Want to add those echoes at the end of phrases or songs? They're called delay throws and they add a little flair to your productions. Here's how to do them in Reaper.
How do you create delay throws, put them on the beat (even if they start out off the beat), and make them sound interesting with ping-pong, distortion and time-based effects? Let’s find out!
What Is A Delay Throw?
A delay throw is typically a delay that hangs over the end of a phrase to give a little emphasis or spice to that phrase.
Delay throws are often timed to fit the beat of a song. The echo repeats can be anywhere from 16th notes, to a measure or two long. They can be used to create interesting timings using dotted or triple feels, as well. It's a good way to add something interesting to listen to in a gap in a vocal or lead instrument.
What Delay Plug-Ins Should You Use?
While you can use any delay, several Reaper-native delays have tempo sync features which allow you to synchronize a delay to the tempo of a song. In the FX browser, search for the word 'tempo' to see some of the available plug-ins.
The JS delay plug-ins are good for their simplicity. For something with more features, I'd recommend 'Delay Machine' from Tukan. It's got an easy-to-understand display, which helps you visualize what you're doing.
How To Route & Automate Delay Throws
It's easiest to have the delay on its own channel. So double-click in the Track Control Panel to create a new channel/track. Click on the FX button and choose a delay. Then drag from the route button of your audio track, over to the delay channel.
Set the delay to 100% wet.
Now, if you play the audio, you should hear the delay. But the delay is on the entire audio now, and we want to have the delay only in specific places. A good way to do that is to automate the send to the delay.
First, we've got to create an envelope for the delay send, so we can control when the audio is sending to the delay.
Creating & Automating FX Sends
Send Envelope Window
Delay Throw Send Envelope
Adding Distortion, EQ, Ping-Pong, & Time-Based FX To Your Delay Throws
There are lots of ways to spice up delay throws. Here are a few.
EQ
Delay throws don't need to be full spectrum. A bit of a thinner sound will help prevent muddying up a mix if there's a lot going on. Many delay plug-ins have built in EQ, or high and low pass filters. Or you can just slap an EQ after the delay.
Ping-Pong
Ping-pong just means the delay will bounce back and forth between speakers. A little movement across the speakers can add interest to a mix. JS Delay w/ Tempo Ping-Pong' has this feature built in, and a control to set how wide you want the ping-pong.
JS Delay w/ Tempo Ping-Pong Width Setting
'Delay Machine' has two channels and you can pan them independently.
Distortion
Delay Distortion Controls On Delay Machine
You can add any distortion or saturation plug-in after a delay plug-in, if you'd like. But again, 'Delay Machine' from Tukan Studios (and the mind of John Matthews) comes to the rescue. You can add distortion, tape simulation, or a bit crusher effect to your delay.
The bit crusher degrades the sound more as the delays repeat. If you haven't tried it, give it a go -- it can sound pretty cool.
Time Based FX
I'll often add a flange, chorus, or phaser on a delay throw. It adds a little shimmer and interest if not overdone. Just throw a plug-in such as 'Blacklight Modulation' on after the delay, and use the mix control to control the amount of effect.
Blacklight Modulation
Timing Delay Throws
Most of the time, synching delay throws to quarter notes, half notes, or whole notes is what you want. In some cases, such as with reggae, or if you just feel like it, you might want to use slow triplets, dotted note values, or whatever delay time you feel like.
'Delay Machine' has all these capabilities built in, in the sync area. And it has one more rare and important feature.
Initial Time Gap
Sometimes, you want to put a delay throw on a syncopated note, but you want the echoes to happen on the beat. You might want the echo to wait an 8th note before it starts, and then repeat on every whole note. 'Delay Machine' has what's called 'Initial Time Gap' for that purpose.
Initial Time Gap is the amount of time before the first repeat.
Initial Time Gap Function On Delay Machine
Typically, the Initial Time Gap is the same as the delay time. There's a switch on Delay Machine called ITG=DLY. In most cases, you'll leave it on. But if you want to change the Initial Time Gap, you can turn it off and use the knobs nearby to set the initial gap.
Or, you can use the sync section to put the Initial Time Gap to a sixteenth, eighth, quarter, half, whole note, or dotted or triplet of any of those values. Back in the day we'd have to use two separate delays to do this!
Delay Machine Synch Functions
That's what you need to know to p your delay throw game. All plug-ins I talk about in this article are available for free through ReaPack.
