The sleek design also makes Replika one of the best looking delay plugins on the market. Alongside the three delay algorithms, Replika also includes a phaser and resonant shelf making it quite versatile. Similar to the simplistic design of Waves’ H-Delay, Replika by Native Instruments offers a streamlined interface without compromising sound. This plugin is perhaps best used for adding a warm delay to lo-fi vocals or electric guitar. It’s definitely unique in character and won’t necessarily fit every situation but it’s got an unmatched tone. Check out the video below for a more in depth look at things.ĭescribed by SoftTube as “a marriage between analogue and digital,” this VST is the best when you’re also looking for a saturated, lo-fi sounding delay. It’s one of the best plugins out their when you’re going for a truly unique sounding delay. UAD recently captured the essence of this unit in all its nuances, adding a healthy amount of additional features. The Cooper Time Cube is a hardware delay unit originally designed Duane H. It’s definitely a VST for the creatives who enjoy spending time dialing in a unique sound with their delays. There are plenty of modules that allow you to go beyond delay and create countless other sounds from chorus to phaser. It’s design is actually very similar to that of a module synthesizer. It’s one of the best options when you’re looking for a tape delay plugin with a wealth of customizability. This is the second iteration of the Fab-Filter plugin Timeless. Now you can own all these sounds and more, thanks to the innovations that SoundToys put into this VST. Used extensively in the 1980s by the likes of Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno and Peter Gabriel this unit’s quirky character served as more of an instrument than a delay. Where UAD’s Galaxy Echo is the delay of the 1970s, SoundToys’ PrimalTap plugin takes you forward a decade as one of the best recreations of Lexicon’s Prime Time hardware delay. However, if you’re able to get your hands on it you’ll be extremely pleased with the results. It’s more expensive than other options on this list, since you need a Satellite or Apollo to run the VST. However, thanks to the team at UAD, this famous delay sound is now available in a plugin format. Over time it’s gone up in popularity and value, making it difficult to get ahold of a hardware unit. One of the best units to create this sound was the Roland Space Echo. If you’ve heard any rock & roll from the 1970s, chances are you’ve heard the tape delay effect on vocals, guitar and everything else. This allows for plenty of possibilities in terms of tweaking the sound exactly to your liking.Ĭheck out the video below for a more in depth look at what makes this delay VST so great. It goes as far as to give you the option to customize the sound of the individual left and right signals. With 23 delay emulations, this is one of the best plugins for when you want a one size fits all VST.
Opposite to the simplicity of H-Delay is the feature ridden plugin by Slate Digital and D16, Repeater. Check out the video below to see acclaimed engineer Greg Wells discuss his favourite Waves plugins, including H-Delay. The LoFi button is a nice added bonus and does exactly what you think it would do. However, the abundance of features is often what turns me off from other delay VSTs. It’s simple layout doesn’t allow as much customization as you’ll find in other plugins. It’s one of the best delay plugins for vocals, especially if you’re going for a longer ping-pong style delay. H-Delay is one of my go-to VSTs when I just want something quick and not overly complicated.
Here you’ll find everything from tube to tape delays and even some unique innovations you may never have thought of. To make the hunt easier, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite delay VSTs on the market in 2020. There’s no shortage of options out there and finding the best delay plugin for your needs can be tricky.
Delay is an integral part of the mixing process, whether you’re mixing vocals, guitar or anything else.