Digitech IPS 33B. Not super clean, but lots of character.

[chetatkinsdiet]

a fav box of mine a few years ago was the dp/4 from ensonic. Killer, lush effects and dirt cheap these days. I've seen a few on ebay and other places recently.

m

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by baikonour

The Line 6 Echo Pro is hard to beat...

The Echo Pro is nice- although s/h prices are now as much as $500, which is too much I think.
I have one that sits unused most of the time since I bought Soundtoys Echoboy a few years ago.
They have a native version these days- it is just astonighing.
Go get it.

[Fretbored]

Roland SDE-3000 digital delay. Around $350-$450 dollars on ebay. Hard to find but if you can come across one cheap, you'd be happy.