Delay Basics: Uses, Misuses & Why Quick Delay Times Are Awesome

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In this episode, Daniel and Mick return to one their favourite topics: delay.
In no particular order, they touch on…
- Digital and analogue delay types
- Subdivisions
- Layering delays: using two delays at once
- Using delays with overdrive
- The benefits of using very fast delay times
- Thoughts on when you might want to - and not want to - use delay
- Hold function in the TimeLine
- Delay positioning in your signal chain
To help their discussion, they're enlisting the help of…
- Ibanez AD80 Analog Delay
- Analogman ARDX20
- Free The Tone Flight Time
- Strymon TimeLine
- Thorpy Muffroom Cloud
- Analogman King Of Tone
Daniel is playing his Fender Custom Shop ’63 Telecaster, Mick is playing a Collings CL Deluxe. Amps today are a Marshall JTM45 through a Marshall 2061cx 2x12 cabinet with Celestion G12H Anniversary speakers, and a Two-Rock Studio Pro 35 through a Custom Zilla 1x12 with a Celestion G12H-75 Creamback.
As always, all effects and amp switching and routing is handled effortlessly by TheGigRig G2.
For more on TheGigRig, please visit www.thegigrig.com

[@clapton79]

Guys, you are awesome. I love watching you because -the sound quality is at a level videos of this sort would require. -you have great equipment -the videos radiate that you love what you're doing and you're pretty well informed in the subject -your playing skills are great. -you explain things in a simple way mostly. It is always inspiring to see things from you. I think I have found the video series that gives me the most. Keep up the good work!! Cheers

[@caleshtcincredibles]

I have been struggling with delay lately , glad I came back to this video . I watched this years back and forgot everything I learned from th8s video the first time . This is an amazing classroom on delay ! Thanks again Lads!

[@Mechanic618]

06:42 - I feel like I'm in that Memorex commercial where the sitting dude's hair is blown back when he turns up the speaker. That is such an EPIC sound!!

[@TheFly212]

U2 sold 170 million records, 22 Grammys and became a legend live act with delay, lol. Pretty much just delay. And The Edge. I love delay it creates a wall of sound so amazingly awesome.

[@richardbarksdale3810]

Did not know what delay actually did but watching this has changed my whole perspective on getting that huge sound. Thank you for sharing! Going to work on this now .

[@andrewt248]

I know this is about the delays but, that Muffroom Cloud, tho.

[@flatsix666]

Always look forward to Friday, as you fella's put the biggest smile on my face and give me the feel good factor before heading off to work. I too use a slap back but from the Strymon Deco as a reverb and the Strymon El capistan as my main delay but also enjoy the tape age and wow & flutter controls to either darker or add 'drive' to my tone. Great video again guys, many thanks.

[@bensaint-onge7807]

I always get something out of your videos. I am fascinated with delays. Well done and keep them coming please.

[@LaminarSound]

I cracked up when he jerked the guitar cable outta the other guys guitar.

[@Bennettcustomaudio]

I have a TC Electronic Alter Ego that I always always keep on as a short slapback delay on the "tape" setting, I LOVE how it just adds a bit of space to the tone, it adds fatness and fullness to chords, and just a touch of "reverb" to isngle note runs. I also love to audio tap feature of the TC delays, it actually makes it possible to "tap" in a slapback delay.

[@bottom_time]

You guys explaining the interaction between short delay and drive has just totally resurrected a pedal for me. Thanks!

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

+Bernard Mills that's fantastic, thanks B :)

[@bottom_time]

+Daniel TheGigRig Pedal in question is the Kotzen version of Tech21's FlyRig. I was using the drive into the front end but not using my delay at all as preferred a separate unit in the loop for long delay. After seeing your video, I have now rethought the use of the delay onboard this unit, and setting it to short / chorus-type delay it allows me to have 'dry' drive and a wider/wetter version going into amp - so using more functionality of the FlyRig to give me 2 flavours of drive ahead of the preamp.

[@lorelei2002]

Use it wisely. I just was looking for this vid to see if someone else used the same trick I use for huge power chords with delay.

