Memory Boy Delay Sound Quality?

[rnilson]

Hey you all,
I just picked up a used memory boy and the delays seem a tiny bit fuzzy to me like there is some extra noise/hum in the signal. There is also a slight high pitched frequency to the delay when maxed out on all the knobs.

Should the delay sound 100% like my non delayed signal? Is this normal or did I get a bum pedal?

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by rnilson

Hey you all,
I just picked up a used memory boy and the delays seem a tiny bit fuzzy to me like there is some extra noise/hum in the signal. There is also a slight high pitched frequency to the delay when maxed out on all the knobs.

Should the delay sound 100% like my non delayed signal? Is this normal or did I get a bum pedal?

All analog delays have some distortion on the repeats. That's actually the thing that draws people into analog delays. If you want pristine repeats that are exact copies of your dry signal, you're going to have to go with a digital delay.

[CopperheadLXXIX]

I've had both the Deluxe & Toy delays, and didn't care for either.

Since it's an analog delay, the repeats will not sound like your original signal-they tend to be darker. As for the high-pitched noise when you crank everything, just sounds like the delay is feeding back/self-osilating. Pretty normal with analog delays.

[rnilson]

No that cool, I just wanted to make sure...

BTW Bigcheifbc

You take about getting the MB to really self oscillate into madness.
I was have trouble getting it to really take off into noise making, really just getting blips of oscillation. What is the trick to make it take off like a space ship?

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by rnilson

No that cool, I just wanted to make sure...

BTW Bigcheifbc

You take about getting the MB to really self oscillate into madness.
I was have trouble getting it to really take off into noise making, really just getting blips of oscillation. What is the trick to make it take off like a space ship?

I don't have the standard Memory Boy, I have the Deluxe. But getting any analog delay to self-oscillate should be very easy. Set the delay time most of the way up, hit a note, and then crank the feedback knob most of the way up. The delays should continue indefinitely, and get louder and louder. Then start turning the delay time knob down, and the pitch of the delays will start screaming higher and higher. That is the standard runaway delay spaceship sound.