Delay?

[topheteatwo]

I'm just interested in people use of delays and where you use them?

Every time I get one I just can't find a use for it in anyway, it just seems to get muddy but I see delays on a lot of people's boards? I'm just looking at how people use them in a band setting?

[dannybuoy]

I use a MXR Carbon Copy to make spaceship noises. If control of a self-oscillating delay with the side of your big toe whilst playing bass simultaneously is an art form, then I'm Michaelangelo!

The only delay I've liked on bass for actual delay purposes was the EHX Memory Man with Hazarai, as you could apply a high pass filter to the repeats to prevent the mud. Same goes for reverb, there's not many pedals that do it other than the Iron Ether Nimbus.

Edited January 21, 2014 by dannybuoy

[iamtheelvy]

I like a little delay low in the mix to add depth to a bassline. Don't use it overly much as it can get muddy.

[JapanAxe]

Not something I would want to do unless a specific need arose e.g. Pink Floyd tribute band.

[topheteatwo]

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1390322847' post='2344057']
Not something I would want to do unless a specific need arose e.g. Pink Floyd tribute band.
[/quote]

Yeah that's my feeling, I use a reverb to make some big atmosphere, but that's a rare occasion, I find that reverb is really not favoured on bass and delay is preferred, I just wanna know why ya know!

[Truckstop]

I used to use a little slapback on occasion in a three piece rock n roll/blues band but eventually dropped it as I didn't feel it added much to the overall band sound.

Otherwise I just use my delay at home for general sodding about fun.

Truckstop

[GazWills]

I have sometimes used analog delays for noise at gigs, bit cliche but can sound cool.

For more musical use of delay, I like doing stuff like this:

[url="https://soundcloud.com/gazthefink/von-bartha-flotsam-jetsum"]https://soundcloud.com/gazthefink/von-bartha-flotsam-jetsum[/url]

The track above was done with a DD-3, but I recently got a Catalinbread Echorec, and I'm starting to come up with lots of similar style ideas, but there's a LOT more scope in the Echorec to do this sort of thing

[topheteatwo]

[quote name='GazWills' timestamp='1390323482' post='2344069']
I have sometimes used analog delays for noise at gigs, bit cliche but can sound cool.

For more musical use of delay, I like doing stuff like this:

[url="https://soundcloud.com/gazthefink/von-bartha-flotsam-jetsum"]https://soundcloud.c...-flotsam-jetsum[/url]

The track above was done with a DD-3, but I recently got a Catalinbread Echorec, and I'm starting to come up with lots of similar style ideas, but there's a LOT more scope in the Echorec to do this sort of thing
[/quote]

That sounds great dude! I just turn into a complete moron when I have a delay in my hands, I used to have an RV-3 a few moons ago and I just couldn't for the life of me think of times to use it

[GazWills]

I find it only works if it is the main, driving melody and rhythm of the track, at least for how i like to use delay.. (I.e trying to be The Edge on bass!!). Can't be a backgroud thing (unless you're going all ambient and post rock)

Edited January 21, 2014 by GazWills

[bakerster135]

I use mine (Strymon El Cap) for the tap tempo dotted 8th notes, and infinite repeats if you hold down the "Tap" switch. Demonstrated quite badly [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox4983Qv5jQ&t=3m44s"]here[/url]!

[0175westwood29]

someone wants to be the edge of bass?!

i use to have a mxr carbon copy and ehx memory boy, to be honest i used them totally wrong as modulated reverb to fill out the sound of my old 3 piece. they were very nice delays tho, really nice dark repeats

i always used to try and write around the delay make a point of it.

andy

[topheteatwo]

They just seem like such an expensive effect to buy for just using maybe 2/3 times in a set!

[GazWills]

Yeah, i've gone through more delays than any other effect, trying to find one that does what i want... I use delay a lot at home though!

[GazWills]

[quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1390324749' post='2344093']
someone wants to be the edge of bass?!
[/quote]

Nah not really, i just like some of the rhythmic delay stuff he does!!!

