AuDelay

AuDelay Golden Ratio Cosmic Delay (AUv3)

AuDelay is an audio effect plugin that can run standalone, or in any AU compatible host application such as Logic Pro or GarageBand.

Overview

AuDelay is a delay effect that looks quite simple on the outside, but there's a lot going on inside. The Golden Ratio (*) is used extensively in the DSP code for AuDelay which results in a versatile delay effect that can also sound very unconventional. At its core, AuDelay is a trio of stereo delay lines with variable modulation, panning and lo-fi texture. Shorter delay times can produce an echo effect reminiscent of vintage "oil can" units, but with a maximum base delay time of 16 seconds, "cosmic" ambient soundscape delay effects is where AuDelay really shines.

AuDelay takes its name from the chemical element symbol "Au" for gold, and it just so happens to be an "AU" (Audio Unit) too!

Please note that by design, AuDelay is not well-suited to tempo-sync / rhythmic type delays, so if that's more your thing, please check out PolyDelay as an alternative. AuDelay is also similarly named, but not to be confused with AulDelay either, which is a much more basic analog-flavoured delay.

(*) The Golden Ratio, approximately equal to 1.618, is a special number that has fascinated many scholars going back to Ancient Greek times. It can be found in geometry, architecture, art and even some patterns in nature.

Controls

Active - Toggles the effect On or Off. This behaves as a "soft switch" or in "trails mode", allowing any delay repeats to ring out when you toggle to the Off state.

Time - Sets the base, or longest delay time. There are three delay lines, each with different pre-delay and base delay times. With Density set to minimum, you have just one line active, so you will typically hear a shorter initial (pre-delay) repeat, then a longer repeat equal to the Time value - very similar to an "oil can delay" with just one head.

Density - This activates the 2nd and 3rd delay lines progressively, so you will hear the output of these delays faded into the wet mix gradually as you increase the Density control. However, when the control gets close to maximum, something else interesting starts to happen...

Density 0% - Only one delay line is active.
Density 0-50% - A second delay line is mixed in gradually, with the two being equal level with the Density control at 50%.
Density 50-75% - A third delay line is mixed in gradually, with all three being equal level with the Density control at 75%.
Density 75-100% - In this range, the output of the lines are fed back into each other, creating an almost reverb-like wash, especially at high Regen settings.

Regen - Sets the regeneration or feedback for the delay lines. Note that because of the way the Density processing works, AuDelay does not do infinite or "freeze" type effects, but rest assured, the decay time can still be very long when Regen is set to maximum.

Lo-Fi - Applies high and lowpass filtering to the delay repeats along with some gritty drive to emulate a vintage analog delay.

Mod - Applies modulation to the delay. Each delay line is modulated independently and in stereo for a lush chorusing type effect. As you increase Mod, the underlying LFOs start to drift and warble in an unpredictable way.

Pan - Applies a panning effect to the output of each delay line. The pan rate varies with the delay time and the underlying LFOs will also start to drift as you increase the control.

Mix - Increases the level of the delayed signal. Note that AuDelay does not go 100% "wet", so Mix does not alter the level of your dry signal.

Out - Can be used to adjust the overall output (wet + dry) from AuDelay.

For more info and support please visit:

www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson