- \n
- Classic rock\/Psychedelic\/Blues\/U2\/Police\/Pink Floyd\/The Verve = ANALOG\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Tech metal\/Periphery\/Monuments\/Architects\/80s\/90s bands = DIGITAL DELAY<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"delay](\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/delay-pedals-and-other-BCC-guitar-effects-on-a-pedal-board-1000x511-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s the Difference between Analog and Digital Delay Pedals?<\/h3>\n
TL;DR: Analog delay degrades your signal over time, causing a gradual change in sound, whereas digital delay pedals degrade your signal in volume but maintain the same sound.<\/p>\n
Example:<\/strong> Play a riff with an analog delay pedal and it will start to get warmer and more \u201cwarbly\u201d or at the very least muddier. Play a riff with a digital delay and it will sound exactly the same with each repeat, it will just get lower in volume.<\/p>\n
Analog Delay Explained<\/h4>\n
Analog delay pedals<\/strong> use what’s commonly known as a bucket brigade chip (BBD) that takes your signal and sends it through capacitors that start to break up or diffuse the sound of your signal. This is why the delays always sound a bit different the more the signal starts to degrade or get quieter\/further away.<\/p>\n
Analog delay takes your sound and goes, \u201cOK I get it, let me repeat it, but gradually forget what I was doing\u2026and start adding my own flavour\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Benefits\/Pros of analog delay:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
- \n
- Analog delay will get warmer and darker as it degrades<\/li>\n
- Adds its own unique sound on each repeat<\/li>\n
- You can hide mistakes<\/li>\n
- Retains your analog signal quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Disadvantages of analog delay:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
- \n
- Will have shorter maximum delay times<\/li>\n
- Will slightly change the sound of your signal (this could be a pro or disadvantage)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Digital Delay Explained<\/strong><\/p>\n
Digital delay<\/strong> pedals use a DSP, otherwise known as digital signal processing which converts your signal into a digital format and then converts it back to analog when it pushes the sound through your amp. This makes it usable for the pedal but may make your signal sound slightly clinical \u2013 which is great if you\u2019re into tech metal or you want an accurate, reliable repeat at each interval! Good digital delay pedals will include MIDI control and provide excellent clarity.<\/p>\n
Digital delay takes your sound and goes \u201cOK I\u2019ve got it, I will remember exactly what you played (good or bad) and repeat it until you tell me to stop\u2026I wont add anything else\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Benefits\/Pros of digital delay:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
- \n
- Provides an exact snapshot of your signal and repeats it<\/li>\n
- Can be used with dynamic delay, and ducking techniques as the signal is now digital<\/li>\n
- Provides greater control of your delay<\/li>\n
- Longer delay times<\/li>\n
- Precise delays can be achieved to exact time signatures<\/li>\n
- Preset delay memories can be saved<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Disadvantages of digital delay:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
- \n
- Sometimes makes the sound of your guitar sound clinical<\/li>\n
- Can remove that analog \u201clife\u201d from your sound<\/li>\n
- Not a lot of other disadvantages really!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Different delay SOUNDS explained<\/h3>\n
Now that we\u2019ve established that there are different types of delay, let\u2019s look at the different sounds available! Tape Echo, Delay, Digital Delay and Dynamic Delay!<\/p>\n
Tape Echo vs Delay pedals<\/h4>\n
The main difference between tape echo and delay is: Tape echo is a series of identical notes each one quieter than the one before. They fade out quicker and distort quicker. Delay guitar pedals make a copy of the sound you play and repeat it, making the sound last longer and don\u2019t necessarily degrade as much.<\/p>\n
Echo is a short, repeating series of notes that is often used as an accompaniment or to add texture to a track \u2013 similar to how a reverb pedal adds an ethereal sound. Delay is a longer, sustained effect that replays a signal later at a specified time \u2013 for example, half a second later.<\/p>\n
Psychedelic bands like Pink Floyd or The Verve tend to use Tape echo, whereas rock bands tend to use delay, as it\u2019s slightly cleaner.<\/p>\n
Sound Differences Between Tape Echo and Delay Pedals<\/h4>\n
The main difference is analog delays tend to roll off the high end on repeats giving a dark, murky wash, while tape simulators roll off the low end resulting in a brighter sonic quality. However, Tape echo can add a Wow and Flutter that was the result of the physical tape quality slowly degrading. analog delays start to oscillate and still have a \u201cdegradation\u201d but it\u2019s not as severe as tape echo.<\/p>\n
