Deep Dive to Delay: Creative Ways to Use Delay

As we already know from our previous blog post, delay is a tool that helps you add depth, dimension and movement to your tracks. There are many different ways to use delay creatively, from adding subtle ambiance and space to creating complex rhythmic patterns and textures. 

In this weeks’ blog post we are going to go through the most common ways to use delay in your music production projects, along with examples of how they can be applied in different genres and styles. 

1. Slapback Delay

• Slapback delay is a classic way to add space and rhythm into your tracks. It involves adding a short delay, usually between 50 and 200 milliseconds, to a vocal, guitar or snare hit, creating a quick echo or repetition.  
• This effect was popularized in rockabilly and early rock and roll recordings, and can be heard in songs like “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley and “Maybellene” by Chuck Berry. 

Example: Listen to a guitar in “Johnny B. Goode” by Chick Berry, which features a slapback delay that creates a sense of space and rhythm. 

2. Ambient Delay

• Ambient delay is a technique that can add a sense of depth and atmosphere to your tracks. It involves adding a longer delay, usually between 200 and 800 milliseconds, to a vocal, guitar or synth, creating a lush and reverberant sound. 
• This effect is commonly used in ambient and post-rock music, and can be heard in songs like “Deep Blue Day” by Brian Eno and “Only Shallow” by My Bloody Valentine. 

Example: Listen to the guitar in “Only Shallow” by My Bloody Valentine, which features a long ambient delay that creates a dreamy and immersive sound. 

3. Ping-Pong Delay

• Ping-pong delay is a technique that can create a sense of movement and stereo width in your tracks. It involves panning the delayed signal back and forth between the left and right channels, creating a bouncing ping-pong effect. 
• This effect is commonly used in electronic dance music, pop, hip hop, and can be heard in songs like “One More Time” by Daft Punk and “Good Life” by Kayne West. 

Example: Listen to a synth in “One More Time” by Daft Punk, which features a ping-pong delay that creates a sense of movement and energy. 

4. Rhythmic Delay

• Rhytmic delay is a technique that can create complex and interesting patterns in your tracks. It involves adding a delay that’s synchronized to the tempo of your track, creating a rhythmic echo or repetition. 
• This effect can be used to add groove and momentum to your tracks, and is commonly used in genres like funk, disco and house music. 

Example: Listen to the guitar in “Super Freak” by Rick James, which features a rhythmic delay that creates a funky and danceable rhythm. 

5. Reverse Delay

• Reverse delay is a technique that can create a sense of tension in your tracks. It involves reversing a delayed signal, creating a backwards-sounding echo that leads up to the original sound. 
• This effect can be used to create a sense of buildup or to add an element of surprise to your tracks, and is commonly used in electronic and experimental music. 

Example: Listen  to the intro of “Paranoid android” by Radiohead, which features a reverse delay that creates a haunting effect. 

Conclusion

These are just a few examples, but there are many other ways you can use delay in your tracks depending on your creative vision and the genre/style you’re working in. Experimenting with different types of delay and applying them creatively can add a lot of depth and interest to your music.