Stacking Delay Pedals | 5 Awesome Tips!

Stacking multiple delay pedals should be part of every ambient guitarist's set of musical tools. Here are my 5 best tips!
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Equipment used in this video (in order of the signal chain):
PRS SE-277 Baritone Guitar amzn.to/2PtkWyb
Wampler Ego Compressor amzn.to/2LflxBf
Morley Little Alligator Volume Pedal amzn.to/2Co4dEZ
Strymon DIG Dual Digital Delay
Strymon El Capistan Delay
Earthquaker Devices Avalanche Run Delay amzn.to/2w3979V
EHX Canyon Delay amzn.to/2Pt29TW
Avid Eleven Rack amzn.to/2nO8Cwl
Focusrite Saffire Pro 40: amzn.to/2es9elp
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Chords of Orion - Ambient guitar music for the mind and heart.
Bill Vencil - Guitars
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[@theodorsloth2194]

This Video is al little old, but one of the best you have ever made. Maybe you once want to make an update. For example you get great sounds by combining a reverse and a normal delays. Another very nice field of ambient experimentation is stacking delays and reverbs.

[@iqqmut79]

The horror of playing that ONE wrong note in a long chain of delays...

[@chordsoforion]

indeed!!

[@BillLarkinmusic]

Lol !

[@poulwinther]

Just stick to Death Metal......

[@morten1]

If you do, sometimes you can go along with it and make it a part of the music. Then it becomes more dramatic and less an error. Harder to do in a band setting though

[@forever3797]

Robert Fripp's been doing it for over 30 years! I think the 'professional' term is 'dissonance' - listen to his 1999 album - pretty amazing.

[@graydeotto2820]

You should make a video of your favourite ambient/drone/post rock albums that influence your music!

[@ambientmothman]

oh my god, i would die to get a long video on this

[@chordsoforion]

The interesting thing is that very few of them are true ambient albums, and none are post-rock. They are more prog-rock, jazz and classical.

[@castronioni1523]

@@chordsoforion I think many viewers would still be very interested in your musical background or, in this case, more the areas your inspiration came and coms from.

[@SrDeMaFp]

I’d definitely like to hear what you dig

[@silvansky]

@@chordsoforion Prog u say... Hmmm. I'd love to hear more good prog! KC is the best thing I heard, but I listened to them tooooo much, need some new things.

[@DisabilityExams]

When your echo is echoing the echo of your echoes - you need more echo!

[@jjrusy7438]

I didn't quite understand what you meant. Could you repeat that please?(1 alligator 2 alligator) ease(1 alligator 2 alligator) ease (1 alligator 2 alligator) ease …..

[@davemaphis5972]

Echo = cowbell! ;-) Interesting stuff nonetheless.

[@LauraSquirrel]

And you need some Pink Floyd.

[@poulwinther]

I echo your thoughts.

[@eugeneslament20]

The splitting mono to stereo signal is genius. Thank you for that!

[@chordsoforion]

You are welcome!

[@LauraSquirrel]

Yeah. That is a brilliant idea. I took a screenshot of the part where he diagramed things out. I plan on using this with what I have at the moment. It should be quite fun. Wanted to throw this in too: THE AVALANCHE RUN IS SO AWESOME!!!!

[@fretlesscountry]

@@chordsoforion yeah thanx man!!!! great vid, sounds amazing!!

[@ironfossil9963]

I will admit, I thought I needed more reverb. Thank you for showing me it's subtle delay I wanted.

[@calebproductions5970]

The main thing we can all agree on is this sounds awesome it sounds really good that's what keeps me coming back

[@matteogazzolo1]

Beautiful results, beautiful music to imagine. Thank you!

[@JackstandJohnny]

You Sir are a gentleman and a scholar.

[@jamesf2918]

So happy to see the avalanche run in your channel. It’s a great delay to stack.

[@perr1983]

Amazing! That tip number 4 never occurred to me!!! Really mind blowing!

[@carloguarrera8568]

Thank you for all your suggestions!

[@paulstuartbuckby5134]

Bill, tx for an awesome demonstration. Most enjoyable and inspiring.