![\"delay](\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/difference-engine-delay-analog-settings.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTape vs Analog Delay In a Digital Pedal – How Does It Sound?<\/h4>\n
The main difference between tape and analog delay in a digital delay pedal is that if a digital delay pedal has both a “Tape” mode and an “Analog” delay mode, the difference lies in the way the signal deteriorates. Tape will deteriorate faster and “messier\/warmer” analogue will deteriorate cleaner.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
However, the best delay pedals, like the Difference Engine Delay<\/a><\/strong>, can retain all the subtle nuances of both styles BUT provide expert control over both \u2013 or allow you to run free and easy.<\/p>\n
The Difference Engine delay pedal is a must-have for musicians seeking the perfect blend of vintage tape echo and modern analog delay. This versatile pedal, modelled on the renowned RE Space Echo family of delays, captures the organic warmth and analog nuances of classic tape machines. With delay times of up to 1250 ms and the ability to create both straight delays from a single head and classic, overlaid multi-head delays, the Difference Engine is the ultimate solution. And to add that special vintage touch, the pedal includes tape artefacts like Wow and Flutter, adding a unique, classic tone to your sound without the unreliability of vintage tape.<\/p>\n
All the good stuff \u2013 none of the unwanted tape change! This is exactly why pro guitarists love the Difference Engine Delay pedal<\/strong><\/a> – it just works.<\/p>\n
When to use Tape Echo and when to use Delay<\/h4>\n
Tape echo is typically used to create a sense of space and depth in a track, while a delay guitar pedal is used to create a sense of movement and rhythm. Echo is often used to create a sense of atmosphere, while the delay is used to create a sense of energy or \u201cbounce\u201d. Both effects can be used to create a wide range of sounds, from subtle to dramatic and BOTH can be used to create rhythm or a \u201cvibe\u201d.<\/p>\n
- \n
- If you want repeats you can nod along or play to \u2013 use a delay pedal<\/li>\n
- If you want an overall \u201cvibe\u201d go for the tape echo pedal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Guitarists often use delay pedals to create space, or to change the feel of a track \u2013 think of any U2 song or any Police song WITHOUT a delay pedal \u2013 that would sound weird right?<\/p>\n
We asked our resident design wizard Simon Fraser-Clark about Delay and how it affects us as guitarists when we use it:<\/p>\n
Delay changes the way you play. You make space for the delays to happen and being able to shape that space is a great opportunity to have as a musician, you start to listen a bit more.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Delay fills up the sound when other players are not there. Delay allows you to inhabit that space in a different way. Delay is the thing that sets your note apart from anyone else\u2019s.<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This sound in between notes is what Brian May calls \u201chot space\u201d. Think of the heavy riffs in ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ by Queen and you\u2019ll hear that slightly delayed note filtering in. That\u2019s the sound of delay filling in that “hot space”.<\/p>\n
Or go one step further and listen to The Police ‘ Every Breath YouTake’ and that is the sound of delay filling in the gaps on guitar.<\/p>\n
Digital Delay and Dynamic Delay Explained<\/h4>\n
The main difference between digital delay and dynamic delay is the loudness of the delay. Both are digital, but a digital delay WITHOUT dynamics will repeat the signal straight away at the volume you require. Dynamic delay has an internal side chain which gates or \u201cducks\u201d the loudness of the generated delays. When you stop playing, the delay can be heard clearly \u2013 it waits for you to stop playing!<\/p>\n
Explain How Dynamic Delay Works In Guitar Pedal<\/h4>\n
As you play your guitar, a lead line or riff, the dynamics of the note are used to limit the amount of delay that appears in the mix. This is called Gating.<\/p>\n
When you start playing, the delay logs the signal but waits for you to stop. When you stop playing, the output of the delay increases and the delay will Bloom. If you have a solo line that you don’t want to clutter, confuse or lose in the mix, dynamic delay \u201cducks\u201d and dips in volume until you stop playing. When you stop or take a break in-between notes, the delay will spring to life and repeat. Your nicely picked solo sounds crystal clear yet has some lovely delayed trails after you’ve finished.<\/p>\n
A good dynamic delay such as the Difference Engine Delay pedal<\/a><\/strong> provides a velocity-sensitive gate to control whatever parameter you want – in this instance, it\u2019s a delay mix. You can tweak when you want that delay to kick in and how hard!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
- Tech metal\/Periphery\/Monuments\/Architects\/80s\/90s bands = DIGITAL DELAY<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n