[@edphaze6550]

Love the show! There is one trick that I sometimes do with delays that wasn't talked about in your most excellent video. I haven't heard anybody else do this. At very short delay times (50 milliseconds or below) with the feedback set at or near maximum you can get ring modulation effects. You can tune the resonant frequency by adjusting the delay time in small increments. It's a little chaotic if you're not careful!

[@nazmoking3171]

My Zoom 3Gn has all these effects built into it and you can chain them together in whatever order you like while also adjusting each effect’s delay length and depth. Videos like this are teaching me how to mix them together!

[@kimmolingonheimo]

yeh I got like 7 ZOOM G2s, wonderful EQs and Reverbs n Echoes .....9 effects simultaneously! thanks to Matt Schofield nowadays jus a slight delay...

[@nazmoking3171]

@@kimmolingonheimo Very cool. The Zoom guys have done a great job with the EQ's on the majority of the effects. I think they are very underrated.

[@Lewishred]

Just wanna say what a great job you guys do on the show. Always very entertaining and informative :)

[@jasondeli]

Another amazing video, the passion and detail you guys describe the tone and how everything works with each other is truly great thank you for your videos

[@jackforsey1622]

Strymon Timeline, one of the best pedal I've ever bought. love this channel! so helpful, thankyou! :)

[@sljulio]

Another spot-on show, yet another reason to love Fridays . Keep um coming guys!

[@AlexanderShibilski]

Saw the TREX ad in a mag a few months back, the tap tempo option in a tape delay.......WOW! so excited to see the TREX special episode!

[@saintofcircumstance8563]

Great Videos Guys! I've been slowly making my way through them all. The short delay you get with with Ibanez is just epic. Definitely something i plan on using in the future

[@mikeroadblock]

I love you both so much! You explain beginner to pro all at the same time!

[@brianpatrick6102]

Perfect timing. I just spent the last four hours dialing in delay tones on my H9. On with the show...!

[@DavidKennaway1]

Best show for guitar knowledge on KZbin. Brilliant!

[@michaela9817]

Another great show. I'm glad you mentioned the T-Rex tape delay. I was thinking about pre-ordering one. Can't wait for that episode!

[@PhilHeesen]

I have a Diamond Memory Lane 2 going into the Strymon Timeline on my board and I absolutely love it. It do the dotted 8ths on the ML2 and quarters on the TL most of the time. Another great video, guys! PS: the Thorpy Muffroom Cloud sounds a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

[@anyday82]

Thank you for this informative video!! I never once thought about short

[@tomaburque]

I will "delay" cleaning my house while I watch this video.

[@brandonjones2856]

Exactly what I’m doing 😂

[@gavinbarragan2419]

Misuse

[@petert7449]

That was a great demonstration, that enlightened me on the delay subject. I use the Boss DD7, seems to work fine for me, but now I am looking forward to experimenting with other types and makes. Thanks for doing this demo. Really enjoyed.

[@budgetguitaristcom]

This is one of my fave channels, and you guys do an awesome job. Who needs TV when I can watch shows about guitar pedals? Woo hoo! I have one suggestion. Like every guitar-related KZbin channel, your guitar sections are a good 4 times louder than your speaking sections. If I want to watch the video and keep the volume low because, say, people are still sleeping in the house, the dialog is too quiet. Turn it up so you can hear the dialog and the guitars are REALLY LOUD WHEN THEY COME IN. So many viewers like me play "ride the volume" which is a pain. Boosting the spoken tracks would definitely improve things. Or not. I'll love every video you make regardless.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

This has become my Absolute Favorite Show on You Tube. I find myself "watching constantly". Dan & Mick you 2 are incredible, informative and fun-to-watch, ( however ) the-only possible improvement would be to: Balance / Normalize the Volume on the Speaking Parts. I too have my hand on the Volume control ( particularly when watching late-at-night ). Peace & Blessings from NYC

[@slowpoke7888]

Google "Headphones". It will change your world, trust me.

[@emmetarnett4903]

I always learn so much from you guys. My little girl loves helping me set up delays and all the sounds we get. It's fun. We have some new ideas now! Thanks!

[@korrelics]

You guys are killing it every episode! Love it. I think I need an Analog Man delay now.....

