MIXING & EFFECTS

Multiband Delay

Multiband Delay is a unique and powerful sound-design tool. The process splits an incoming signal into 16 frequency bands and allows you to adjust Delay, Volume and Panning for each band.

Parameters

Multiband Delay shines when used with automation of the Morph Control. Check the included Presets for those with (morph) after the name and experiment. Similarly try high Feedback values with the Weighting (W) control selected then tweak the Scale control.

Band Controls

Each Band controls a slice of the frequency spectrum from 20 Hz (left) to 20 kHz (right). There are 16 Bands in total.

  • Band Switches (Along the top of the bands) - Click to cycle between On (Default), Deselect (Band is off, audio for that band will pass uneffected) and Lock (Band level can't be adjusted).
  • Options:
    • Random curve - Generates random curve for the selected parameter (Delay, Vol or Pan).
    • Reset - Resets the selected parameter to default.
    • Interpolate 1 to 8 - Set a Delay, Vol or Pan curve in bank 1 and 8. Then use this function to create intermediate steps in-between these two settings across Banks 2 to 7.
    • Wave visualization - Deselect the background scrolling wave display, because you are easily distracted.
  • Edit Controls - Changes how the Band controls respond.
    • Pencil mode - Move individual bands singularly.
    • Line mode - Left-click and drag to create straight lines.
    • Curve mode - Left-click and drag to create smooth curves. Click and hold in position to attract surrounding bands to the current setting.
  • Band Mode (Delay, Vol, Pan) - Choosing Vol will allow you to change the level per-band (for example):
    • Delay - The top of the band is 1000 ms delay, bottom 0 ms (no delay). NOTE: Actual delay depends on the Scale setting.
    • Volume (Vol) - Audio level. Top 100% Bottom 0%.
    • Panning (Pan) - Position in the Top (Left) to Bottom (Right) stereo field.

Lower Panel

  • Filter Type - Choose the type of filter used to split the incoming audio into bands. The filter type will influence the spill between bands, phase cancellations and so overall sound:
    • Gentle - Wider bands with more overlapping frequencies. That is frequencies appear in more than one band. This setting will result in a smeared or blurry sound with the shorter (x 0.1 range) delays.
    • Steep - Narrower bands with steeper crossovers between them. Less spill-over frequencies between bands. This setting will result in a less smeared or blurry sound with the shorter (x 0.1 range) delays.
    • Linear Phase - Frequencies are split while maintaining perfect Phase alignment with respect to the input signal. This allows adjustments in levels of adjacent bands without causing unwanted phase cancellations (higher fidelity). This setting will result in the most clearly defined and 'pitched' sound with the shorter (x 0.1 range) delays.
  • Scale (Knob) - Multiplier for the individual Band delay times. Delays can be Scaled from -100% to +100% according to the settings for each Band. At 12 O'Clock (middle position) all delays are scaled to 0%, in other words, no delay. In this way you can reverse, or mirror, the effect of Band settings by changing from 100% (delays are as set by the user) to -100% (delays are the opposite of that set by the user).
    • x0.1 Scale Range (LED switch) - OFF: 1000 ms range. ON: 100 ms range.
    • Harmonic Scale (Note switch) - Delay times are set in semitones (+/- 24). Use this mode with high Feedback (see below) to create musically pleasing harmonic resonances. In this mode consider the delays to be loops and the delay time controls the loop length and so pitch of the frequency band.
    • Harmonic Weighting (W switch) - Activating this mode with high Feedback (see below) will instantly make the resonances more audible. This works by extending the decay time of the higher frequencies, which naturally decay faster as they have less energy, so there is a more even balance of resonance across the spectrum.
  • Feedback - Delay band feedback. Creates a 'ringing' tone as it is increased.
  • Smoothing Time - Smooths changes in Scaling.
    • Keep Pitch - Keeps the pitch constant as Delay is changed. When deselected, changes in Delay Time will introduces changes in Pitch.
  • Morph - When Banks contain different settings, this knob sweeps between settings on Bank 1 (left) and Bank 8 (Right).
  • Wet - Wet effect output processing:
    • Comp (Compression) - Compress the signal.
    • Sat (Saturation) - Apply soft saturation (mild distortion)
    • Clip - Allow the signal to clip (harsh distortion).
    • HP (High Pass) - Filters the low frequencies from the signal.

Plugin Credits

Daniel Schaack: Engine.

Miroslav Krajcovic: User interface.

Dubswitcher (Oliver Brummel): Concept.