Delay
Tempo-aware, smoothly retimed echoes with colored, ducked and explicit multichannel feedback.
- Effect
- Since 0.1.0
- echo
- time
- feedback
- tempo
Used in the templates Warm Echo.
Delay plays a copy of its input back a little later, and can feed that copy back into itself to make repeating echoes.
What it does#
The input is stored and read back after Time, or after a musical Division in Beats mode. Feedback sends the delayed signal back into the delay so each repeat is a quieter copy of the last. Mix blends the echoes with the dry signal, and the processing latency is aligned before blending. Time changes are smoothed, so sweeping Time bends the pitch of the repeats rather than clicking.
Four types change what happens to the repeats: Clean leaves them untouched, Filtered and Tape darken them with the feedback tone, and Ducked lowers the echoes while new input is playing so they stay out of the way.
When to use it#
Use it for slapback, rhythmic echoes, dub-style repeats and as the building block of other effects. For a sense of space rather than distinct repeats, use Reverb.
Ports#
| Port | Direction | Signal | Lanes |
|---|---|---|---|
audio | Input | Audio | Inferred from the cable |
audio | Output | Audio | Inferred from the cable |
Parameters#
| Parameter | Label | Range | Default | Unit | Scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
time | Time | 1 to 2000 | 280 | ms | log | Free delay time. Beat divisions follow engine tempo and are capped at the prepared eight-second capacity. Shown when sync is 0. |
feedback | Feedback | -0.95 to 0.95 | 0.35 | linear | Signed feedback gain. Matrix rows must have an absolute gain sum of at most one. | |
mix | Mix | 0 to 1 | 0.3 | linear | Dry/wet blend. Processing latency is aligned before blending. | |
type | Type | 0 to 3 | 0 | linear | Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Choices: 0 Clean, 1 Filtered, 2 Tape, 3 Ducked. | |
sync | Time mode | 0 to 1 | 0 | linear | Free milliseconds or tempo-synchronized musical divisions. Choices: 0 Milliseconds, 1 Beats. | |
division | Division | 0 to 8 | 4 | linear | Musical note duration. 1/1 is four quarter notes, independent of time signature. Choices: 0 1/32, 1 1/16, 2 1/8 triplet, 3 1/8, 4 1/4, 5 1/4 dotted, 6 1/2, 7 1/1, 8 2/1. Shown when sync is 1. | |
tone | Feedback tone | 200 to 20000 | 8000 | Hz | log | Low-pass cutoff; maximum is Open. Shown when type is 1 or 2 or 3. |
duck | Ducking | 0 to 1 | 0.7 | linear | Wet attenuation while input is present, with a smoothed detector. Shown when type is 3. | |
routing | Feedback routing | 0 to 2 | 0 | linear | Independent per-channel feedback, a ring over all channels, or explicit sparse routes set in the Channels section of Properties. Choices: 0 Independent, 1 Ring, 2 Matrix. |
Time (time)#
Free delay time, 1 to 2000 ms. It is used when Time mode is Milliseconds.
Feedback (feedback)#
A signed gain from -0.95 to 0.95 applied to the signal fed back in. Higher values give more repeats. Negative values invert the polarity of each repeat. The limits keep the loop from running away.
Mix (mix)#
Dry and wet balance. 0 is only the input, 1 is only the echoes.
Type (type)#
Selects Clean, Filtered, Tape or Ducked. It is a discrete choice and cannot be modulated smoothly.
Time mode (sync)#
Milliseconds uses Time. Beats uses Division, which follows the engine tempo.
Division (division)#
The musical length of one repeat in Beats mode, from 1/32 to 2/1 including triplet and dotted values. 1/1 is four quarter notes regardless of time signature. Delays longer than the eight-second capacity are capped.
Feedback tone (tone)#
The low-pass cutoff in the feedback path for the Filtered, Tape and Ducked types. At its maximum the setting is Open and does not darken the repeats.
Ducking (duck)#
For the Ducked type: how much the echoes are lowered while input is present. The detector is smoothed so the echoes return gently.
Feedback routing (routing)#
Independent keeps each channel in its own loop. Ring feeds each channel into the next. Matrix uses explicit sparse routes set in the node's audio channel settings. Matrix rows must have an absolute gain sum of at most one.
Tips#
- Short times (under 80 ms) with low feedback sound like thickening or slapback; long times sound like distinct echoes.
- Combine a high Feedback with a low Feedback tone for repeats that fade into darkness.
- In Beats mode, change the tempo in the transport to keep echoes in time.
- Sweeping Time while sound is repeating gives pitch-shifting effects.