[@themagnetc]

I inherited a Guyatone digital delay when a friend left me some pedals...I use it at its shortest delay setting as an always-on effect to make the texture of my guitar more three dimensional. I don't use effects very explicitly, each is very subtle to affect my tone without making it sound obviously treated. Started by getting my amp to sound and act how I wanted it and just playing directly through it and have added OD, comp and delay piece by piece. It's been fun to study up on how to use effects in subtle ways to improve my sound. I appreciate all the time you guys have put into this channel and it's been very useful!

[@nendokan]

May I please congratulate you guys on yet another awesome video with plenty of invaluable information on how to use delay pedals. I'm fortunate enough to own a Strymon Time Line delay and a Free The Tone Flight Time Delay. These pedals along with a Wampler Velvet Fuzz. Together one has the perfect Smashing Pumpkins tone absolutely brilliant. Thanks again guys. Awesome job.

[@genrlgadget]

Hey guys! Absolutely love your videos. Keep up the great work!

[@pogchamp7983]

This channels quickly become a favourite of mine nice videos guys. That mushroom over drive thing sounds wild.

[@hafstrat]

A golden age. Too right! Fabulous.

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

;)

[@hafstrat]

+Daniel TheGigRig in the 70s we had coloursound then ehx mxr then later boss. In 1974 affordable options were limited. Now we have more pedal quality and choice than ever before. A golden age.

[@subtlesystem88]

Love you guys!!! I love that sooo many pedals come out in such a short time so you will never run out of material! This is my favorite show ever!!! Hope you guys talk about the swollen pickle at some point although I know you've done a few fuzz programs and also the nemesis delay.... Anyways, thanks you for this and keep up the hard work

[@ckjjclan]

man, this was a fantastic video. I loved the LONG delay, and then that way short one. Both with the Mushroom Cloud.... WOAH!!! Awesome!

[@davidhunter3762]

Great video Dan and Mick, as usual insanely jealous of the pedals in use!! :-)

[@RobinSukroso]

great work, very well done and fun to watch/listen!

[@stevenconrady1990]

love your show, very informative! I'm putting together my first board now.

[@sudnasyt]

Awesome video guys! really cool tips about how to effectively use delays... please continue to make such videos....

[@dolak1919]

Let it be ...! It is what it is, you can always fast forward the parts of show you don't need, NP - no need to be negative! I don't need everything as well, but why should I try to change it? I just pick what I need and it's great! Be grateful for what they doing here. I love their enthusiasm, wisdom and topics covered... Great staff Congratulations!

[@wyattstephans1718]

Always great seeing you gents mess around with gear.

[@garethparry4823]

great, great show guys. love watching these videos. learned loads from the pedal show. keep up the excellent work 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

+Gareth Parry cheers G:)

[@adambell7907]

Thanks to you both, i'm learning so much from these videos. i was gonna say; it's like chappers and the captain, but with thinking. But it's totally unfair to draw even the remotest comparison. really brilliant stuff, it's so rare to come across genuinely intelligent information so well put across and these videos are just that. gush over cheers guys

[@ChinchillupaGuy]

Mick's facial expressions in the intro always make me chuckle

[@mr.beaver2822]

HI gentlemen, Mr.Mike as you mentioned R.Ford, I had this feeling from long time about him using sort of short delay, (in fact this video I just watched confirmed it and made me happy, even if I only own a boss DD-3, tried lot of times to adjust the way to get a similar tone..) , so thank you a lot , I am getting countless information, and a lot of fun as well! Amazing work, you are the best around!!

[@cajunstrat]

I eventually learned about this stuff on my own, but watching this prior would have been very useful. This is a great vid on delay pedals, it should be viewed by anyone who uses them, regardless of their level.

[@EzyoMusic]

That Muffroom Cloud sounds phenomenal!

[@michaeljohnson7892]

Love delay, anything that slows time in any way only adds Time to LIFE. !!! Also makes virtually anyone SMILE Especially MUSICIANS !!!

[@slowpoke7888]

Very informative and educational. Brilliant! Thanks guys.

[@HarryAndAGuitar]

Love all these videos, both of you are great players and its great content for more advanced players to watch!

