WLFS Music Technology

Wider Context Topic Timelines – Delay

  • 1950S

    Tape Delay

    • Delay is created by recording audio onto magnetic tape and then playing it back

    • Delay time would be changed by moving the playback head on the tape machine or changing the speed of the tape

    · Most common method of creating delay in the 50s and 60s

    • Echoplex

    Echoplex

    Slapback Delay

    • Type of delay effect with a single repeat (feedback = 0%)

    • Delay time between 80-200ms

    • Creates a percussive effect common on 50s vocals and electric guitar tracks

  • 1960s

    Analogue delay

    · Standalone delay units using analogue technology were used to create delay effects

    · The development of these units was mainly due to the increase in the popularity of delay as an effect

    · Types of analogue delay included :

    • Oil Can Delay
    • Drum Delay
    • Acoustic Delay

    Binson Echorec 2 (Drum Delay)

  • 1970s

    Bucket Brigade Delay (BBD)

    • Delay is created by storing the original audio signal onto bucket brigade chips

    • Each capacitor would hold the signal for a set time before it moved on

    MN3001 BBD chip

    Bucket brigade is more reliable than Tape

    Bucket brigade carries more noise as the delay time increases

  • 1980S

    DIgital Delay

    • Original audio is stored digitally in the unit’s memory

    • Allows for delay times to be tempo synced to a project (common in dance music)

    • Can be automated and controlled via MIDI

    • Can store pre-sets

    DDL 1745

    Multi-tap Delay

    • A type of digital delay that allows for several delay times to be used in one unit

    Ping-pong/stereo delay

    • A type of digital delay that allows for the delayed signal to be panned

    Modulated Delay

    · Delay effects that are created through the modulation of delay time

    · An LFO is used to control how much of the wet signal is delayed over time

    · Chorus, Phaser and Flanger are all examples of modulated delay effects

    No maintenance

    More precise delay times than Analogue delay (in ms)

    Clearer sound quality than Analogue delay units

    In 1970 would have been much more expensive than BBD

Why not check out one of these videos below to gain some wider knowledge: