Get Creative with 6 Unexpected Uses for Ableton's Delays

Ableton Live has a number of excellent delay plugins, but did you know that you can use them for a lot more than just echo? In this video I explore 6 creative ways you can use Ableton’s delays in your music making.
00:00 - Intro
00:15 - Create Width with Delay
03:21 - Tape Effects with Delay
04:44 - Analog-style Chorus and Flanging with Echo
08:20 - Analog-style Looping with Echo
12:20 - Pitch Shifting with Grain Delay
In the video you’ll learn how to create stereo width using Ableton’s Delay and something called The Haas Effect; how to get fun tape-style pitching effects also using Delay; how to create analog-style Chorus and Flanger effects as well as interesting analog-style loop textures with Ableton’s versatile Echo device and you’ll learn how to use Ableton’s Grain Delay to create a granular pitch shifter.
⬇️ DELAY RACKS DOWNLOAD
Download a free set of Effect Racks to easily achieve the effects from the video.
elphnt.io/free-delay-racks
In the video I also discuss two concepts; The Haas Effect and Mono Compatibility. Learn more about those below.
👂 THE HAAS EFFECT
The Haas Effect is a psychoacoustic phenomenon that creates the illusion of stereo width by splitting a mono single into separate left and right channels and then delaying one of the channels by a few milliseconds.
Learn More About The Haas Effect
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precede...
🔈 MONO COMPATIBILITY
Mono compatibility refers to making sure that your mix sounds as close as possible to the stereo version if its ever played back in mono (which is more often than you might think!)
Learn More About Mono Compatibility
www.waves.com/tips-for-mono-c...
www.adsrsounds.com/mixing-tut...
resoundsound.com/mono-compati...
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💬 QUESTIONS?
Post them in the comments below.
❤️ SHOW SOME LOVE
Keep these videos coming by supporting what I do at elphnt.io
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Hi 👋🏻 my name is Tom; I’m a music maker and Ableton Certified Trainer. I help people be more creative with Ableton Live. Download instruments and effects and watch tutorial videos at elphnt.io
#ableton #abletonlive #musicproduction #sounddesign

[@RISEmtn]

I would have never thought to use Echo as a looper, that blew my mind

[@MrFrussel]

Yeah, that one had me WTF ing out loud. Very cool trick. All of them for that matter.

[@SjN7HETIK]

To say the truth, basically all loopers are just echo devices...

[@kirtandreamrezzer]

Looping is just a delay (echo) with 100% feedback. We studied delay loops in the early 70s, using two reel to reel tape recorders like Delia Derbishire's experiments. Brian Eno made it popular collaborating with Robert Fripp and called it "Frippertronics."

[@pursuitofsound3120]

It's even more fun when you put different effects inside of the feedback loop. My channel isn't actively making new content anymore but I did make a tutorial on how to do that.

[@locommotionmusic]

This guy. Shares next level technical insights and patches to immediately put them to use. Makes better looking videos than most courseware I've paid for. And has a totally Audible or ASMR ready voice. Hey Spotify where's his $100 million contract? :D Excellent stuff once again Tom :)

[@ELPHNT]

❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@TheArcticKitten]

@@ELPHNT yes please keep em coming! these are such a high quality digestible videos and make me want to load up my ableton and get creative!

[@Daniel-sYouTube]

Totally agree! And finally a tutorial where the volume difference between the music and the voice is just nice, compared to unbearable and unacceptable in other tutorials. Nice man!

[@mvandell]

Yep top content Very inspiring and very well presented 🔥🔥💪😊

[@Oversampled]

Wowzers, didn't know the echo is so powerful 🤯

[@diegofeliperinc]

don't you think 9:38 sounds a bit like Is It Cold In The Water?

[@kadematyis6578]

@@diegofeliperinc I was thinking the exact same thing !

[@fluidizm]

@@diegofeliperinc in fact I think this is the most "how to flume" tutorial ever! this is sooo cool!

[@skinz2820]

okaaay sooo check it

[@lyva]

Someone here watches Underbelly

[@wabby2285]

Using Echo as an analog looper is such a cool idea!

[@DidierBampiliMusicProduction]

I have the best music contents check me out

[@dingostarr]

@@DidierBampiliMusicProduction you really sold yourself well with that one

[@DidierBampiliMusicProduction]

@@dingostarr Yes! I did

[@herobrineluvsaune]

To relay your knowledge like this is a skill

[@ItsRuve]

I ACTUALLY LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! I've been making shitty beats for a couple of months now and not sure where tf to look for super accessible tutorials. You've gotten me excited about producing again, an absolute legend!

[@ELPHNT]

Yay! 🥳

[@GeorgeHammondMusic]

Echo is one of the greatest delay plugins to ever exits

[@ilyandilymusic]

What a fantastic explanation of phasing issues with your first clap example here!

