Understanding Delay Effects (Easy Mixing Guide)

The delay effect in music production is one of the main creative tools of the trade. In this introduction to delay video I explain the types and styles of the delay effect (analog vs digital etc) and explain the differences between slapback, short, medium and long and where you might use each one.

Taken from my Effects Essentials course produced exclusively for the @promixacademy6904 where I explore the principles in this video much deeper with detailed and step by step examples across most popular instruments.

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Learn how to produce mixes so you can create balance and separation, punch and power, width and depth, turning your recordings into pro-sounding mixes!

Timestamps:
00:00 - Start
00:38 - What is delay?
01:00 - Origins of the delay effect in music
01:48 - Amplitude and its relevance to delay
02:35 - Benefits of using delay in music production
03:32 - The main categories of delay
03:45 - What is tape delay?
04:35 - What is analog delay?
05:23 - What is digital delay?
05:51 - Types or common durations of delay
06:12 - Doubling echo effect
06:32 - What is slapback echo?
07:26 - What is modulated delay in music?

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What is delay? Well, in this video I answer that question by going back to basics and explaining the origins of delay along with the delay types and the characteristics of each.

The problem with reverb is it can make a mix sound muddy very quickly, especially when used widely throughout a mix.

Delay is the secret weapon of the pro’s to keeping mix clarity but which delay effect should you use?

In the video I explain what the differences are between tape delay, analog and digital delays, what is meant when a delay is described as short, medium or long and I explain modulated delays.

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My name is Sara Carter, I’m a professional mix engineer with over 18 years experience, and on this music production channel I’m going to share some of my best mixing tips using a simple mixing tutorial style that will teach you how to mix music like a pro music producer in your own home studio.

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DISCLOSURE: I often review or link to products & services I regularly use and think you might find helpful. Wherever possible I’ll use referral links, which means if you click one of the links in this video or description and make a purchase I may receive a small commission or other compensation.

[SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Echo, echo, echo…what’s your favourite way to use delay? It's fab on guitars, great on vocals but do you have any little tricks you'd like to share? Post them below and thanks for watching!

[raffaerste]

You're absolutely perfect! Payed 14k Bucks on the SAE Audio Engineering School in Germany and none of the teachers could explain clearly as you did in this video here! Such a good explaining, visually with a really nice voice. This here is my go-to Mixing channel now. Thank you very much for this!

[marc_leblanc]

Perfect timing. I was just searching today for getting better at delay & reverb without muddying anything up.

[vongluck]

Hello Sara, I'm very happy to see you again after many weeks without news ;-) I thank you for your abordable explications.

[rabihhammoud]

Amazing content. Thank you for teaching us so much! Subscribed!

[garyshore]

Another great one Sara, much thanks as always...took advantage of the blog post accompanying this as well as taking screenshots of the various explanatory screens for each section shown in the video to set up an email w/all these links etc as a kind of"complete database of info on delay" using this stuff....now I have a much better idea about this as I've just started studying it..

[BonzoNaphtol]

Thank you for all explantions. In the 1980's, i had a Roland RE 501 whith integrated chorus effect. Souvenirs, souvenirs...

[JoeDinesSound]

Really interesting and useful Sara thanks

[rickfowler]

I believe that "clever person in the 50's" would be Robert fripp. Legend!

[rogerm]

Hi, Thank you for the amazing explanation. I am a wiser today than i was yesterday.😀
Question: My guitar notes sound like discontinuous separate notes in my recordings instead of smooth flow into the next note without the sound dying out. Should I be paying closer attention to my DELAY pedal settings ? Is DELAY the right tool to alleviate the issue ? Thank you much.

[thomas]

Hello Miss.
I’m a singer at the church. Compare Dynamic vs soft delay which one is better ? I have a TC electronics M350 delay reverb processor. Please advise.

[caseygreen]

I'd love to hear some audio examples

[wellnesswithjon]

This video would be great if I were writing a paper on delays. If your audience is people who actual apply the knowledge, you need audio examples of each of your points.