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-- Delay and proper usage
Delay and proper usage
I know we all need some help on using proper delay. I'm not a pro myself, but I've been thinking lately what makes my tracks sound so poor and lack of "good quality." I know mixdown and eqing play a major role, but I'm also wondering if I'm using too much delay. I know too much delay on an instrument will definitely clutter the mix and add more to it that isn't needed. So if anyone has any serious tips on what's too much or too little I'd love to hear it.
We insert 100% wet delays on every single channels. Start with say 100 ms right across the board; later you can alway adjust individual channels up or down if something doesn't sound right.
I don't understand what you're getting at.
You will probably want a delay plugin that allows you to EQ the delay itself, thus saving some room in the mix. This is definately a must for delayed basslines.
I think reverb can be even more harmful to a mix than delay.
Some basic rules to keep in mind.
- Never go over 45% on your dry/wet, doing so will flood your track.
- Never delay the whole audio. Filter some of the delayed part out.
- Always add delay's BEFORE reverbs. If you add a delay after a reverb, then your becoming redundant.
- Never delay percussion unless the percussion is over 2Khz
- If you delay basslines, keep the delay wet/dry to about 20-25%
- Never delay lower percussion, especially the kick.
- Never have sub-bass in a delay. Filter it out.
- Never have a delay's feedback over 50% unless your going for the effect like in sweeps or crash hits.
- If you sync your delays, it is good to set your delay rhythm to the counter of what your doing. So if your writing in triplets, use a quarter or eighth note delay, but if your writing in gridlets "locked to the 4/4 grid", then use dotted-note or triplet delays.
- Never have a delay out of sync with the tempo, since you can create anarchy rhythms that way, and its not very good on the ear, atleast in dance music.
- Apply EQing before the delay and apply compression after the delay.
Did I miss anything?
why thank you very much djsentinel. I appreciate the informative info. Same goes to you Eldritch. My second question then...when using delay on the sends and same with reverb, how would you go about putting the delay first then? I normally decide to use only 2 different types of delays for all my sounds.
Those are all very good points. Thanks, and I am still learning too...
I was merely referring to a little trick for synchronizing samples together. As in to compensate for different attack rates in different sounds or different position of the start marker in different recordings.
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| Originally posted by Lindo why thank you very much djsentinel. I appreciate the informative info. Same goes to you Eldritch. My second question then...when using delay on the sends and same with reverb, how would you go about putting the delay first then? I normally decide to use only 2 different types of delays for all my sounds. |
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| Originally posted by DJSentinel Some basic rules to keep in mind. - Never go over 45% on your dry/wet, doing so will flood your track. - Never delay the whole audio. Filter some of the delayed part out. - Always add delay's BEFORE reverbs. If you add a delay after a reverb, then your becoming redundant. - Never delay percussion unless the percussion is over 2Khz - If you delay basslines, keep the delay wet/dry to about 20-25% - Never delay lower percussion, especially the kick. - Never have sub-bass in a delay. Filter it out. - Never have a delay's feedback over 50% unless your going for the effect like in sweeps or crash hits. - If you sync your delays, it is good to set your delay rhythm to the counter of what your doing. So if your writing in triplets, use a quarter or eighth note delay, but if your writing in gridlets "locked to the 4/4 grid", then use dotted-note or triplet delays. - Never have a delay out of sync with the tempo, since you can create anarchy rhythms that way, and its not very good on the ear, atleast in dance music. - Apply EQing before the delay and apply compression after the delay. Did I miss anything? |
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| Originally posted by DJSentinel - Never delay percussion unless the percussion is over 2Khz |
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| Originally posted by Mr.Mystery I really don't see the point of this. You can get some wild & thick percussions with a little delay without having to add a ridiculous amount of layers. Anyway, having that many "never do"'s while making music really takes the fun out of it. I prefer "what if I...?". |
lmfao.
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| Originally posted by pixxxan exactly!!!! i think it all comes from the christian/catholic backround still roaming in our subconscious... |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Mr.Mystery I really don't see the point of this. You can get some wild & thick percussions with a little delay without having to add a ridiculous amount of layers. Anyway, having that many "never do"'s while making music really takes the fun out of it. I prefer "what if I...?". |
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| Originally posted by DJSentinel What if I just delete all my tracks in Cubase and just have a really loud cowbell? Fucking awesome! Even better with a delay with 200% feedback! Experimentation is awesome! |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by DJSentinel What if I just delete all my tracks in Cubase and just have a really loud cowbell? Fucking awesome! Even better with a delay with 200% feedback! Experimentation is awesome! |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by DJSentinel What if I just delete all my tracks in Cubase and just have a really loud cowbell? Fucking awesome! Even better with a delay with 200% feedback! Experimentation is awesome! |
Be careful with your track's rhythm when using delays. Each delay adds a note or notes that play at a specific time, this may or may not add to the overall groove of the track. It's like writing melodies to go with basslines and percussion etc,. it's really easy to mess up the groove of a track with inappropriately timed sounds. Delay is a really powerful groove-enhancer when used right.
i think delay is the effect i use the most definetely. i dont have a problem using it with percs, leads, pads , loops etc. i just trust my ear. i use cubase own delay plugins and ohmforce ohmboys!!
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