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Trippy Delay Help

B

benmoore88

Mar 19, 2007
297
2
Brisbane , Australia
#1
i use a fair few effects but never tried any delay , my current project is requiring some 'trippy psychodelic passages' so my vibe was for some crazy bootsy-esque Q-tron or distorted craziness run through a delay. ala munchies for your love

but i could do with some help for those more familiar with delays as to what unit i shoudl be looking at.

i'm assuming that kind of thing has a fairly long delay speed - which some of the cheaper analog delays i've been looking at dont' appear to offer. (belcat delay - artec)

digital delays (DD6) offer a longer delay time - but is the length they offer more for overlayering type applications? also will a digital delay still make the weird ufo type noises when you adjust the knobs??

how long a delay do i really need?
what delays have worked best for you on bass?

thanks
 
#2
benmoore88 said:
...is the length they offer more for overlayering type applications?

will a digital delay still make the weird ufo type noises when you adjust the knobs??

how long a delay do i really need?

what delays have worked best for you on bass?
Click to expand...
In order...

Depends on how you want to use it. There's no rules that say you must use X for Y, just experiment.

Most digital delays do NOT retain the sample intact when you twiddle the delay time. Some do, like the older Digitech delays (PDS series), but not many modern ones do. For that effect you generally need to stick with analogue.

How long is a piece of string? Longer the better I say because if you don't need it, you just don't use it!

Every delay I've ever used would work just fine on bass. I cannot speak for any vintage, tape or oil can based monster machines, but I've tried umpteen compact pedal type delays and they all work just fine.

Suggest you look at the Akai Headrush because the simulated 4 head tape delay is well trippy! Another option is to look for a modulated delay, like the Ibanez DML-10 et al - they effectively do the knob twiddling for you!
 
#3
For psychedelia, IMO modulation is a must on delay. Modulation is where the pitch/playback speed of the repeats can swirl up and down automatically. Many digi units, both pedal and rack, offer modulation; among analog units, the pedals usually don't have modulation but the rackmount ones often do.
 
#5
While I value the opinions of those who have posted in this thread very much, I respectfully disagree with the notion that you need modulated delay settings. I also don't think that you need anything like tap tempo, reverse, trails, etc.......... IMO, a simple digital or analog delay with around 300 ms of available time can do a whole bunch of cool things. I have had great, trippy results with an Ibanez DE-7, Boss DM-2, Guyatone MD-3 and a Homebrew Electronics Mimic Mock II. Of those, the Boss and Guyatone have the best self oscillation capabilities, IMO. The Guyatone is the cleanest and most accurate, the Boss is the warmest, the Ibanez is a good mix of the two and the H.B.E. is an even better mix of the two. Also, you could probably find a used Ibanez DE-7 for under $50.00, if you don't feel like shelling out a lot of cash. Good luck.
 
#6
cheers bass shy.
i basically want to be able to play some melodic lines thru a Qtron or distortion and have it sounds like its 'poppoing off' in the back behind what i'm playing - if that makes any sense. and if possible occasionally twiddle teh knobs so make those crazy sounds

i can get a cheap analog delay that does 350 ms or 440ms
or i can go for a digital DD6 or DD3.....?

as inviting as they look - i dont' think i can justify a boss analog delay , space echo reissue or memory man for such a niche used effect.
 
#7
A DD-3 or DD-6 should probably do the trick. It really depends on how long the lines you plan on playing are. If you want to repeat long, intricate bass lines, I'd go for the DD-6 because of the longer available time. If you just want to accentuate short passages, the DD-3 should be ample. The timing of setting the repeats, and the time needed from the delay unit itself both depend on the songs you play. Personally, I use delay for faster, slapping passages and around 300 ms seems to be just right for me. As always, YMMV. Good luck.
 
#13
bass-shy said:
A DD-3 or DD-6 should probably do the trick. It really depends on how long the lines you plan on playing are. If you want to repeat long, intricate bass lines, I'd go for the DD-6 because of the longer available time. If you just want to accentuate short passages, the DD-3 should be ample. The timing of setting the repeats, and the time needed from the delay unit itself both depend on the songs you play. Personally, I use delay for faster, slapping passages and around 300 ms seems to be just right for me. As always, YMMV. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Also, the DD6 will get you the trippy pitch shifting by messing with the delay time
 
#14
bongomania said:
For psychedelia, IMO modulation is a must on delay. Modulation is where the pitch/playback speed of the repeats can swirl up and down automatically. Many digi units, both pedal and rack, offer modulation; among analog units, the pedals usually don't have modulation but the rackmount ones often do.
Click to expand...

+1

my Diamond Memory Lane is an analog pedal with Modulation. Fun stuff that can get pretty wild.
 
#16
bongomania said:
For psychedelia, IMO modulation is a must on delay...
Click to expand...
Joe P said:
...Dreamy; trippy - You need modulation!
Click to expand...
bass-shy said:
While I value the opinions of those who have posted in this thread very much, I respectfully disagree with the notion that you need modulated delay settings...
Click to expand...
Well - OK, then: You don't really NEED it, but dang! -more delays should have it!

I mean if you don't want it, then just turn it off - but often, even the tiny-tiniest amount just makes such a difference to me!

..And for trippy-effect specifically: Oh, Man - modulation really goes a looong way toward that feelin'!

Joe
 
#18
When we mean trippy are we talking about like, Iron Butterfly here, or are we talking crazy space effects echo the dolphin music trippy ( I don't know why I'm hung up on Echo the Dolphin BTW, just am. Friend of mine bought a Q-tron and we spent 4 hours messing with it, eventually coming up with what I called "echo the dolphin" music)
 
#19
Joe P said:
Well - OK, then: You don't really NEED it, but dang! -more delays should have it!
Click to expand...

Joe,

have you seen the Jacques Prisoner Delay? 300ms of classic analog delay, with modulation. And (I think) it's sub 200$!

Check out the samples, the modulation can get pretty wild and tripy in there. Maybe that's the sound the OP is after?

Invalid Link Removed

Be warned: on my PC, all the samples start automatically for a cacophonic mess (very trippy). Turn down the volume, or click 'stop loading page' on your browser.

Cheers,
John
 
#20
That prisoner pedal sounds pretty good, but when it comes to delay I've always found Digital Delay just to be the best most reliable one that really cuts, tape delays not so much I've not even played through an analog.

But I do like that lunacy soundbyte. It sounds like something else I've heard of and now for 20 mins i've been busting my ass looking for it. It's another song a LOT like that but longer and better.
 

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