What is delay in audio? The role of delay in the sound system that you should know

In the process of using the sound system, you will certainly have to hear a lot of different audio terms, including Delay known as audio delay. In the following article, Tnhelearning.edu.vn will present detailed information about Delay for you to better understand what Delay in audio is!

What is delay? What is delay in audio?

Delay is translated as delay but in audio delay has a completely different meaning. The delay in that sound is the echo that is reverberated. For example, if you stand at a cliff and scream after shouting, you will hear your voice echo back, which is a delay in the sound.

Delay’s development history

Delay is a term that was born very early. Follow Tnhelearning.edu.vn to take a look at the development process of Delay!

Tape delay

In the 1940’s, tapes were so popular that people started experimenting with magnetic tapes in the Delay system. After that experiment people found out that the difference between the different delay tunes was dependent on the loop length and read and write head tuning.

After 1 year, ie 1941, Delay tape began to be put into commercial use and this is an imperfect version because the material used to create only basic tapes.

Analog delay (Analog delay)

In the 1950s, when magnetic tapes were popular and popular, sound engineers applied a delay recording system to the frequency band creating delay.

More specifically, they write a piece of music on magnetic tape and play that track in a machine equipped with many spaced readers so that reading will delay at the ends together creating a delay sound.

At the same time, Analog delay was also developed in another way, which is to write an audio clip on the tape, then play the sound in reverse and overwrite the old audio clip and this is a method to help repeat many delays. than.

Digital delay (Digital delay)

This was a huge development at the time when digital delay created digital based delay. With just one knob you can adjust different types of delay. In 1984, Boss discovered DD2 to make the Delay resistor circuit more compact.

The way Digital Delay works is to digitally convert the audio buffer and repeat it as you please.

Delay creation software (Software Plugin)

Digital delay was used until early 2000 when delay generation software began to appear.

The software’s delay mechanism is to simulate the sound of high-priced devices, replacing it with cheap software. The delay software’s memory storage is so much that it becomes easy to create countless delays.

The role of delay in creating sound effects

Slapback Delay

This is a short delay that repeats only once. Commonly used in Blues, guitar, red or yellow music to create a fun melody for the song.

Doubling Delay

Doubling Delay is applied to singers or people whose voices are not high and strong to help double the voice.

Longer delays

Longer delays have the ability to prolong the delay of the music or the singer’s voice to make the song smoother.

Ping-pong delay

This type of sound is widely used in environments such as halls, stages, … sounds like 8D sound because in each repetition delay the sound will create a sound effect running from the left. to the right and vice versa.

Tips for using delay effectively

When using delay, follow the tips below to use it effectively!

• To create sound effects you need to adjust the delay time below 50 milliseconds to get the best ambient sound effect.
• To create a clear and bright Delay effect try the Dub Delay effect.
• In case you want to emphasize the record then automate the parameter.
• Using a delay of about 12 milliseconds, rotate both dry and wet signals creating a stereo effect.
• In case the music mix has a dark melody because too much Reverb is applied inside to overcome this situation, please increase the delay time effect!
• Place the audio device in a cool, non-humid, dry environment.
• Clean regularly to prolong life.

Some Delay related concepts that you should know

Some concepts related to Delay you should note to use properly:

Delay time: The time interval between the initial signal and the echo delay signal. Delay time is measured in milliseconds, but in music software it’s based on song speed or tempo and note length.

Unit Switch: Is the unit that determines whether the delay is tempo-based in step-step mode or time-delay/MS MS mode.

Level: Level controls the volume of repeats.

Feedback: If Delay time is a time period, Feedback is the specified number of repetitions and the smallest Feedback is 1. The higher the feedback control, the more repeat delay.

Pan (balanced): Pan control helps to create a right or left delay effect.

Dry/Wet: Adjusts the balance between the source audio signal (dry) and the delay effect (wet).

Modulation: This is a function where you can change the pitch of the note to make the delay signal rounder and thicker. This function is often used to create a chorus (Chorus) when the live sound is combined with its copy.

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Above is the article that gives you information about what is delay in audio? The role of delay in the sound system. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below to be answered!