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Best delay for ambient
- Thread starter JensCambre
- Start date
Obligatory vote for the Earthquaker Devices Dispatch Master. The combination of delay and reverb with a mix knob is all I need to create cavernous sounds. I've found that a POG really helps, too.
A Zoom MS-70CDR has really good models of the MXR Carbon Copy, TC Electronics Corona Chorus and a load of great verbs and delays...it's a no brainer really and ticks a lot of boxes.
Ambient loops are my daily bread, and as an impoverished creature I've generally achieved perfectly satisfying results with just a dedicated, versatile reverb and any ol' looper. I really can't imagine ambient without reverb- it gives you that deep, profound sense of space and sonic comfort.
To suit my purpose, I use a Boss RV-6, which is a relatively inexpensive but hecka deep multifunctional reverb. Does all the basics- plate, spring, hall, whatever- with a few special tricks up its sleeve, including two I think are just totally jack dandy for ambient: modulated reverb, which just sounds magical on the ears, and "shimmer," which essentially adds an ever-ascending pitch shift to your reverb that sounds like you're being joined by a chorus of angels.
On the higher end of the spectrum you'll find the Strymon BlueSky and BigSky, which cost twice and three times as much, respectively, and do what the RV6 does while sounding so beautiful your ears may cry (doctors cannot yet explain this phenomenon and are very frightened), while on the lower end the Mooer SkyVerb is an adorably solid pocket-sized dedicated 'verb that doesn't even try to hide how much it wants to be a BlueSky when it grows up, and will run you maybe two tanks of gas used, depending on your vehicle.
Can't really go wrong with any of 'em, and I'm sure there are about twelve hundred other good options out there too, but these are my favorites, at least.
--^@
To suit my purpose, I use a Boss RV-6, which is a relatively inexpensive but hecka deep multifunctional reverb. Does all the basics- plate, spring, hall, whatever- with a few special tricks up its sleeve, including two I think are just totally jack dandy for ambient: modulated reverb, which just sounds magical on the ears, and "shimmer," which essentially adds an ever-ascending pitch shift to your reverb that sounds like you're being joined by a chorus of angels.
On the higher end of the spectrum you'll find the Strymon BlueSky and BigSky, which cost twice and three times as much, respectively, and do what the RV6 does while sounding so beautiful your ears may cry (doctors cannot yet explain this phenomenon and are very frightened), while on the lower end the Mooer SkyVerb is an adorably solid pocket-sized dedicated 'verb that doesn't even try to hide how much it wants to be a BlueSky when it grows up, and will run you maybe two tanks of gas used, depending on your vehicle.
Can't really go wrong with any of 'em, and I'm sure there are about twelve hundred other good options out there too, but these are my favorites, at least.
--^@
So many answers on the search of the best delay and no one mentioned the Moog MF-104
Not necessarily. You get more versatility and control out of digital. Analog (which I prefer purely for aesthetics) can sound warmer. But if you drop an EHX Analogizer (or just about any analog delay effect) towards the end of your signal chain, you'll get back any warmth you're missing.
For really complex and fancy layered delays or reverb, digital is your only choice.
Note: for bass reverb nothing beats Iron Ether's Nimbus Bass Reverb IMO. But that said, a DigiTech Polara and TC Electronics HOF are are two inexpensive bass friendly reverbs that also sound good. They're not a Neunaber Immerse (highly recommended btw
) or a Strymon by any stretch. But they still sound great and get the job done for well under $200.
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Ambient is much more about attitude than effects. You can get to ambient with just an instrument and amp given a little patience and the right mindset. IMO delays are largely a tool to allow you to play less and let space happen; they are also a compositional tool and accompanist.
Literally any delay will do just fine. I like my DD-6 and EHX DMM. I have a Nano Grail too, but that's mostly for changing how my fuzz works.
Unless we're talking about ambient house, in which case ignore everything I said cause the game is compression.
Literally any delay will do just fine. I like my DD-6 and EHX DMM. I have a Nano Grail too, but that's mostly for changing how my fuzz works.
Unless we're talking about ambient house, in which case ignore everything I said cause the game is compression.
Oh dude, EQD all the way. The Afterneath, Space Spiral, Dispatch Master or the Avalanche Run or the Transmisser. They have a ton of cool spacey things,
Strymon El Capistan is amazing! (just to add to the crowd...)
you might also want to check out the Malekko Sneak Attack, for triggerable volume swells. or a volume pedal (budget version: get good at twiddling the volume knob!)
any kind of modulation would work, too, and a wah could be good for slow filter sweeps.
you might also want to check out the Malekko Sneak Attack, for triggerable volume swells. or a volume pedal (budget version: get good at twiddling the volume knob!)
any kind of modulation would work, too, and a wah could be good for slow filter sweeps.
Came in to post ^^^this.
You don't want a delay that provides pristine, carbon-copy (no pun intended) repeats, you want one where each successive repeat degrades fidelity-wise. Tape or tape emulators are ideal for this.
A genuine analog (bucket-brigade) delay works great for this also, though I'm not aware of any currently made analog delay pedals with tap-tempo (though I'll bet there are some out there).
Having a filter in the feedback loop of a digital delay is another way to mung up the repeats for gushy amorphous ambient tones.