[@iblamesummers]

Bless You Chords of Orion ! 🙏🙏🙏

[@edd27]

Tip number 6: Add different pedals (such as modulation or octaves ...) in the "loops" created when splitting from stereo to mono.

[@skullkid112]

Can you explain this a bit more? I'm a bit of a newb with pedals

[@perr1983]

Great, even crazier! lol

[@edd27]

Take his setup for example. He's got the El Capistan going in the dig (stereo) then he splits the output of the stereo each in a mono delay pedal, ie in this case one signal in the avalanche and the other in the canyon. You can add pedals of your choice between the dig and the avalanche and between the dig and the canyon. Let's say for example you add a chorus between the dig and avalanche and an octave between the dig and the canyon. So you have multiple delays with a chorus effect on one side and you have multiple delays with an octave on the other. You can go completely crazy with this.

[@skullkid112]

@@edd27 thanks man

[@analogdragon4709]

Cool

[@alaskaonpause]

Great vid. I'm using synths so was watching for that, but it's a delight to hear your beautiful guitar playing!

[@michaelenglish1030]

There are some good pointers here. This video encouraged me to stack some delays and reverbs. The ideas presented here helped me more of what I have, pedal-wise.

[@lauriecartermusic]

This is fantastic and really useful information. Thank you for sharing.

[@davidrussell8918]

Very cool advice.as always amazing sound. Baritones for ambient guitar is magic. Love my dano !

[@sethmmendez]

Awesome video! Thanks for the tips!

[@StefanvanderKlooster]

Great lesson! I am going to try some of these tips tonight!

[@chrisbose]

wow, nice riffs man, and a great clear explanation of the pedals and timing! Aces!

[@monthofthemagnetic972]

Thank you for all your great videos they are brilliant your a wonderful artist and teacher

[@tonihullzer1611]

very informative, super structured!!! thank you

[@edmundauger8592]

Great tips! Thanks for the continued inspiration.

[@garaughty]

The new math... delay + delay + delay = rich, complex atmospheres ! ;-)

[@chordsoforion]

That all adds up to me! ;-)

[@alienechomill]

Wow- great sounds, great tips!

[@erkohara]

Amazing as always, thank you! 🤩

[@Deeplycloseted435]

Most excellent video and tips. Thanks!

[@giantessmaria]

wonderful demo, thanks my friend!

[@edwardanderson3506]

Awesome in headphones! Thanks for the tips and your passion!

[@wildfeuer]

Inspiring use of delay pedals!!!!

[@Theweeze100]

Really love your videos, I am a subscriber and big fan of what you do. Extremely well done, quality product that you turn out. Thank you so much for your channel, your videos!

[@lightnintrucker]

Now this is totally rad! I'm completely inspired to try this myself. You do seem to offer me a lot of cool ideas and inspiration to implement into my ambient guitar playin'. Keep up the good work!

[@chordsoforion]

Glad you got some ideas!!

[@danandkiko]

Love your 'splaining and demonstrating! (and of course playing).

[@BarryGrueter]

Awesome tips thanks so much for sharing 🙏

[@timbaugh1944]

Great tip on routing mono delays - never occurred to me. Great advice Bill ..

[@avpostbox]

Very inspiring! Very informative! Brilliant! Thank you!

[@christopherebeyrol4553]

thanks for this great tone demo! I'm gonna try now using my DD3 along with my new Nux tape echo.

[@GNeuman]

The dig and el capistan are superb pedals

[@JesseJayAllen]

You are awesome at what you do... 5:54 made my life flash before my eyes

[@WordlessFlight]

I can’t wait to take some of these ideas and build out a session for my piano in Logic. Thanks for the tips!

[@LeifPalmin]

Sounds fantastic.

