Using Delay

thurlon hopper · Post by **thurlon hopper** » 16 Nov 2004 5:30 pm

Recently started using my Arion Digital Delay
with my Nash. 1000 and Carter S-10. Question
which is the best method of controlling the
muddling effect of having delay and reverb on at the same time? I have the 1000 on board
reverb set at about 3 and the delay level set pretty low but when i dig into the steel
pretty hard i'm getting too much going on at once. Want to be able to use both effects with my steel guitar but am having a battle
with too much of a good thing. Open to suggestions from Forumites who have been using this combination of effects. Thanks
TJH

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 16 Nov 2004 9:23 pm

how long of a delay are you using?

thurlon hopper · Post by **thurlon hopper** » 17 Nov 2004 5:57 am

Hi Dave, looks loike i have it set on XL and
i will try shortening the delay as it is really carrying over too much. Thanks for the tip. TJH

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 17 Nov 2004 6:22 am

Thurlon,
Too much reverb will muddy your sound MUCH more than delay. The objective is to soften the transition from one note to another.

When you add the delay, I'd advise you to try cutting the reverb IN HALF and then adding a few (3 maybe 4) repeats of medium-length delay (maybe 150-175ms).

I find I can play without reverb more easily than without delay, but I prefer just a TAD of reverb and just a bit more delay.

Hope this helps.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 18 Nov 2004 12:56 am

If you can get the delay down to 25-60 milliseconds you will find it acts as a doubler which can then feed the reverb a fat sound without too much tail. You will also want to cut down on the number of delay repeats as you incerease the verb in the mix. As Larry mentions, longer delays work well but you have to balance them with the verb as you extend them. You might also consider using a reverb with an adjustable pre-delay time, get it out to 100ms or longer and it won't fight the delay so much.

Have fun experimenting --

Dave[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 18 November 2004 at 12:57 AM.]

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 18 Nov 2004 8:32 pm

Try a Boss RV/5 and use the combination reverb delay setting..
I use a DD/3 and no reverb at all.
Also get a Hilton Pedal and Brad's Black Box...two of the greatest things ever designed to improve the sound of the steel guitar.That is not an inference, but a fact.

Old Bud

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 19 Nov 2004 6:07 am

I've all but quit using reverb. I set the delay at about 225-250 milleseconds, with 2-3 sucessively quieter repeats. For slow tunes I increase the time to 325-375 ms and amke the repeats a little louder. I use reverb for tunes that the repeat gets in the way. (Real fast or staccato tunes, mostly.)

In the last couple of weeks I also started using a slap sound on occasion. 125-150 ms with 1 repeat. It's a generic setting and I've been using it for everything but slow tunes and when I'm using the MatchBro. It's kinda fun...

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My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com