Chase Bliss Audio Delay Shootout! Which analog delay is right for you? | Secret Weapons

I get a LOT of questions about the Chase Bliss Audio line of delays. So lets try running down the strengths, drawbacks, and applications of each. I really wanted this video to be concise and to the point but instead it’s about 40 minutes of mostly just comparison. Can Tonal Recall be Thermae? Is Thermae a good "normal" delay? How do they all sound turned on together? Which is right for you? Watch and find out.
00:00 Intro
00:57 Talking about CBA Delays
04:57 Sound Samples
Chain:
Fender Mustang
29 pedals EUNA
diamond comp
Benson / CBA Preamp mkii
CBA Tonal Recall
CBA Tonal Recall RKM
CBA Thermae
Strymonel cap
Hologram microcosm
Strymonvolante
meris Mercury 7
strymon iridium
Cables by sinasoid
Board by emersoncustom
Powered by strymonengineering
Controlled by Morningstar MC8
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[@Oh.No.Brousseau]

Born too late to explore the world. Born too early to explore the stars. Born just in time to watch Mark perform a deep dive into Chase Bliss delay pedals.

[@eg1503]

A great time to be alive :)

[@sunilyapa3018]

I’m so stupidly excited that this is 40 minutes for three of my favorite pedals.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I’m so confused as to why all my videos end up being over 40 minutes. But this feels like a good time for that to be the case.

[@YouSeeSorrows]

@@markjohnstonofficial 2:08 welp, it wasn't 45 minutes lol. You didn't lie.

[@dougc84]

mark @ 2:07 "i don't want to make this a 45 minute feature length video" me: looks at video length... "you're not wrong." i love how dedicated you are to these videos. great stuff man.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Thanks man. I really do intend on keeping things brief. It’s just not my strength.

[@dougc84]

@@markjohnstonofficial i'm so tired of videos that are short for the purposes of being short... because they always miss out on something. this, and your other videos, feel like i'm sitting down at the board with you jamming. i love that. keep it up.

[@johnjoy1318]

You’re doing the lords work with this one. Now to convince my wife I need a tonal recall blue knob and a thermae.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

This is what I am here for. To inspire a need where there might not actually be one

[@alden2205]

@@markjohnstonofficialhow do you feel about that?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

@@alden2205 how do I feel about a joke I made three years ago?

[@calvindinverno1]

I really don’t understand why you don’t have more subscribers. You are so good at explaining tools for the right side of the brain, but with a left sided approach. Enjoying the channel the more I watch. Thanks 🙏

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Tell all your friends

[@winstonsmith8236]

I think Thermae is my favorite pedal ever. It’s tough between that and a MOOD but analog weirdness will always best digital weirdness for me.

[@Paul_Uhl_]

Nice work, buddy. It felt so good to watch this... You echo everything that I believe and feel about these three delay pedals. It often feels like I am alone in my impressions of music gear... I greatly respect you and your opinions, so it's a nice feeling to be eye-to-eye on this. In regard to the subtle nuances of OG vs. RKM... where you talk about the heat of the repeats... that is definitely due, in part, to the slight variations and tolerances of the analog parts of the circuit, plus the fact that each is calibrated by hand. Each Chase Bliss pedal is, in a way, its own unique thing. You were right on the money when you mentioned the internal trimmers. You can definitely make adjustments as needed to tame or unleash different characteristics of each pedal. (please don't try this at home unless you know what you're doing). One fun thing on Thermae... (Talk about secret weapons) is... if you take off the back plate, you'll see a single dip switch attached to a wire. It's in the upper left side. That cuts out one chipset and gives you the "short" option like on RKM and OG blue. Fun to mess with that. I have one of my Thermae set normal, and the other with the "short" setting. Great video, man. Seriously. XOXO

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Dude I did NOT know that about the Thermae. Now I need a second. Shoot. And I love the nuance of device to device changes in these delays. It really does speak to how unique everyone’s own experience is; hence why I always refuse to deal in “better / worse”

[@Paul_Uhl_]

@@markjohnstonofficial I really *really* love that you don't do that. I don't, either. My least favorite post anywhere is the "Which pedal is better? The XXX or the YYY??" I even told my friend one time there's no such thing as a bad speaker. (Sure, there's working and non-working but I mean like good and bad) As long as it makes some kind of sound... It might not be the sound you want today but it could be the sound you want tomorrow. The subtle nuances thing really excites me, as well. I swear this is not a humble brag but I do have four RKM's. (Beta was interesting) It would be fun to line them up and set the knobs all to the same spot and try each one at the exact same settings.