[@PerfectViolation]

You and Mr.Bill really spoil the Ableton community. Thanks for sharing information that can help music makers actually creative.

[@Daniel-sYouTube]

That gotta be the smoothes mouse movements I've seen in an Ableton tutorial. Nice work man!

[@atthelocale]

I have been vastly underutilizing Live, thank you for continuously enlightening me

[@ZebraandDonkey]

Grain delay for generative with Cv LFO to automate can be fun and add movement to a part.

[@drewll4897]

So glad to have found you on the tube. You dropping gems

[@kencummins5459]

Was surprised to see you only have 50K subs with the quality of your videos. You deserve more!

[@ancestralvision]

ELPHNT hints are leveling up with every new video. Love it!

[@GuidoGautsch]

You somehow manage to combine the best tips, in the clearest manner, with the highest production quality and perfect pace. You're setting the bar way high, Tom 👏👏

[@tleaves915]

Top stuff, Delay is my favourite effect due to it's versatility , this video explains that so well, thanks for sharing.

[@glimes6471]

2:25 You can create an effect rack to get around the problem with phasing problems: The effect rack should have 3 chains: Left - one Utility set to left channel mode Right - one Utility set on Stereo with the phase of right channel switched + Delay on 100% wet Dry - empty This is the same technique iZotope uses on Mode 1 in their Ozone Imager plugin

[@HazardousTube]

Thank You!!!!

[@Steve81M]

The number of subscriptions you have should be five times the amount you're currently at. I've only recently rediscovered my passion for music production again at the age of 39 and I find your content so well put together and important for the community. Thank you, Sir.

[@ZVUCHI]

Videos are not often published on your channel, but when they appear, the charge of inspiration remains for a long time. Thanks!

[@annakat03]

I loved the grain delay effect, thank you!

[@TheSonicDeviant]

Great tips, tricks, knowledge and advice! Thanks so much!

[@gregorgrendel8750]

another extraordinary high class video from elphnt. Gratulation. I didn’t expect that from echo.... keep on doing ....

[@indra-yr3xl]

That grain delay tip is a killer

[@jadena3838]

im absolutely blown away by your tutorials. getting the most out of the stock plugins helps while im learning. thanks for all you do!

[@weavingthevaluess]

cant tell you how much i appreciate this

[@gigo20]

Your tips are indispensable. Your masterclass y’all was also fantastic. Thanks for digging so deep into Live for all of us.

[@dumafuji]

I also logged in to say: analog looper idea is brilliant. Love the grain delay too. Always great quality content thanks.

[@locksh]

Top notch content, thanks for existing

[@DK-qe6uo]

Thank you for constant goodness

[@jl9205]

Excellent demonstration! Great stuff here.

[@sqguitar]

Absolute gold, thank you ELPHNT.

[@stealtime]

Love the tutorials and Racks. Thank you!

[@fibranijevidra]

That lofi piano loop is dope! I would like to hear it finished as a track. Thank you for another amazing video. Just by hearing your voice I get excited about what follows. My favorite Live tracher.

[@vernontauro]

You never fail to impress man!

[@GregShaw]

As always another perfect explanation of hoe to use Ableton tools

[@YUSSEB8E]

Fantastic once again. Such a great teacher. That Echo looping technique was wonderful and so useful. Thank you

[@shayrocket]

Your lessons on youtube are AMAZING! Thank you so much for sharing! :)

[@thiagokanan]

Your content is some of the best ! Ive been using HAAS effect for ages and didnt know lol i figured myself at some point, checked my phase correlation and thought was a good idea.

[@AltusNoumena]

Not only do you offer really valuable tips with ableton your video and prodcution are top notch. Thank you and well done!

[@electrik_blue]

Really really loving this video! I love the looping analog style with Echo so wonky-like sounds! Thank you!

[@dangerbird64]

You are a tremendous teacher. Thank you for everything you do!

[@LifeInTheLastFane]

Exciting, killer stuff as always. Thank you ELPHNT.

[@borges69]

Your videos(and your max plugins of course ) are always very inspiring , thanks again. You are one of the best.

[@artwodeetoo8109]

Sir, you reaaaalllyyyyy helpful!!!!! I love your channel, so much.

[@nichoyeah]

Gotta let you know, this has been a joy to watch. I am definately going to take some time messing around with these techniques! Great video, thank you so much. Keep doing it :)

[@linkcell]

Are we gonna acknowledge the fire that track at the end of this video is?

[@Aaaaaa2_3]

thank u brodie, was really unmotivated and uninspired lately, the way you edit your videos also inspires me ❤️❤️

[@helterskelter857]

What a video, pure knowledge and great ideas will be added to my work thanks to you ! Keep up the great work your the one 💪

[@cmndzmusic1647]

Best 15mnts of learning! ❤

[@weavingthevaluess]

dude id pay serious money for these tutorials

[@JasperLaw]

Fantastic video, thank you!

