Audio Equipment: How the Delay Works

The delay is a time0based processor that has one basic function; witch is to add an echo to a sound source. The delay can be used through an AUX send for maximum benefit. If you use a delay on a channel strip's insert than that delay can only be used or that one channel. That is a waist for two reasons. If you're running an analog studio, than you will use up all of you processor for that particular effect. That means that $3,000 effects box you just brought can only be used on one little channel of your consol. This sounds obvious but some people do not know the difference. Even more misused is the DAW (digital audio workstation) studio.

Most engineers who aren't trained or don't take the time to learn about the time-based processors misuse this as well. Instead of putting the delay on an AUX track, some engineers put it on the audio track. So for every track they want to use the delay on, they just insert a new delay processor onto a fresh track. The only way this would work out is If the studio was professionally put together, probably some type of TDM, of HD system as reference to Pro Tools. With this system, the self-sustaining microprocessor can handle the amount of processing, but that is only for expensive, and powerful systems. If you have one of these systems than you probably know how to operate it properly already. So in the long run there is no reason for anybody to insert any time-based processor directly onto an insert. The delay needs to be set to tempo with its song.

Device parameters

1. Gain
the gain is used to raise the level of out put signal that is leaving the device. This is after the processing has already taken place. You must be careful in applying too much gain rather than turning it up on the master fader because of the fact that it can clip your signal before it even reaches your master output. This makes even more problems for the final mix. It is best to just start at maximum gain witch is the default for all of the settings.

2. Mix
the mix can be adjusted in different ways. For the most part adjusting the mix is for the direct insert on the audio track. Since the device is on the actual waveform, you probably don't want your signal to be 100% affected by the device. With a 100% of the signal mixed you cant hear the original signal at all, just the affected part. Other uses for this are the Audiosuite plug-ins, so you can just print the effect onto the signal.

3. The Delay
the delay is meant to be in sync with the song. It is meant for the effect to dissipate on a curtain beat point most often a 16th note. This is if your are looking to make it sound clear. Some engineers want it to sound confused.

4. Feedback
Feedback is simply how many times you want the delay to happen. Or example I would yell "one," then the feedback says one about 4-5 times. This might have a reading of 15% depending on curtain settings.

Misuses
The biggest misuse is that the delay is over used for the mixing side. It can eat up a lot of processing if not carefully placed. Some people can argue that the delay has been replacing the reveb as newer music turns for the bargain. They say it replaces the reveb because newer, cheaper reverbs are noisy and with delay you can substituted all the extra sounds in the decay.