[@DiscreteCircuitry]

Going into this video I was thinking "Great! Mark's gonna answer the question as to which Tonal Recall works for me" Coming out of this video: "Yeah two Thermae's in stereo sounds like a good plan" Amazing stuff man.

[@XIIMonkeysMusicGroup]

I need to try that! My wallet would hate me though!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

That is on my short list of "arrangements I really want to do but need to find a second"

[@kentonschroer2347]

This is some of the best pedal content. You kill it every time with the demos and explanation . Thanks for all the content man!

[@shinogu921]

19:17 this full-wet part is the most convincing comparison for me. thanks

[@jordandangelo180]

Wow man you really have some of the dreamiest tones I’ve heard. You’ve definitely mastered the art of making sure the delay does not in the way. Really amazing board too btw. Chase Bliss are magicians, Meris too. The new Autonmatone Chase Bliss/Meris reverb sounds incredible.

[@Subtle-System]

Yeah... Mark does very high quality videos... just on point! Knowledgeable, good taste stuff... I had the MOOD next on my wishlist, but I think I’ll get the thermae instead... very glad I stumbled upon Mark while looking for a Mercury 7 video... dude, you rock! Awesome mellow, sweet music and just very enjoyable pedal videos... really makes me appreciate Joel Korte even more... just brilliant stuff... thanks!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

MOOD and Thermae are both incredible. There is a lot more variety to be done with the MOOD and I love it a lot. But Thermae is also just my all time favorite pedal. Can't go wrong here.

[@yagodoval7131]

Such a good taste playing and making music, love to see your pedal demos and listen to you talk!!

[@javiercabrera3517]

Thank you for the video!! Funny how we all hear things differently. I hear the Thermae as being more cleaner and brighter. Both Tonal Recalls are more "warmer". Red knob the darker and adding some "clipping " loudness with the repeats. I've been looking at Chase Bliss Audio pedals for a long time but can never decide which one. Also having that toggle switch in between both footswitches kind of throws me off. It almost calls for these pedals to be controller remotely instead of from using the pedal's own footswitches. Thank you for the great explanations!

[@jamieholmes6087]

Im glad to hear that your favorite pedal of all time is the Thermae. It is mine aswell. Ive created probably about 6 or 7 songs using it so far. One one of them it is just a looped organ where im creating different textures by manipulating the Int 1 & 2 knobs while the looping is going on. It is a songmaker.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

It’s the best. It’s an endless well.

[@strunzgracie]

Fantasy video! However, it could of used more commercials. One commercial every 30secs is just not enought.

[@jessieplaysmusic8530]

2:06😂 we love your long videos man!

[@ishancooper]

The RKM is such an epic pedal but I’ve sometimes wrestled finding a sweet spot that I stay happy using. I LOVE the sound of the Thermae though. So beautiful!

[@ishancooper]

Thermae is on its way!!!

[@middle_pickup]

The blue knob model was always over filtered. You could turn the filter all the way up, and it was still too dark. The red knob probably doesn't have more gain. It's just less filtered, which means it lets more signal through.

[@unicornyoho]

The difference in the TR and the BKM volume could be a trimpot adjustment difference. I know that I didn't like my blue knob's mix was lower than some of my other analog delays and CBA told me to adjust that internal pot.

[@marzbitenhaussen]

after i got the fairfield circuitry Maude, i got rid of all my other delays

[@Jesse-ux4ld]

I would be OK with having any tone at any point in this video. I really dig these sounds.

[@RobFlaxMusic]

A thought on the "Thermae-esque" Tonal Recall trick with Morningstar: wouldn't that also work for the Thermae too? Could you use that switch to open up Thermae even more!? Does Thermae have a midi command for tapping on the momentary switch (like in step mode) but with Midi CC's? Because maybe there's a way to use the Morningstar (or perhaps a Zoia as a sequencer) with the Thermae and create more complex arpeggios with a combination of the two intervals and the time division knob...?

[@sliceofsparta8985]

There's something about my OG Tonal Recall that I can't live without.

[@jash500]

I appreciate you going through this. I’m wanting to get a Timeline, but I feel like Chase Bliss pedals are more expressive. Your base clean tone is really nice. Is there any other pedal that contributes to your clean tone (i.e. compressor, boost, etc…)??

[@delkel9delkel914]

I’ll never sell the blue knob but have moved on both the Thermae and RKM. I just found the sounds from Thermae can get a bit repetitive after awhile. The RKM doesn’t sound as good as the blue knob particularly the feedback. I had it from pre order until a few months ago though. But If I had to get rid of them all but one it would definitely be MOOD I’d keep.

