Delay on vocals: slapback, dotted-eighth echoes and throws
2 min read · Updated
Delay adds depth to a vocal without drowning it the way a long reverb does. A few settings cover most needs: a short slapback, tempo-synced echoes, and “throws”, echoes sent on a single word. Here is how to set them.
In short
- Put the delay on an aux (send) track, at 100% mix.
- Slapback: a single echo of 80 to 140 ms, no feedback.
- Echoes: tempo sync on a dotted eighth, 20 to 45% feedback.
- Throws: automate the send on the last word of a phrase.
- Filter the repeats so they stay behind the vocal.
Slapback
A single, very short echo (80 to 140 ms), with little or no feedback. It thickens the vocal and gives it a vintage or rap feel, without an audible echo effect. Keep it low: you should feel it more than hear it.
Tempo-synced echoes
Sync the delay to the tempo: the dotted eighth (1/8D) is the big classic, because its repeats fall between the beats and don't get confused with the rhythm. Quarter and eighth notes also work on slower vocals. Set feedback between 20 and 45% for a few repeats that fade away.
Ping-pong alternates the repeats between left and right: the vocal stays centered, the echoes widen the image.
Throws
A throw is an echo sent on a single word, often the last one in a phrase: it extends the word into the silence that follows. Automate the send level to the delay so it only opens on those words. Higher feedback (40 to 60%) gives a longer trail.
Filter and add character
Repeats as bright as the vocal compete with it: cut the delay's lows and soften its highs. An analog character, with a little wow and wear, naturally pushes the echoes back.
Lontana Delay offers three modes: Digital for precise echoes, Analog Warm for the wow and wear of tape, Mod for a chorus-style modulated echo. Its 37 presets cover slapback, vocal echoes, tape and dub, with feedback that can go up to 110% for deliberately runaway effects.
Frequently asked questions
- What delay should I use on vocals?
- A short slapback (80 to 140 ms) to thicken, or tempo-synced dotted-eighth echoes with 20 to 45% feedback for depth.
- What is a vocal throw?
- An echo sent only on a word, often the end of a phrase, by automating the send level to the delay.
- Why use a dotted eighth?
- Its repeats fall between the beats: they fill the space without getting confused with the song's rhythm.
- Delay or reverb on vocals?
- They complement each other: delay keeps the words intelligible, reverb gives space. Many modern mixes use more delay and less reverb.
NAUPLY news
Plugin releases, updates and offers. A few emails a year, one-click unsubscribe.