2B Delayed is a stereo delay effect in VST, VST3, and AU plugin formats for digital audio workstations on PC and Mac. The plugin was released in August this year and normally costs €7,99 in 2B Played Music’s online store. However, you can download it for free by using the code FREEPLUGIN at checkout. The free download offer ends on October. Quick Haas is a free and simple psychoacoustic panning plugin, available as a Windows VST or mac Audio Unit. The ‘Haas Effect’, also known as the precedence effect, is a psychoacoustic effect where listeners can perceive the special position of an audio signal depending on very small delays between the left and right channels of the audio.
Delay is a crucial audio effect for creating space while mixing music.
Alongside reverb, delay plugins are key tools for crafting the ambience of your songs.
But there are so many different delay plugins out there. Searching for the best one for your session can take you out of your creative flow pretty quick.
Luckily, If you know a bit about the different types of delay and the classic hardware that they’re modelled on, it’s much easier to choose the right one at the right time.
In this article I’ll go through the 4 main types of delay, where to use them in your mix and the best delay plugins for every mix scenario.
But first…
How does delay work?
All delay effects are based on the same time-based principle.
The input of a delay effect goes to a recording medium that makes a copy of the signal. That signal is then played back later in time after a variable duration or delay time.
A portion of the delayed signal is routed back to the input (feedback) and the two signals are blended together (wet/dry mix) to create the illusion of cascading echoes.
No matter how complex a modern delay plugin might be, all delay effects are based on this simple concept.
Here are the 4 main delay types:
Tape Delay
Engineers realized early on that tape based recording systems could be adapted into echo units.
Delay was originally intended to mimic the natural reflections of acoustic echo. But tape delay effects didn’t exactly get it right.
To save space, the tape passed by the heads in a closed loop instead of spooling on a reel. That left limited delay time available and caused the tape to wear out faster.
The “wow and flutter” or subtle speed fluctuations of the tape caused the delayed signal to have a subtle, natural modulation.
The “wow and flutter” or subtle speed fluctuations of the tape caused the delayed signal to have a subtle, natural modulation.
Worn tape and improper biasing added saturation and blurred the repeats together slightly.
What were considered imperfections at the time are highly sought-after today. Engineers jealously covet tape delays for their warm, musical repeats.
Tape Delay Uses
Tape delay is perfect wherever you need a warm but detailed delay with subtle modulation.
There’s something magical about the way a great tape delay sits in a mix. Try out hi-fi studio tape models on vocals and grittier, worn tape styles on electric guitar.
Best Tape Delay VSTs
Free Plugin: E-phonic Tape Delay
E-phonic Tape Delay is a simple but effective plugin for getting started with the sound of analog tape.
Cheap Plugin: IK Multimedia Tape Echo
Tape delay is perfect wherever you need a warm but detailed delay with subtle modulation.
IK Multimedia’s Tape Echo is a quality tape emulation from a respected brand.
It’s a great option If you’re looking for a simple, good-sounding tape echo at an affordable price
Pro Plugin: Soundtoys EchoBoy
Soundtoys EchoBoy is an industry-standard delay for classic tape sounds. It’s a super versatile and incredible sounding delay.
The various tape models are spot on in terms of accuracy and sound—great in any mix.
Analog Delay
As analog technology advanced in the mid-seventies, non-tape based delay alternatives began to appear.
Tape delay units sounded good but they were bulky, impractical and required lots of maintenance.
Musicians wanted a compact delay solution that was consistent and easy to work with live…
So engineers pioneered electronic delay with BBD chips.
The dark, murky repeats of analog delays were an instant hit and the much smaller form allowed delay to make it into guitar pedal format.
A “bucket brigade device” works exactly how you’d imagine. A voltage is passed along a series of capacitance sections like a line of people dumping water into the bucket of the person next to them.
Just like in the analogy, the process works well enough, but there’s inevitably some loss down the line.
The repeats of an analog delay are already fairly dark and indistinct. But each successive feedback pass further degrades the integrity of the signal until it blurs into feedback.
The dark, murky repeats of analog delays were an instant hit and the much smaller form allowed delay to make it into guitar pedal format.
Analog Delay VSTs
Free Plugin: Smartelectronix AnalogDelay
Smartelectronix AnalogDelay is a simple, no-nonsense analog delay plugin.
It’s a great way to get started with analog style delay.
Cheap Plugin: Waves H-Delay
Waves H-Delay is a great workhorse delay that features highly tweakable analog styles great for getting the characteristic murk and feedback of BBD delay.
Pro Plugin: Soundtoys EchoBoy
Soundtoys EchoBoy wins again here for its fantastic analog models. With presets for specific classic units like the Boss DM-2 and EHX Deluxe Memory Man, you can’t go wrong with EchoBoy.
Analog styles can work great for gritty distorted vocals or dirty percussion sounds.
Analog Delay Uses
Use analog delay wherever you need a stylish lo-fi delay with lots of character. Analog styles work great for gritty distorted vocals or dirty percussion sounds.
Digital Delay
You’ve arrived at digital delay—sounds like the end of the line right?
While modern digital delays are nothing short of pristine, it hasn’t always been this way. The first digital delays had severe limitations due to the high cost of processing power in the early digital era.
Effects designers had to resort to programming tricks to cram everything in, giving early digital delays a distinct character.
The first digital delays delivered a character that’s especially evocative of classic records from the 1980s.
The subtle compression and artifacts of the early AD/DA converters used in the first digital delays delivered a character heard often on classic records from the 1980s.
Best Digital Delay VSTs
(Almost) Free Plugin: HoRNet Deelay
HoRNet Deelay is fully functional delay plugin with a satisfying model of the early digital units. At 4,95 € it’s not quite free, but it’s close enough to make it to our list.
Cheap Plugin: Native Instruments Replika
The Native Instruments Replika series is new to the delay plugin scene.
The basic (and most affordable) version of the plugin packs some powerful features including a great vintage digital model.
Pro Plugin: D16 Repeater
D16 Repeater is another fantastic full-featured delay plugin.
It has two separate stereo delay lines for interesting multi-tap effects and has convincing emulations of early digital designs.
Digital Delay Uses
Use digital styles when you want a clear, realistic delay that fits nicely into a mix but still has recognizable character.
The modulation parameters on these types of delays can help you create a depth-enhancing, slightly chorused sound that’ll take you straight back to the best sounds of the 80’s.
Plugin Delay
In today’s DAW era, hardware effects units aren’t the only option anymore. There are a staggering amount of delays that aren’t based on any classic gear at all.
The best thing about pure plugin delays is how powerful and flexible they are. Plugins are capable of creating almost any kind of delay you can imagine—and some that you can’t!
Here’s the best ones…
Best Plugin Delay VSTs
Free Plugin: ValhallaDSP FreqEcho
ValhallaDSP FreqEcho is a simple but powerful free tool for creating off-kilter delay sounds.
With just high/low cut filters and a pitch-shifter on the repeats, the FreqEcho can conjure a inspiring amount of delay weirdness.
Cheap Plugin: ValhallaDSP UberMod
ValhallaDSP UberMod is the full realization of the FreqEcho (see above).
With 32 modulated delay taps and extensive modulation and diffusion options, there’s no shortage of interesting textures you can create with UberMod.
Pro Plugin: FabFilter Timeless 2
FabFilter—The reigning champs of modern DSP engineering—are back with this sophisticated plugin delay.
The filter and modulation options available in Fabfilter Timeless 2 are incredibly versatile and creative.
Plugin Delay Uses
The sky’s the limit for how to use plugin delay. Modern delay plugins are outstanding sound design tools. So get creative and come up with something new and exciting.
Best Free Stereo Delay Vst
Delay time is a flat circle
Delay is an incredibly musical effect for creating atmospheres and ambience. It’s an essential mixing tool for every engineer.
Picking the right delay plugin out of sea of options can be a daunting task. But knowing a bit about the kinds of delay that are out there will help you get there faster.
So, to recap:
The 11 Best Delay VSTs
Now that you know a little bit about the different kinds of delay and how to use them, go try out some the different styles on your own tracks.
Looking for a way to add some depth and movement to your tracks without spending a load of cash? Or do you want to incorporate some dubby effects without investing in a costly and temperamental tape delay device? Delay plug-ins could be the solution.
These delay plug-ins deliver all the benefits of hardware delay units with the convenience of software. Best of all, they’re totally free!
Find more great gear here:
Intro: About Delay Plugins
Delays are devices that add repeats or echoes to any sound that is routed through them. In the hardware realm, delays come in various types, from tape-equipped mechanisms to analog bucket brigade devices, to DSP units.
In the software world, there are delay plugins that aim to replicate the sound and functionalities of classic hardware devices. There are also more fully-featured units that incorporate modulation, and various other features that go well beyond what typical delays have to offer.
Even with the advent of DSP units and advanced-algorithm delay plug-ins, many musicians and producers continued to prefer hardware delays for their immediacy and warmer sound. But many current delay plug-ins now come close to replicating the warmth and idiosyncratic sounds of hardware devices. Even free plug-ins now compare favorably to the most revered hardware delay devices.
Best Free Delay VST/AU Plugins
The List
Plugin Roundup
Voxengo’s Tempo Delay is a stereo delay plugin intended for a wide variety of production applications.
As the name implies, it is a tempo-based delay that enables the setting of delay times in musical values according to the specified BPM. It also has a tremolo and a filter section.
Like the delay values, these can be adjusted independently for the left and right channels.
The Tempo Delay packs on a wealth of features that would be impressive even in a “for pay” plug-in. This could easily handle the majority of your delay needs.
H Delay Stereo Vst
Lagrange by Ursa DSP is a stereo delay that ups the ante by incorporating elements of granular synthesis. By capturing grains from different parts of the delay buffer, this plug-in can crank out some truly wild and wonderful sounds.
Lagrange is fully capable of producing more typical delay effects of course. But a simple twist of the delay knob or the feedback control results in everything from resonant, metallic clangs to evolving alien soundscapes.
Even if you already have a delay plug-in that you’re happy with, the Lagrange is a worthy addition to your arsenal.
Valhalla’s Freq Echo is another delay plug-in that can handle more vanilla echoes and repeats like a champ. But where it really shines is in its ability to spit out anything from swirling flanging and phasing to some of the most psychedelic textures you have ever heard.
Despite its simple and utilitarian interface, Freq Echo is capable of an exciting assortment of sounds. It even does a great job at cranking out warm and enigmatic dub echoes!
Kjaerhus Audio Classic Delay is a bit more of a “typical” delay plug-in than the ones mentioned thus far, but it is certainly no less capable. Three modes are provided–Tape, Analog, and Digital–and each does a great job of approximating their associated modes without introducing any additional noise.
There is a “quality” control that allows you to introduce varying amounts of “imperfection”, adding to the realism of the sound.
Although the Audio Classic Delay doesn’t quite get into the freaky territory as readily as other more esoteric delay plug-ins, it can do some fairly outrageous effects care of the reversible feedback. A good, solid delay that should make a nice companion to your other quirkier plug-ins.
The WatKat is a clone of the Wem Watkins “Custom” Copicat that is billed as a “Tribute to Charlie Watkins”. Like the original hardware unit that inspired its design, the plug-in is noisy, unpredictable, and wonderfully lo-fi.
How closely it actually replicates the sound of the Copicat is up for contention. But one thing is for sure: the Watkat does add a lot of character to your tracks.
Cockos’ ReaDelay is part of the ReaPlugs FX suite that will be familiar to users of the company’s celebrated Reaper DAW.
ReaDelay is a multi-tap delay that can have individual delays of as long as 10 seconds, with practically no tap count limit.
Tap lengths can be set to time values or quarter notes. The option to choose one or the other is always good to have in a delay, and it is an especially nice touch in a free plug-in.
++audio’s Rubbadub excels at thick and dirty dub delay, but it can handle various other task as well.
The good range of modulation options make it capable of producing cool flanger effects, and there is even a variable filter for more creative options. Unfortunately, it is not available for download at this moment, and we don’t know when it will be.
Stereo Delay Vst
Top Pick
Best Free Stereo Delay Plugin
All these delays are actually pretty good, and you really can’t go wrong with any one of them. Some are better suited to certain applications than others of course, as in the case of Valhalla’s Freq Echo’s capability to product modulated delays. But they can all handle a broad range of delay tasks, from standard echoes and slapback to flanging and chorusing, to more outlandish effects.
That being said, one plug-in stands out in particular: Voxengo’s Tempo Delay. With its array of features, its modulation options, and great sound, this is one of the best free delay vst plugins that can stand up proudly against the best paid offerings on the market.