[@RobFlaxMusic]

Dude. The Thermae as lofi modulator into El Cap for that tape saturation... I never would've thought to do that. I don't have an El Cap but could see using Blooper or Zoia or Synesthesia in that capacity... Gonna go spelunking to see what works in that capacity.

[@kinsmenmusicofficial]

dude you're killing it, love your videos.

[@XIIMonkeysMusicGroup]

Just ordered a Mood from Vintage King Audio today! Want a CBA delay next, but on the fence as to which one of these three!

[@michalmikolajmaslowski3994]

Spectacular video, Mark. Thank you!

[@pokeboi984]

Mark! Great stuff, man. Would love to see you review the Mood. Thinking about buying one

[@crystallineanthology595]

Thanks!

[@Paul_Uhl_]

Oh, and you have the best LUTs

[@KunchangLeeMusic]

Love the thermae

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Spoilers; it’s my favorite pedal of all time.

[@jackduxbury1632]

Always Awesome. Love your videos so much mate. Much love from the UK 🇬🇧

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Thanks so much. Glad you're enjoying. Additionally, KZbin's AI for auto response must be getting smart because it saw you say you are from the UK and offered an auto response of "Legend!" haha

[@Sams911]

I'll take the Red Knob please..

[@waltersmetak]

Woe, you kept both the red and blue knob delays - when the red version came out sent my blue knob for an update - now you got me wondering if I did the right thing.....hum.....

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I was very lucky in that my wife got me the RKM for Christmas a few years ago. I really think they're both incredible with totally different use cases. Kind of a "no wrong answers" situation.

[@waltersmetak]

@@markjohnstonofficial Yep, so I heard - but just too much coin - the RKM is about $500 - a tad too much to have both. Nice demo, interesting comparison.

[@dannydeleto5156]

Hey, short question. Can you send a clock via midi? Looks like youre sending 108bpm. So they all keep track of that?

[@riccovrea841]

Recently found you watch all your videos, love your stuff never been into ambient music but because of your reviews on several pedals I have recently bought the total recall blue knob wondering if you’re using any dip switches in the back any help would be useful for getting started

[@EcoCentrist]

nice trip tp delay land at the end

[@Jotapecaster]

Mark a quick question! In this video the Thermae is in step mode or something? Can’t get that clean a Delay sound you got:(

[@markjohnstonofficial]

No it’s in normal operation; just with the intervals turned off. I’m not sure what you mean by Cowan delay sound.

[@rufiopan1]

I love this video

[@guittarwizzrd]

I have spent a lot of time checking out reverbs and delays , I mean a lot of time I only want to purchase once . I know I want the dark world for my reverb , I'm still on the fence with a delay but the problem is I don't understand midi at all . I have a huges & kettner bs200 and midi pedal board but I don't know if it'll work with these pedals as well or if I need to get another midi controller or what . I just need to be able to make and save presets , I don't need to be able to change values on the board. I don't even have the pedals yet and I'm done all ready flustered that I'm not going to be able to figure out what I want to do . I really don't understand midi and it makes me feel very dense not knowing if what I done have will work with it or not . I just want to be able to set the pedals on my studio desk or on top of my amp when playing with some one live and hopefully be able to change it with the bs200 board . I'm so far behind in the times . Everyone else is using computers to record and I'm using a tascam DP-32SD. I'm worried I'll spend all this money and never be able to really figure out how to configure everything.

[@TheTargetedScapegoat]

I so love delay. That being said, a long time ago I realized these differences we hear in the condition of tone are largely never heard by anyone else. They make little difference to anyone but us and other weirdos. So is that what makes them important or does it make is ridiculously| OCD?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The nuances impact how we write. The differences between delay tonality might be lost on an audience but brightness, repeat fidelity, delay time length, etc have a huge impact on the kind of parts I write which DO effect what the audience hears.

[@blindianajones]

I love the subtleties of chase bliss pedals. However, it seems for the value each pedal offers, the other layers / pedals / mix needs to be subtle too...or the chase bliss pedal effect is lost. I would not normally worry too much about that, but given the prices for these pedals, I wonder about their value for the money. I can understand studio recording a part the mixing it, but just playing in a pedalboard with no mixing, Im not sure about the value. Do you find any of the Chase Bliss pedals can stand out well? I get the brightness option but I wonder if there are any more bold modulation options that can hodl up with other pedals?

[@rikkousa]

“Nobody puts Moog in the corner”-Patrick Swayze, actor and delay aficionado

[@oskarnystrom4643]

Damn... Beautiful

[@danielfolgado]

Thanks for this, Mark! I'm curious how you got the MC8 to communicate with the Tonal Recall?