See also#
Reverb, Chorus, Low-pass filter, Multichannel audio.
Help patches
Each help patch is an ordinary Toy that teaches one idea. The diagram shows the Patch; the preview shows its Frame. Open it in TuneToys to play and edit it.
1. Your first echo
beginner Teaches: time, feedback, mix
A repeating ping fed into a delay.
MIDI1 lane
Audio2ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Done1 lane
Time to rise to full gain. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 10 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Time to fall to sustain in ADSR, or zero in AD. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Continuous concave/linear/convex segment curvature. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Repeats complete envelope cycles while Gate is held. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Restart from the current gain or reset to zero on a rising Gate. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Duration of the held part in repeating ADSR/AR cycles. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 100 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Free delay time. Beat divisions follow engine tempo and are capped at the prepared eight-second capacity. Range: 1–2000 ms. Default: 320 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Signed feedback gain. Matrix rows must have an absolute gain sum of at most one. Range: -0.95–0.95. Default: 0.4. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Dry/wet blend. Processing latency is aligned before blending. Range: 0–1. Default: 0.4. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–3. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Free milliseconds or tempo-synchronized musical divisions. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Independent per-channel feedback, a ring over all channels, or explicit sparse routes set in the Channels section of Properties. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Connections as text
- Oscillator audio output connected to Envelope audio input
- Envelope audio output connected to Delay audio input
- Delay audio output connected to Patch outputs audio input
- The ping and envelope on the left only supply a sound to echo.
- Time sets the gap between repeats. Feedback sets how many repeats you hear.
2. Feedback and tone
intermediate Teaches: type, tone, duck, feedback
Choose a delay type and darken or duck the repeats.
MIDI1 lane
Audio2ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Done1 lane
Time to rise to full gain. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 10 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Time to fall to sustain in ADSR, or zero in AD. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Continuous concave/linear/convex segment curvature. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Repeats complete envelope cycles while Gate is held. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Restart from the current gain or reset to zero on a rising Gate. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Duration of the held part in repeating ADSR/AR cycles. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 100 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Free delay time. Beat divisions follow engine tempo and are capped at the prepared eight-second capacity. Range: 1–2000 ms. Default: 280 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Signed feedback gain. Matrix rows must have an absolute gain sum of at most one. Range: -0.95–0.95. Default: 0.55. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Dry/wet blend. Processing latency is aligned before blending. Range: 0–1. Default: 0.3. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–3. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Free milliseconds or tempo-synchronized musical divisions. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Low-pass cutoff; maximum is Open. Range: 200–20000 Hz. Default: 3000 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Independent per-channel feedback, a ring over all channels, or explicit sparse routes set in the Channels section of Properties. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Connections as text
- Oscillator audio output connected to Envelope audio input
- Envelope audio output connected to Delay audio input
- Delay audio output connected to Patch outputs audio input
- Filtered, Tape and Ducked darken the repeats with Feedback tone. Clean has no tone filter.
- Ducking only applies to the Ducked type: repeats duck while new input is present.
3. Sync to tempo and route feedback
advanced Teaches: sync, division, routing
Tempo-synced delay times and feedback routing choices.
MIDI1 lane
Audio2ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Done1 lane
Time to rise to full gain. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 10 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Time to fall to sustain in ADSR, or zero in AD. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Continuous concave/linear/convex segment curvature. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Repeats complete envelope cycles while Gate is held. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Restart from the current gain or reset to zero on a rising Gate. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Duration of the held part in repeating ADSR/AR cycles. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 100 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Signed feedback gain. Matrix rows must have an absolute gain sum of at most one. Range: -0.95–0.95. Default: 0.35. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Dry/wet blend. Processing latency is aligned before blending. Range: 0–1. Default: 0.3. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–3. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Free milliseconds or tempo-synchronized musical divisions. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Musical note duration. 1/1 is four quarter notes, independent of time signature. Range: 0–8. Default: 3. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Independent per-channel feedback, a ring over all channels, or explicit sparse routes set in the Channels section of Properties. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Connections as text
- Oscillator audio output connected to Envelope audio input
- Envelope audio output connected to Delay audio input
- Delay audio output connected to Patch outputs audio input
- In Beats mode, Division sets the repeat length from the engine tempo and Time is ignored.
- Matrix routing uses explicit routes configured in the node audio settings.
Related nodes
- Reverb An eight-line modulated feedback-delay network with room, hall and plate-like tunings.
- Chorus Prepared multi-voice chorus, ensemble and vibrato over arbitrary channel bundles.
- Low-pass filter A gentle one-pole filter for warmer edges.