Like reverb, delay is an indispensable effect for adding a sense of space to tracks such a lead vocals and electric guitar solos in a mix. Finding a delay sound to suit your style and your mix can be challenging as there are many different types of delay to choose from. Short slapback effects and echoes are great for adding attitude to lead vocals while lengthy rhythmical feedback delays can be great for blending sounds and creating atmosphere.
Modern delay plug-ins have come a very long way since the earliest analog hardware delays which were based around reel-to-reel tape loops. With tape, delay sounds were produced using the sync and repro heads simultaneously, manipulating the tape speed and by shortening or lengthening the the loop of tape.
Plug-ins providing delay effects are thankfully a lot easier to use and cover a wide range of styles to choose from including digital, emulation and tape, to name a few.
In this article we suggest several third-party delay plug-ins worth checking out. To help you find your perfect delay plug-in we’ve included a wide selection of our reviews and free tips and tutorial videos.
When it comes to the topic of delay plug-ins there are some big names that come to mind such as the ubiquitous EchoBoy from Soundtoys which we have yet to produce a video on and Waves H-Delay. Both are considered by some to be industry standards when it comes to delay, but what about everything else? Check out our reviews below to hear several third-party delay plug-ins in action and to find out what we think of each.
Delay Effects Plug-ins We’ve Tested And Can Recommend
The team at French synthesis specialists and vintage emulators Arturia are very pleased to announce the latest in their range of “effects you’ll actually use”. 3 Delays You’ll Actually Use features a vintage tape delay and analogue “bucket brigade” style echo, and a cutting edge digital delay like nothing you have used before.
Brainworx today announced the release of two new plug-ins - the bx_2098EQ and the bx_delay2500. As the largest brand in the Plugin Alliance, this is a welcome addition to the line-up with the bx_2098 being a meticulous recreation of a respected Amek design and check out our exclusive review. The bx_delay 2500 offering warm analogue delays with some interesting additions including, amongst other things transient processing in the feedback loop.
Late Replies enables users to produce delay patterns in new and exciting ways with up to 8 taps. Taps can be fed into two nested feedback loops which include plug-in slots for hosting third-party plug-ins, however, Blue Cat took it upon themselves to develop an extra array of effects for Late Replies.
In this video review, Pro Tools Expert team member Peter Barter takes a look at the newly updated Echo Farm 3.0 Delay plug-in from Line 6.
In this video review for Pro Tools Expert, Technical Editor James Ivey takes a look at the new EC-300 delay plug-in from McDSP. EC-300 emulates 3 classing delay line types. Magnetic or tape delay is the sound of those old tape based delays units. Digital is a shiny sounding clean delay with speaker emulation and Analog sounds just as good as those old analog guitar delay pedals.
In this video review Dan Cooper takes a look at The Cargo Cult's new stereo version of Slapper in a music context. Watch to video to hear how it performs and to find out what Dan thinks of it.
Dan tests UVI's new delay plug-in Relayer and is rather impressed with it's modern take on a classic effect. Possibly the Last Delay You'll Ever Need
Free Tips And Tutorial Videos To Help You Get The Most From Using Delay In A Mix
Delay is commonly used to add depth and interest to key tracks in a mix such as a lead vocal. Our free tutorials below demonstrate several creative ways you can use delay from blending additional effects in with delays to using specific delay plug-ins.
In this free video tutorial, brought to you with the support of Waves, we show you a cool little production trick, which you may not have used in your vocal mixes. Have you ever tried inserting a hard and fast Auto Tune effect before a delay plug-in on an effects return? If you’ve yet to try this, watch this free video tutorial to learn how to set this up and to hear how this effects chain sounds in a mix.
Do you use Waves H-Delay in your mixes? Did you know that you can quickly inject more fun into your H-Delays using Waves GT-R Stomp boxes? Check out this quick tip video to hear fuzz, octaver and wah broaden the stock H-Delay sounds in seconds.
I’d like to see a show of hands… Who uses Waves H-Delay? It’s a personal favourite of mine - I’ve yet to find a better plug-in for delay. There are those types of mixes when reverb seems to do more harm than good, especially on lead vocal tracks as medium to long reverb tails can quickly “blur the lines” of definition within the bigger picture of the mix. A fantastic alternative to use instead, or with a small blend of reverb, is delay as you can stamp a subtle tone or shimmer to a lead vocal without the effects bloating out the mix. We show you how in this quick tip video.
Waves included an additional delay section (not found on the original hardware) that over the years has become a valuable effect in my vocal plug-in chain when I work on rockabilly, country and rock music. Watch the video to hear how I use the delay section in Waves Kramer Tape to add attitude and depth to lead vocals.
In this free tutorial, Pro Tools Expert Deputy Editor Dan Cooper shows you how to use the new Eventide UltraTap delay plug-in controls.
Watch the video to learn each of UltraTap's unique features in a simple snare drum example session that demonstrates the performance of UltraTap's controls such as Slurm, Spread, Taper & Chop.
In this short free video tutorial, Pro Tools Expert Deputy Editor shows you how he uses Relayer by UVI to effect a vocal track in a mix. Learn how to load a Relayer delay preset and how to further adjust the settings to make custom delay patterns.
In this free video tutorial, Paul Drew demonstrates how to use the Waves Manny Marroquin Delay on a vocal send.
Free Delay Plug-ins
Every Friday we post an article featuring a free plug-in to help audio engineers on tight budgets. If you’ve outgrown your DAW’s stock delay plug-in check out the following three delay plug-ins which are available to download for free.
This week we are featuring Baby Comeback, a free delay from Baby Audio which you have to try.
In this week's Friday Free Plug-in, we are featuring KR Delay From K Research, a free AAX/VST/AU delay Plug-in for Mac or Windows which offers dual or ping-pong delays with resonant high and low pass filters.
In this week's Friday Free Plug-in, we are featuring Spaceship Delay from Musical Entropy. A flexible delay plug-in which offers some features premium delay plug-ins do not.
In this week's Friday Free Plug-in, we are featuring Valhalla Freq Echo. A frequency shifting delay. The frequency shifter is fascinating, the delay suitably analogue-sounding and it doesn't create zipper noise when changing the delay time, making it perfect for dubby silliness.