[@brycegoff529]

Ok I know at some point less is more, but just once I’d like to set up four amps in a room in 360 degrees and go stereo delay into two stereo delays so there are four outputs. Wouldn’t be useful for recording but live I wonder how 3D you could get it. I recall Pink Floyd playing Astronomy Domine (?) in concert and the guitar sound seeming to swirl in a circle around the stadium. It may have just been my perception, but it seemed like it was not just panning, it was going around. Gotta try it once anyway. Or 8 outputs? (Insert maniacal laugh here)

[@chordsoforion]

I saw Jean Luc Ponty once in "quadrophonic" sound. It was great, and to your point, they were able to pan the violin all the way around the room. It would be cool to try a surround sound recording some time for sure. Now I just need to get a surround sound system. :-)

[@FREEZER4000]

They had a series of speakers arond the arena's they played each triggered to play a certain amount of time The music actually did swirl around you , crazy right? at least thats what I was told

[@caryheuchert]

Pink Floyd called it “The Azimuth Co-ordinator”.

[@brycegoff529]

@@caryheuchert cool thanks

[@daneguitarist1]

god damn i loved everything about this im a huge delay freak, ive got your next whiskey in kansas if you every run around, plussss loads of fun delay pedals and other pedals we could record in the studio

[@robb4340]

Awesome tones and tips! Tnx, Great Video!

[@thebmxband1t]

SUPERB!!!! Lots of ideas now!!

[@gabsinthsky]

So inspiring ❤ Thank you

[@RicardoDiLago]

i like how you learn us what we are actually hearing.

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

I actually like some tones with delay chorus, even some double tracked distortions sound like they have a bit of a chorus if they are not played exactly the same but still similar. Your playing is so relaxing a lot of the time, thanks for your wonderful ambient music man.

[@BillKeilt]

That was great information, Bill. Especially the tip about splitting the stereo out to two different delays. I'll set that up with my El Cap -> Nemesis -> Dig....thanks!

[@chordsoforion]

Hey Bill - yeah, that combo will sound great for sure!

[@JimmyDormire]

Awesome ideas of new frontiers to explore...Many thanks!!!

[@chordsoforion]

You are welcome!

[@narutoshippuden2ulti]

Really cool tips!

[@dpgoguen]

As usual, another informative and helpful video. I've watched the last several Chords of Orion videos of the Boss GT 1000 with great interest. It certainly seems like a miraculous unit, but watching this makes me appreciate having the physical controls of each unit instead of digging down into a vast Network of virtual controls of a multi-effects unit. I guess it's a matter of preference, but it would be nice to know how others feel about this.

[@Music6982]

David Goguen I prefer analog controls as well but there are benefits to both!

[@JohnnyDollar720]

Excellent video

[@paulangelo1974]

This is gr-r-reat . Thank you for this.

[@criddycriddy]

Amazing brilliant tips thanks sir ...

[@HomeGroup-ly9uf]

Very cool idea. Thanks

[@agerven]

Love your comment: "Lets make the delay time a little longer longer longer ..." I've never, yet, stacked so many and complex delays like that. Usually run in tip nr. 5: avoid making a mess of it (don't overdo it). Master at work here, and an instructional video I'm certain to return to every once and a while. Thanks!

[@dsrecords22]

your the savior of the noise in my head!

[@marvelherman419]

More delay videos. This was great. Thanks.

[@arvedbohn6133]

What an awesome video! Thanks Bill! I tried it some times, but it all ended in some spooky goo... ^^

[@arvingarrison1410]

Really invaluable tips for delay-aficionados. The only thing I'm afraid of is that I'll end up buying even more delay pedals (got three already). Anyway, thanks for these and other vid's. Very well done and inspirational.

[@jankevinbautista]

My goodness. What great tips!

[@chordsoforion]

Glad they were useful!

[@user-vx6bo3cx6m]

I would like to hear how you would play some Pink Floyd solos like High Hopes in some ambient style.

[@Robert_Babicz]

super cool, i love it

[@christopherecatalano]

Lovely, thank you. Your primary tone is also quite extraordinary. I really like that stereo trick, and have messed with similar approaches. One thing I am finding (and I probably wrongly pride myself on my good timing!) is that all of my delays seem to respond to tap tempo in ways I cannot seem to get right, which often forces me to turn the repeats down much more than I would like to especially if metronomes are involved. Any tips there? I usually manage, and yeah, first world problem for sure!

[@GNeuman]

Fascinating use of multiple echoes!