[@joaquinmontano5964]

great videos guys, you help us a lot

[@rafsbio]

The many incarnations of the TC Flashback are wonderful. My standard Flashback is the only thing in my pedalboard that never changes.

[@1990EAM]

I just tried the Carbon Copy with a Big Muff and with a short delay you really get a bigger and fuller sound. Thanks for teaching me new things.

[@wajobu]

I have to say that my normal tendencies are toward longer delay settings, but I tried using shorter delays with some modulation and more repeats and it's a great option to try--very favorable results. Thanks for the tip!

[@bernstock]

Thanks guys that was really informative!

[@anthony_buonocore]

Keep it up guys! These vids are the best!

[@JIMJAMSC]

Ahh the mid/late 70s. Smoked filled rooms of blue fog shrouded the black lights. Rat's nest of Electro Harmonix pedals strung together on the floor in no particular order. Names like Memory Man,Big Muff,chorus,phasers.. Doing the old tongue zap test to scrounge together enough 9v batteries. Sit for hours zoning out creating these Masterpiece soundscapes. Seemed like days. Wake up the next day and not have a clue as to what we had did or how to recreate it. But it was epic.

[@maxsalasr]

I always thought they got that quick doubling sound out of reverb! Maaaaan I was wrong. You guys can't even imagine how much you help us the home musos

[@TheHitmann069]

@Gary Moseley Satch often uses two of his Time Machine delays at the same time on his pedal board. Most often set at 400ms and 200ms or less. Thanks gents for another fantasticly fun and informative video yet again. 👍

[@ruiseartalcorn]

Great show guys! REALLY helpful! Many thanks :)

[@herbertbeckmann7391]

You Are really so great guys. I'm from Hamburg having seen, most of all of your Shows. You are inspiring and I'm relaly lucky with you for all the experinces. And i really LOVE your moderations atyle and typical english houmor. I'm getting 55 this year and there was never a time, when we could play so much around with aill these things….and connect to each other in that way… it's pure fun. I'm buliding my Pedaltrain80 pedalboard at this time for my band using a Tele and a Gibson Les Paul Aria Pro II Custom Clone, with originally Gibson Humbuckers into VOX Amps and am totaly grateful for your work…… Big Hearts!! Herb from HH

[@chethankadoor3547]

I think these videos are going to save my sound. Awesome stuff!

[@hafstrat]

Loving your videos. Thankyou for sharing your expertise. Fabulous.

[@Jay-sy5yf]

This has been extremely informative. I just bought my first delay - a mxr carbon copy. Now i know how to use it! :)

[@DaveRave23]

Fab as usual. Love the shorter delays with the fuzz. And that's on a Telecaster !!

[@middle_pickup]

Thanks for the episode. Really enjoying your show! Can't wait to see you guys show off the Replicator! Assuming it works for things other than guitar (synth), I would love one of them myself.

[@dennyaudio]

Brilliant! Thanks again guys.

[@emanuelalvarezgarrido5704]

Awesome as always!!.

[@giggs102]

you guys should've tried the TC Triple delay for this demo for all kinds of CRAZY combinations,

[@jmiles9368]

so right....the delay adds.such emotion....shredding up and down is great, but not always art....these types of effects make art!

[@Fsuholley]

Played this video through my Marantz stereo and the muffroom cloud shook the house. Awesome.

[@GR-uw7yc]

Thank you. Really useful advice and food for thought too.

[@MartinLunder82]

guys,i am That pedal show addict!Great job!

[@Rikk303]

Great seeing delays used so well without too much product placement. The hairy-armed guy is a good player as well as a techie and this show ranks in my Top Ten as being illuminating as well as elucidating. Good to see the Tele used. Perfect axe!

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

Cheers Rick :) from the hairy-armed guy :)

[@Rikk303]

You're welcome.

[@727strat]

made a pun at the end of the delay video and didn't notice "some might be repeated" Great video by the way!

[@jonathanpursch3516]

awesome! it's so easy to get lost in the swampy goodness of delays that you forget about those sweet short delay sounds. I'd love to see a pedal show about controlled noise/ feedback pedals and how to use them to sculpt sounds with delay and modulation.

