Echoes, Delays and Related Effects

Question 1

Describe a basic slapback echo that you would use on a lead vocal to bring it forward in the mix

Answer 1

There would be only one delay repeat, the time would be 60-80ms and you might apply a slight bandbass filter to roll-off the high and low frequencies.

Question 2

Describe a basic slapback echo that you would use on a lead vocal to create an intentional ballad-style effect (a la elvis, johnny cash)

Answer 2

There would be only a few repeats, the time would be around 200ms and you might apply a slight bandbass filter to roll-off the high and low frequencies.

Question 3

Describe how to set-up and record dub-style delay performances utilising positive feedback on a return channel.

Answer 3

First set-up an echo with moderate feedback on a return channel (Mix 100%), and add a limiter after it. Then right-click on the relevant send knob (in session view) on the return track, and select ‘Activate Send’. Next use midi mapping to assign the send knob for the track you wish to affect and the activated send on the return channel to seperate knobs/faders on your midi controller - you can also assign the time value or any other parameter on the echo/delay plugin to a knob for live manipulation. Now create a new audio track and set the input to be the output from the return channel and record-arm it. Finally, record a live performance using the two assigned knobs/faders (plus any other midi-mapped parameters) to create feedback swells to the new audio track.

Question 4

What does the ‘modulation’ section on Ableton’s Echo do?

Answer 4

It assigns an LFO to the pitch and or filter to the repeats

Question 5

Desribe using a delay-throw to add interest to a vocal

Answer 5

By momentarily sending certain key words to a return channel set-up with a delay/echo - you could also use other effects such as reverb, distortion and modulation on the send for a more dramatic effect

Question 6

Desribe how three different filter types can be used creatively to perform with a dub-style echo/delay send (and how you would midi-map the parameters) ?

Answer 6

A low-pass, peak and high pass fliter can be applied (using EQ8 for example) after the echo/delay on a return channel, and their Frequency and Q (or Gain in the case of the peak filter) can be midi-mapped to six seperate knobs for live filtering of the echo in conjunction with send from the channel and the positive feedback on the return channel itself. The peak filter can also be used in conjunction with the echo’s Feedback setting to find and bring-out tuned resonances. This can be recorded to a new audio track with the return’s output set as it’s input.

Question 7

How could you create a multi-tap delay/echo in ableton?

Answer 7

By creating a chain on a return channel set-up with a different delay/echo on each chain, and each one with the feedback at minimum. Different filters, reverbs, and other effects can also be used on different delays, and paramters such as filter cutoffs and the chain volume of individual delays can be midi-mapped for a live performance recorded to a new audio track.