How to achieve this delay sound?

[SFW]

At the beginning of this video, Steve has some delay going on, but it stays nice and tucked in the mix. How the hell do you get delay to sit like that? Is is a certain ms setting? I've been trying to get my delays to sound like that for years. Any thoughts or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[Code001]

Ducking

 

[SFW]

I get the ducking. It's the way it's almost like verb that I can seem to achieve.

 

[sytharnia1560]

get a pro studio like steve has with all the outboard gear

 

[FourT6and2]

ducking delay that's maybe post amp/speakers?

 

[Code001]

ducking delay that's maybe post amp/speakers?

Yeah, doesn't he always run W/D/W? I know for a fact that you can get that basic sound with your average Intellifex, though. No need for super expensive gear for a basic delay like that.

 

[reverymike]

I use a Chandler Echo or SDE3000 with about 500-600ms with maybe 2 repeats, very low in the mix. Sounds very similar - just gotta have a bit of it mixed in and set your time to taste. Too short and it isn't noticeable, and too long it starts to get in the way.

The Chandler has a Hi Cut, which helps by taking off some of the treble of the repeat, so it doesn't interfere with the original tone.

 

[guitarman967]

I use a Chandler Echo or SDE3000 with about 500-600ms with maybe 2 repeats, very low in the mix. Sounds very similar - just gotta have a bit of it mixed in and set your time to taste. Too short and it isn't noticeable, and too long it starts to get in the way.

The Chandler has a Hi Cut, which helps by taking off some of the treble of the repeat, so it doesn't interfere with the original tone.

Basically this.^^
I run the delays shorter though @ 400ms.
The main thing is making sure you have only a few repeats with some high end damping and also that the first repeat is a lower volume than the intial note you picked. It's not very hard to achieve at all.

 

[XSSIVE]

400ms is the key IMO, 3 repeats or so and low in the mix around 15%. While playing you'll hardly notice it's there it just adds some air (for lack of a better term) and life to the sound and when you stop you get the repeats. I have my delay set like that and never shut it off most people don't even know it's on 'til I stop and you hear the repeats.

 

[reverymike]

400 or so does sound about right. I always just dial it in when I'm getting my tone for the room (I can't remember the exact milliseconds).

 

[Steinmetzify]

Off topic: that amp sounds HUGE. That's some really great tone right there in the beginning.

 

[glassjaw7]

Off topic: that amp sounds HUGE. That's some really great tone right there in the beginning.

Yep, Friedman's amps really do sound killer. I can't wait to hear some good demos of the Cantrell model.

SFW: For a delay that sits back a little in the mix, you could try an analog delay too. Stays in the background under the "core" tone and just adds warm goodness.

 

[paulyc]

If you're recording through a traditional mixer, return the delay to an unused channel and EQ the highs out of it and set the level using the fader instead of the AUX send...

 

[SFW]

Trying to do this on a mono rig with my g major 2. I'll give the suggested settings a try. Thanks guys!

 

[paulyc]

Then the wet/dry level balance is key...not too wet, not too dry.