[@lofijunky]

exactly what i was looking for. thanks so much!

[@noel_christopher]

Does the TU-3 come after the 29 EUNA, before, or in the 29 EUNA Send/Return chain?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Anytime I’ve got the EUNA on a board it’s gonna be the very first.

[@davegraham9932]

Mark, did you ever mess around with the Toneczar Echoczar (+Angelbaby)? literally one of my fav analogue delays but it's so niche that people usually don't give it much airtime.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I had never heard of them before this. Just gave them a follow on IG. I'll have to check out their delay.

[@davegraham9932]

@@markjohnstonofficial let me know. I've used the echoczar in the past with the angelbaby but life caused me to unload it. Ed is a WONDERFUL human too so...definitely worth a chat to him. :) Keep up the good work! I'm loving this channel.

[@AndyReganCDF]

How easy is it to connect the Morningstar to the CBA pedals? Is it just TRS plug and go, or...?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Make sure the internal jumpers on the Morningstar are correct and plug in a TRS cable. Super easy.

[@GSXR1k600RR]

How do you even need the CB's with that amazing Echosystem? Thermae does sound incredible though (they all do actually).

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Versatility of ES > Tonal recall Tonality of chase bliss analog delays > Echosystem algos

[@treesurgeon2441]

I like the Thermea but decided against it because I found it too chirpy.

[@johncruz1811]

I’d like to know your thoughts on how the Eventide Rose compares to the CB pedals?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The rose is an incredible and robust delay. Really can do wild stuff no other analog delay can. But I find these to be easier to implement in my rig / writing style. The rose is an amazing ambient delay for long drones though. Maybe the best there is for that.

[@johncruz1811]

@@markjohnstonofficial Thank you, I bought it because of your video. I had CB blue but dropped it for the Rose. I just use the Rose for normal dly.

[@adamsadler2563]

I also swear but the lpf on the thermae, wouldn’t trade that pedal for anything

[@markjohnstonofficial]

It's the Thermae silver bullet.

[@Ganache30]

In the winter I use a blue knob, and in the summer I use a red knob.

[@RobFlaxMusic]

TEAM THERMAE

[@RobFlaxMusic]

(That said this was fascinating)

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

So many beautiful pedals to purchase...but not as beautiful as your playing.

[@jonnylikertrommer]

Blooper Can be a delay too 😉

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Analog delays, though.

[@jonnylikertrommer]

@@markjohnstonofficial I didnt know the mood delay was analog, cool!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

@@jonnylikertrommer Also not analog

[@jonnylikertrommer]

@@markjohnstonofficial oh I guess I misunderstood you when you mentioned the mood, my mistake 😅

[@jetlee7743]

I got confused to which one's playing.

[@Paulo-ut1li]

Great video! I was wondering if empress Echosystem can get close to some of Thermae sounds, or should give and get a Thermae?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The Echosystem is great and can do a lot of really cool pitch shifted delays that have some great stereo applications and reverse lines. Totally worth looking at. Having said that, I think that Thermae’s specific form of pitch shifting and the lofi texture it brings to the table that makes it unique.

[@aaronwibr]

@34:39 .... 35:19 .... whoa.

[@aaronwibr]

11:59

[@tubingforever]

Doesn't the Thermae have a Delay time knob?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

No. Glide* knob instead

[@tubingforever]

@@markjohnstonofficial wtf is that????

[@markjohnstonofficial]

@@tubingforever the knob that determines if the movement between quantized steps is immediate or glides.

[@davejones4292]

From the other comments, it sounds like this is just me, but I had a really hard time following which pedal you were playing at any specific time. There's no real indicator on the Morningstar or any of the CB pedals, so except for the blue vs. red brightness examples, I have no real clue what I heard or which pedal is best for me. Which is really disappointing.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Each chase bliss pedal has two indicator lights. A left light that flashes your tempo, and a right light that indicates if the pedal is on or not. That will tell you which pedal is active at any point throughout the majority of the video.

[@Jotapecaster]

Mark, I think i love you. Is that ok?? My Fav Pedals in one video with my fav YT-IG musician. Great friday to me🖤

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Hey I am cool with all of that. Enjoy.

[@DommoDommo]

but how do you afford all of this....?

[@ArtyShat]

I thought MOOD is also analog delay.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

MOOD is all digital.

[@mikesherrard8871]

Yea that pedal board cost about as much as my rig

[@winstonsmith8236]

I'm a somewhat simple person-- having a slapback, perfect modulated delay and a legit ambient/glitch weird-box in one box, with instant gratification-switch a toggle and control of 3 in house presets? get outta here.