Delay pedal with non-latching switch (trigger)?

[K2000]

I have occasional use for a medium-short delay, but since I only have two feet, it can be hard to use my regular delay, without feeling like I'm doing DanceDance Revolution.

What I would like is a medium length delay (2 secs, maybe) that I can punch in, sort of like a "one shot" effect. One stomp engages the delay, and lets it fade out automatically, while I'm busy regaining my balance

Are there any delays that can do that?

[ehque]

It should be easy to either replace the switch on most delay pedals or build a small loop/blend pedal for that effect...

[Swimming Bird]

Heh, we were just talking about dub tone.

But +1 to DIY -- the easiest way to do this is to make a passive bypass box with a momentary switch.

K2000 -- are you handy with a soldering gun? Look up schematics for a bypass box and just use a momentary switch instead of the normal latching one. You won't need an LED or anything so I think it might cost all of $15 if you have the right tools already and just hit up Radioshack for parts and a small enclosure.

[Stuggi]

I could make you one, but it wouldn't work very well since as soon as you'd let go of the footswitch you wouldn't hear the delayed notes anymore... But if you're cool with that...

[Swimming Bird]

Oh that's right, most bypass boxes split the signal then choose which side comes back, right? Duh, that's why they're used to take noisy pedals out of the clean signal path.

I suppose you'd have to do it the other way -- have the switch decide which way the signal goes then have a splitter at the end. It may have to be powered in this case..? Hopefully someone who knows more about schematics will add to my post.

[AppliedStucco]

Uhmmm... a suggestion...

Based on the bypass-stompbox the previous guys suggested...
(You may correct me if I'm wrong)

This way your delay will be allowed to ring out, even when you have stepped off the momentary switch, but this also will implicate that you will have to look for a really really silent delay effect so that its noise won't be audible while you're not using it. Hoipe this helped...

[Stuggi]

He could always put the "looper" in a true bypass loop

[Stuggi]

Or even better, add a second SPDT stomper afterwards to choose if you want the return wired together or not!

[K2000]

Umm... to be clear, I want to put the delay on the last note of a bass line (for example). Any suggestions that would also delay the previous notes (so that the amp would get a rush of multiple notes) is not what I need.

Right now I can accomplish what I need by stepping on my delay pedal twice (on/off), at the moment I play the "delay note". (It's a Digitech Digidelay). What I'm looking for is a delay that can be triggered (and then fade) with just one stomp.

[niftydog]

AppliedStucco's solution does what you need. I'm not aware of any commercial one-shot type delays, you might have to rig something up.

[ehque]

Originally Posted by AppliedStucco

Uhmmm... a suggestion...

Based on the bypass-stompbox the previous guys suggested...
(You may correct me if I'm wrong)

This way your delay will be allowed to ring out, even when you have stepped off the momentary switch, but this also will implicate that you will have to look for a really really silent delay effect so that its noise won't be audible while you're not using it. Hoipe this helped...

If i am not wrong, firstly you're wiring your the signal permanently into the input of the delay. Stepping onto the pedal creates a rush of delayed sounds played before what the stepping of the pedal, which is not what the dude wants.

Originally Posted by niftydog

AppliedStucco's solution does what you need. I'm not aware of any commercial one-shot type delays, you might have to rig something up.

What you need to do, OP, is to wire a momentary switch like this (one step-to-connect).

1. Signal in goes into "MAIN OUT" as well as step-to-connect switch "in"
2. Step-to-connect "out" goes to your delay. (DELAY IN)

Wiring DELAY OUT into the MAIN OUT in a passive blend (hots together, grounds together) should give you the sound you want, ie.

No step - Dry sound.
Step - Notes played after stepping will delay.
Release - Notes played during stepping will decay according to delay pedal. Notes played after stepping will not delay.

Of course you'll need a quiet delay, as it's signal is always going into the output.

[niftydog]

No, AppliedStuccos solution looks the same as what you have described.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by K2000

Right now I can accomplish what I need by stepping on my delay pedal twice (on/off), at the moment I play the "delay note". (It's a Digitech Digidelay). What I'm looking for is a delay that can be triggered (and then fade) with just one stomp.

Hmm, good that you clarified since I was about to suggest that very thing. I've done this same thing with the Echo Park and the trails feature on.

I don't think this will help you much, but I had a lot of fun running a delay into the Toadworks Enveloope when I had it. It gives you a dynamically controlled delay, so you get a ducking effect if you use a lighter touch. A really cool pedal, but expensive, and not as useful on bass IMO as on guitar, especially with OD/Distortion/Fuzz etc.

[ehque]

Originally Posted by niftydog

No, AppliedStuccos solution looks the same as what you have described.

Note that my wiring does not give the delay a signal when not stepped on, his does.

EDIT: Oh buggerit. Why does everything plug in from the right? Southpawdiscrimination!!! I'll look at the diagram again.

Ok, the difference is that when he steps on the pedal (that AppliedStuccos drew up) while a note is ringing, that note will be cut off for a while while the switch breaks its connection from bypass to delay. I think. Basically mine permanently blends in the dry, his does it EXCEPT when the switch is depressed. I think that's the only difference, now.

In both cases there might be a POP as the connection to delay is made, which will delay appropriately. I'm not sure how to get around that.

[niftydog]

Provided the delay is set to output the dry signal as well as the wet signal, the interruption to the signal caused by stepping on the switch will be fleeting and almost imperceptible - in the order of a few milliseconds or so.

[moatilliatta]

The Echo Park set to "ducking" will do this, it doesn't play the delayed notes until you quit playing....