Delay

-Indroneil Kanungo

Functions ​:
● To simulate echoes in normal listening environments by playing back the track after a
certain delay.
● To make the track sound more realistic and “full”. Generally, lead melodies and solos
sound better when there’s a slight delay.
● Can be used to harmonize and add notes to the melody, and even modify the rhythm if
used creatively.

Advantages ​:
● Very easy to understand and use.
● Very little theoretical knowledge required to get started.
● When used correctly and on the right tracks, it can turn a good mix into an amazing one.
● Huge scope for creativity.
● Can add stereo width to the track if used on the right and left channels separately.

Disadvantages ​:
● Doesn’t help a lot if the mix is bad to begin with.
● It can destroy a song if the level is too high.
● You will need to automate parameters precisely during transitions in a song or else
delays from one section will bleed into the other and it may sound bad. Especially when
there’s a change in scale and/or arrangement involved.

Parameters ​:
1. Delay Time​ : ​Specifies the time interval (in milliseconds or seconds) after which the
track is played back. Most digital plugins allow you to also specify the time in reference
to the tempo of the song. For example, you may set the delay time to a quarter note or
an eighth note, etc. relative to the tempo of the project.
2. Level ​: ​Measured in dB. Specifies how loud the echo must be in comparison to the
original signal. For example, if the level is set to -5 dB, the echoes will be 5dBs fainter
than the original signal. If you’re using an auxiliary track for the delay, the gain of that
track may be used to control the level. Can also be controlled by the Dry/Wet Mix knob in
the plugin if there’s one.
3. Feedback​ ​: ​Allows you to run the delayed track (echo) through the plugin again resulting
in more reflections. Usually set to -infinity dB by default which means you only get one
reflection. But if we set it to let’s say -10dB, the echo will keep repeating after the same
time interval getting 10 dB fainter in each iteration.
4. High Pass Filter​ : ​Allows only the frequencies higher than a certain threshold to be
repeated. Typically used in instruments which can dominate in the bass and mid
frequency regions. Delays in the bass region usually make the mix unclear and chaotic.
Hence a high pass filter around 70 - 150 Hz is preferred in guitars and keyboards.
5. Low Pass Filter​ :​ Filters out frequencies higher than a certain threshold in the echoes.
You might use it if you don’t want the high notes to be repeated.