[@juanmartinreborati7928]

Thanks for this great video! When you do the tape delay episode can you compare them with a strymon el capistan? I just bought one and I love it. Also, can you do an episode on tremolos?! Stereo and mono. Thanks again! Love the show!

[@nickfit3]

the electro harmonix analogizer basically does the short delay thing spot on. it warms up your tone and can be used as a boost too.

[@winnorulz]

"I think we're living in the golden age...wonderful meeting of technology, between digital and analog..." Cannot. Agree. More.

[@thomasbrady407]

Thanks for the shows.

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

Our pleasure. Don't forget we have a new channel now. Look for That Pedal Show :)

[@jazzzfer]

Thanks for doing these guys!!!.... lot of knowledge and a lot of G.A.S.

[@9999plato]

love the show, how about an episode about Rotary effects, Leslie pedals or univibes, choruses.

[@frenchsaligan3601]

I learned a lot from you guys! Thanks a lot

[@matthewjamesmichael]

Just watched about 15 of your vids, cracking up so much haha

[@lance134679]

Can't get enough delay discussion. Thank you for posting this. It's a good reminder to experiment with short delays, as they don't really muddy up the sound the way long delays can. I notice you used a lot of repeats on all the sounds you demo'd. I tend to have less repeats, and sometimes only one repeat to keep things clean in a live setting. I currently use an Eventide H9 pedal for all my delays, and use the tape algorithm a lot. It's a pretty good all round effects pedal that does much more than delay.

[@dylanduke1075]

I think what I like about ye is that ye are so normal its really cool! love the vids keep going!

[@koenroels4549]

Great video Daniel, Mick!! I don't just delay complex pedals because I just don't got the background. Thanks now I understand my pedal (korg sdd 3000 pedal en it is waaw :) :) :) )

[@br0ygal]

Absolutely amazing series guys. At some point can you do a video on using midi to get the best from pedals like the Timeline? Swapping patches, controlling parameters and the like. Cheers

[@joepriddle9236]

Thanks for this!! Great slap back tip.

[@brianpatrick6102]

That super fast slap w multiple repeats sparked a good memory. I had a Lovepedal Gen5 Echo that had some of the coolest delay tones lurking within it. Super fast delay time, 3 or 4 repeats with a heavy dose of modulation, clean or after some fuzz or muff sounded so damn good. I need to pick up another Gen5 soon. Dont know why I sold it. Luckily they are pretty inexpensive on the used market. Dont think Lovepedal makes them anymore. Of course the Timeline or H9 could probably do something similar. Another fine showing, gents! And I swear this show brings out the incessant rambler in me. :)

[@copynin08]

Dan I loved your juju fuzz pedal but this Thorpy Muffroom Cloud sound fantastic!!!

[@vanessap6134]

Nice expose and description, guys. Delay is my single favorite and most-used effect. And you're most definitely correct about context!! Where does it go in the signal chain ... in rhythm, off rhythm, layered, stereo ... so much to consider with just one effect! If you have a little boo-boo playing you can can always stomp-off the delay, if you're close enough to the pedal, and not have your mistake repeated all over the place. If I could offer one suggestion for your videos, though ... instead of using the same patch cord between your guitars, how about a simple A/B switch? No grungy noise, pops, or time wasted. Just a thought.

[@dragooz8859]

Great overview - I was just thinking of ways to incorporate my DD3 and Carbon Copy Bright together. And how to use short delay in just regular rythym playing, as well as longer during the occasional solo/etc.

[@andreastimothy1305]

Dang! love you guys! keep up the good work :)

[@waldvogelreview7755]

delays and reverbs running into something super light like a Way Huge Pork Loin or a Klon\EM Drive-esc drive sound killer

[@RCrowe27]

I love the show. I'm always learning something new. Perfect timing - my Flashback x4 comes in today.

[@bloosman1]

This is great! Thanks so much...spot on.

[@rikh78]

i always associated short delays with country and a clean sound, which you've just shown is very narrow minded - Thorpy's muff + the short delay was such a huge sound, loved it!

[@samanosukkia]

+Moltisanti Check out Richie Sambora on Slippery When Wet!