How to Use Delay Pedal Properly
How to Use Delay Pedal – in the previous article we discussed about Gain-based effect units (Fuzz, Overdrive & distortion), it feels incomplete if we don’t talk about Time-based effect units. In short, this type of effect works by capturing the incoming sound input and playing it back for a certain period of time.
Although there are several types of effect pedals that fall into the time-based effect category, for this article we will discuss the one that is most often used by players, especially guitarists; namely Delays. Regardless of the type and brand of securities on the market, broadly speaking, this type of effect has three main things in operation.
3 Main Things on the Delay Pedal
On the delay effect, there are 3 knobs with slightly different names, depending on the manufacturer:
Effect Level/Mix
Sets how much comparison will come out between the signal that has not been processed (dry) with the signal that has been processed by the effect. So you could say the bigger we turn this knob, the more delay that comes out compared to the original signal.
Feedback/Regen/Repeats
Set the number of repetitions that will be issued by the unit, or you could say the number of “echoes” generated by the unit.
Delay Time/Delay/Time
Serves to set the time lag required by the effect to repeat (delay). Simply put, the longer the time we “set” the longer the time lag required for this effect to delay. This feature serves to give the impression of “near/far” in the sound that we form.
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So, How to Use Delay Pedal?
If anyone is asking how to place this effect in our pedal board circuit, there is probably no absolute answer. Because experimentation always leads us to discover “unique/new” sounds. However, based on the experiences and experiments of myself and other musician friends, there are some notes that must be considered;
- If we place the delay before the distortion/amp input, then what happens is the effect of the distortion/amp will process/distort two signals at once (dry + delay). For some people, this effect is less desirable because it makes the distortion sound less detailed.
- If we place it after the distortion/amp input, then the sound delay that comes out will sound smoother or blend with our overall sound. This option is a setting that is generally used by most people, namely placing the delay after the distortion or via the send/return feature of the amp.
Although option number two is the one that most people use, there are still people who put the delay before the distortion/input of their amp. Is this step wrong? Not necessarily, because it may suit the needs of the musician, and maybe the sound you are looking for is in accordance with the musical character in question, so you decide to place a delay in the effect unit circuit.