[@chordsoforion]

The cool thing is that the more you experiment, the more options you find!

[@GNeuman]

@@chordsoforion I'd love your review/opinion of the Dawner Prince Boonar echo pedal....it's a digital emulation of the Binson Echorec....I love mine!

[@markhammer643]

I recommend to those owning stereo pedals to explore "reprocessing". That is, the output of one channel is used as the input signal of the other channel. Many interesting effects and textures can be obtained, in those pedals that permit it. Even better, insert something else between output A and input B such that the second processing is on a transformation of the first. My favorite is doing this with reverse delay, or delay that imposes swell on the repeats.

[@leapsplashafrog]

Enjoyed this. If your looking for suggestions Bill A beginners guide to ambient baritone would be good - like you did with your Alan holdsworth guitar but using a baritone

[@alltherestmusic714]

Amazing!

[@Margilio5150]

I don’t have two amps to run stereo but the katana 100 head has 2 units via USB, one unit has all the amp sounds and the other acts as a direct audio interface... I’ll try to pan them differently and run a set of delays in front (on both amps) and use its own delays on the loop of just one track...

[@ikesours6558]

I've watched this one a few times and haven't acted on it yet. However, my theory is to replace the 2nd (stereo) delay with stereo flanger. I'm imagining a low speed, medium-low depth and high regeneration/intensity will give a neat metallic flavor to tape delay before splitting to slower delays (tube and lo bit for a little of that grit without the oscillation issue.

[@Kkidzz]

Nice that the two Strymons together create a reverb. @ 4:15 you're nicely in Vini Reilly/ Durutti Column territory. Good thing you did'nt pull out the TC Triple Delay. 😉😬

[@joemorrow8411]

Honesty you would not think this was a guitar,,so cool,,nice job🎄🎄🍺🍺👍🇺🇸

[@gospelpopmusic]

Awesome video. Im building my recording studio. Also my guitar rig and pedal board. Thanks

[@JH-qg5ho]

Hi Bill, I really like your work both creative and very inspiring. Back to your video, I currently own 2 digital delays Nova Delay & Headrush 2 > which analog delay could you recommend to nicely complement them ?

[@jameskrys5286]

I have an old Zoom 508. There is a setting on it where it never stops repeating. You play a line, add a line and it keeps going and going. Good for driving people nuts. I saw an electric violinist do something like this once.

[@jasonlee8497]

I use a short slap back single echo into a stereo ping pong set to eighths or quarters. Doesn’t work on everything. But you can play with how much the mono signal is feeding into the stereo. Lots of fun.

[@miguelpanta]

stellar sound at 4:25

[@ripplebear]

Why have I never thought to do that split trick?? Thanks!

[@billyscrapper]

i have been using an A/B switch running into Zoom CDR, Canyon, DD20 and triple delay... i end up with 2 distinct stereo outs {channel 1&2 stereo and channel 3&4 stero in} going to my yamaha mixer... even just switching between A and B, single or combined can create a myriad of dynamics. i create a drone on preset 4 of the DD20, and it continues when i go to manual which i have set to Looper....... lot of options........

[@chordsoforion]

Sounds like a great setup!

[@walterbanfi6861]

Great Great Job, a lot to learn from you. I'm starting at this, so I would like to ask you in what order do you think would be best to do the stack? Right now I have an analog Delay BOSS DM2 and a digital delay. Which one would you put first? Thank you very very much

[@George-nm8ec]

I use a carbon copy and and cheap donner yellow fall to get really nice sounding swells. Carbon copy with the mod switch in makes it sounds amazing.

[@chordsoforion]

Excellent!!

[@eduardoandreux3445]

Bastante asequibles los pedales que usas jejeje!! Hermoso sonido que logras!!

[@evanward4303]

Coool thumbnail pic.

[@forever3797]

Hi Bill - love your work, highly informative and your compositions are beautiful. On a side note about visuals I like the look of your recent videos - have you thought about a more neutral guitar strap? Sometimes I find the visuals and music very meditative but the red strap stands out from your muted tones (pun intended). Also, absolutely nothing against your shoes or socks, but have you ever thought about attempting to get a quiet shoe sponsorship - not stating the sponsor in the video, but maybe putting the link in the description for any of your discerning viewers - just thinking creatively and it seems appropriate given we regularly see your footwork - worth a try!