[@justingoers]

Another super excellent video. Thank you! Your videos are more valuable than almost any other Ableton tutorial out there.

[@Mr_Pfau]

This wisdom is unbelievable. Even for a beginner like me, this just makes sense. Now I know what those complex sound are made of. Thank you for this and all the stuff you teach man.

[@ErvinTracks]

Awesome ideas, you make tutorials such a pleasure to watch and listen. Thank you

[@ewanhoozami]

These techniques kick ass! Thanks!

[@michaelnandaj]

Man, your content may be the inspiration of some great music in the industry! Thanks a lot for this gem.

[@_thanksdavid_]

Valhalla's UberMod was the first delay that showed me how Delay can literally do everything, especially with automation.

[@ELPHNT]

Yeah, delays are pretty beastly. Technically algorithmic reverbs are also actually just lots of delays.

[@gamefantasticcuz]

Watched this 3 times already I can’t tell you how much this helped me and also this was perfect timing. Thank you

[@DidierBampiliMusicProduction]

I have the best music contents check me out

[@PSPbrtag]

Oh my god that piano loop was incredible!

[@regulocastromusic]

Wow! So great so good,right to the point,but adding the necessary technical stuff and warnings for the inexperienced ones.You are such a good and generous teacher. Blessings.

[@tommyager2048]

Wow I can't believe I've never found this stuff before, what excellent delivery of this info! Thank you!

[@doinmusic]

Once again you blew my mind

[@liamalbaugh3246]

Thank you so much. I switched from Reaper to Ableton recently and the number two thing I missed was Reapers Pitch shifter plugin. I am definitely going to be using the grain delay as a pitch shifter.

[@djthomasx]

Amazing tutorial once again

[@Trilica]

Your channel is amazing, so underrated

Thank you for the racks!

[@mayapunkful]

Oh man, your videos so beautiful and useful! Keep doing like that! Thank you so much you inspired a lot!

[@neverholdmed0wn]

Thanks a bunch, this was super useful. ❤️

[@timber6059]

Looping technique is rly useful! Great vid

[@iloseen]

wow! that was really useful! big thanks!

[@maus3454]

Fantastic tutorial. Many thanks for creating and sharing this.

[@thetylersherman]

Oof that Lounge Piano plugin sounds incredible.

[@on_certainty]

incredibly useful stuff!

[@clayhb]

This is really excellent. Thanks!

[@barisharslan6115]

Hey this was a great video! That piano loop gave me some inspiration as well as you playing around with the vocals at the end. Quick, concise, and super informative. I'll be checking out more of your videos for sure!

[@squealinghog6107]

I really like the piano loop you created when talking about the built in echo plugin, it was beautiful 👍

[@holmstudios2850]

I was literally thinking "when does ELPHNT" coming out with a new video. Vola! Thanks buddy :)

[@lk0707]

Nice one ! many thanks

[@Mafyoutube]

was awesome! thanks!

[@saeedkasra1235]

Well done 😻🍁

[@HANGINGOUTWITHAUDIOPHILES]

Excellent stuff ! All your examples are super useful. The flow is great. Bravo !

[@mihovil5806]

Amazing stuff, really really amazing. Thank you

[@MrPiha]

Thanks, excellent video

[@psyaprod]

Always the source of dope new info 💯💯

[@tdvr]

Wonderful lesson - thank you!

[@ticalh76]

great quality content, glad to see this knowledge out here on youtube

[@ZedOBP]

You sir, are a legend!!! I leant so much in such a short time

[@PANDApoopish]

Love this

[@griffingibson4389]

Awesome video man. glad i subscribed once again.

[@asmarosyoussef]

Great ideas thank you 🥰

[@nowalls8713]

This is mindblowing

[@jettalton2762]

Fantastic vid. Love it. Do part 2 pls!

[@ELPHNT]

What's in part 2? 😱😋

[@greenbox5714]

This video is the most creative ableton video I've ever seen.

[@JamesRamboPearce]

Always such a wizard, really useful as usual!

[@White5hade]

Very cool, thanks for sharing

[@breadman7733]

Amazing video, thank you

[@michaelmacneil6539]

You are a godsend. Thank you so very much for all these amazing creative ways to use stock plugins. It just goes to show that you don't need to buy every plugin out there to achieve cool or creative results. I wish I had your type of content long ago before I sank tons of money into third party stuff. Thank you thank you thank you

[@ELPHNT]

Such a pleasure! I mean, there's nothing wrong with 3rd party stuff, so you'll still get good use out of it I'm sure 😊

[@Max-C-92]

Great stuff!

[@edwoodski]

Amazing stuff.