[Left Foot]

I use gaz's old dispatch master, I only really use a touch of reverb in band but want to use a tight delay on dry bass for a hindi rd burman type bass line, haven't found my moment yet.

[bakerster135]

[quote name='GazWills' timestamp='1390324319' post='2344084']
I find it only works if it is the main, driving melody and rhythm of the track, at least for how i like to use delay.. (I.e trying to be The Edge on bass!!). Can't be a backgroud thing (unless you're going all ambient and post rock)


[/quote]

I'm not sure I agree with this...If you take Justin Chancellor as an example, there are a few times where he uses his DD-3 really well just to add texture to, but not necessarily "drive" a track (like Jambi, perhaps?).

One of my favourite uses is Pets by Porno for Pyros, adds a bit of flair to the bass-line, but the bass isn't the driving melody or rhythm by any means.

I think it's a nice effect to have and be inventive with, and not just use for The Edge-style dotted 8ths...

[GazWills]

[quote name='bakerster135' timestamp='1390332072' post='2344186']
I'm not sure I agree with this...If you take Justin Chancellor as an example, there are a few times where he uses his DD-3 really well just to add texture to, but not necessarily "drive" a track (like Jambi, perhaps?).

One of my favourite uses is Pets by Porno for Pyros, adds a bit of flair to the bass-line, but the bass isn't the driving melody or rhythm by any means.

I think it's a nice effect to have and be inventive with, and not just use for The Edge-style dotted 8ths...
[/quote]

it's just how I personally like delay with bass, for how I use it. I agree, it can sound fantastic as a more subtle effect, but I like to use it in less subtle ways!!

[gub]

Only time I use mine on my zoom is for the start another brick, sounds pretty good!

[Guest FretNoMore]

I sometimes use a very short delay (using a TC Flashback) to get some "body" in the sound from my electric upright.

And sometimes longer repeating delays for fun at home. I have no use for long delays or reverb in the music our band plays.

[elephantgrey]

There are a few things i like to use my delay (Time Factor) for, like after an OD when playing up at the octave on the D&G strings, to add a bit more character to a minimal bridge of a song played near the nut, looping the delay back on itself (feedback loop > limiter > delay > feedback loop, just to make sure things dont get damaged) to create wierd dubstep sounds, although i havnt got this trick down enough for live use yet. hella fun though.
And thats just on bass, im currently planning on wireing both my guitarist and aux outputs from my drum machine through it, via a volume pedal that i also want to act as a expression to controll the feedback, so it goes up as the volume does.

[Cloff]

I mainly use my Digitech PDS2700 delay for in-between-songs stuff and a few parts with my Post-rock project Frank (frankthebunnyrabbit.bandcamp.com. Old stuff (2 years back), but there's new stuff on its way!). Beside that I use it for fun and noise. Nothing more.

[thisnameistaken]

I use the modelled analogue delays on my M9 quite a bit but only because I can control the feedback with an expression pedal, so I can have no repeats at heel down and can mix in the delay when there's space for it to sound good. Also as dannybuoy mentioned above it's nice not to have the bottom end in your repeats which is why I use the analogue delays that progressively lose the bass frequencies as they feed back.

As for reverb I rarely use it. I tend towards playing staccato notes and I prefer silence in between them.

[bakerster135]

topheteatwo, if you need a basic delay that'll work for bass you can't go wrong with a Boss DD-3 (think there's one in the For Sale section at the minute), or if you need tap tempo get a TC Flashback (has an ingenious tap tempo. When you hold the bypass button down and play notes in rhythm, it adjusts to the tempo!).

Both can be had for a reasonable amount, and both will do the job well!

[topheteatwo]

Was looking on Gumtree there, someone is selling a Memory Toy for 40, is that worth it?

[bakerster135]

From the YouTube vids it sounds like it might be a bit "murky" on bass...Brian Cook has one though so can't be too bad! He does use his Akai Headrush loads though.