[@jimbuck2996]

I just started using my second delay. The possibilities seem to be unlimited.

[@seek4truth]

Can you show feedback delays? Or a delay with 1/4th on left and dotted 8/th on right? Thanks

[@digitalsea9147]

I thought about getting the earth Quaker d. But I have the caverns and etherial wompler. And the fender Marine reverb. N dl4 Anyway 2 questions are you playing with like the b-c3 or some kind of sustain compression???in this video? And others and my other question was do u really think the avalanche is that great? I was not that impressed but I get it bill you got to have the most expensive everything lol lol I'd do the same if I could.

[@KneedleKnees]

You have to do a video of all your delays stacked together

[@EddieSlowhands]

Hi Bill - Eddie in the UK here. I enjoyed this video as with all your others ! Would you be willing to share the actual settings used in this configuration please Bill as I am new to Ambient Guitar and find it a little difficult to create the sounds you are demonstrating. Thanks again for another great video Bill. Best regards - Eddie.

[@chordsoforion]

Hi Eddie - unfortunately, I did not write down the settings for the pedals, and they've all been used with different settings over the years. The good news is that all the knobs are visible in the inset picture (just upside down). Do you have the same pedals?

[@EddieSlowhands]

@@chordsoforion Hi Bill. Thanks for replying so quickly ! I don’t the same pedals as I have a Zoom G3XN Pedal which allows me to customise each effect and the order is I put in the chain

[@EddieSlowhands]

Oops ! Sorry Bill - I hit send in error 😱😂. The Zoom allows me to customise the effects and the order I want them in the chain. I’ve watched your beginner’s tutorials and made a note of the control positions to try to emulate your tones. Thanks again Bill - I thought my question might also help other Ambient Newbies like me. Best regards - Eddie

[@stevekirkby6570]

It is indeed all very cool :)

[@orp1006]

Great tips, but from my experience, #5, "Don't overdo it" seems to be the most impoartant one. I've tried stacking delays numerous times, but found that more often than not, the result can very quickly become messy - unless you play very, very few notes, and even then the delay repeats can make a track sound repetitive. I personally prefer working with parallel delays, but unfortunately splitting and reuniting the signal path is also not unproblematic. In my main setup, the signal goes from a Danelectro PB&J Digital delay into an ABY switch, where one signal goes into a TC Electronic Flashback Triple Delay and the other into a Danelectro Reel Echo. I'm generally happy with this setup, but I'd sometimes like a bit more flexibility or something a tad more outlandish.

[@MrThom52]

O'R.P q

[@SetordeGestaoDocumental-SGD]

dude's voice is so smooth that should be a delay preset itself

[@freedommatters9596]

G O O D 🤩

[@maxduvall9055]

idk why 9:12 made me laugh. great video though, I just bought the canyon a couple days ago so this was very informative

[@varde6965]

I really like this, i love to compose ambient music, just suck that i don't know how to play the guitar. This is really inspiring and makes me wanna start to practise !!. got any tips for investing in a ambient guitar for a beginner?.

[@chordsoforion]

Glad you found the video of value! As far as selecting a guitar goes, any guitar you like to play can be used for ambient music. The one caveat is that super high gain pickups for heavier styles of playing don't work as well for more nuanced tones. But really, it's all about what you like to play and the tone that you prefer.

[@varde6965]

I normally like slower styles, so anything with just a few notes/chords here and there mixed in with other sounds is what i have in mind. Thank you for the feadback :)

[@makaritoblues2]

fav character on GOT

[@daren.t.housse2121]

Awesome Bill . ok i have a Canyon and the tc electronics triple delay think it would be good to stack them ? Canyon into the TC

[@chordsoforion]

I would definitely try it out. You could run the Canyon in shimmer mode, which the Triple Delay does not have. Could be cool!

[@daren.t.housse2121]

Thanks Bill going to give it ago .....