Multitap Delay block

Available on which products

• Axe-Fx III, FM9: 2 blocks
• FM3: 1 blocks
• VP4: 4 blocks
• Axe-Fx II, AX8, FX8: no

Channels or X/Y

• Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3, VP4: 4 channels

About the Multitap Delay block

The Multitap Delay block provides many types, partly provided by forum member and effects guru Simeon.

On the Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8, the functionality of the Multitap Delay block was part of the Multi Delay block.

More information is in the Owner's Manual.

Multitap Delay types

1. 1210: based on TC's 1210 Spatial Expander / Stereo Chorus Flanger
2. A.H. Clean Long: based on Allan Holdsworth's use of Yamaha's UD Stomp
3. A.H. Clean Short
4. A.H. Lead Long
5. A.H. Lead Short
6. A.H. Swell Long
7. A.H. Swell Short
8. Aerosol: based on a chorus preset in the Lexicon MPX 1
9. Ambient Quad Tape
10. Ambient Tape Delay
11. Aurora Delay: based on the Keeley HALO Andy Timmons delay pedal. Robert Keely personally offered some insight and a diagram
12. Circular Delays
13. Comb Filter Delay
14. Dub Echo
15. Filtered Mod Band Delay
16. L-C-R-C
17. MD Chorus
18. Mono Diffusor
19. PCM Circular: based on Lexicon's PCM
20. PCM Pan: based on Lexicon's PCM
21. Pealing Bells
22. Quad Chorus (recreates the sound of the Quad Chorus block in previous generation hardware)
23. Quad Diffusor
24. Quad Parallel Delay
25. Quad Series Delay
26. Quad Tap Band Delay
27. Quad Tape Delay
28. Quad-Tap Delay
29. Rhythmic Bands
30. Shadows Taps
31. Space Tape: based on the Roland Space Echo Tape Delay
32. Stereo Shadows
33. Swing Ping
34. Ya-Ya Delay
35. Matterhorn
36. Centaurus X-3
37. Kilmanjaro
38. Strange Things
39. Camera Obscura

Multitap Delay diagrams

Spillover

The block supports Spillover between presets.

Parameters

Algorithm

This allows changing the underlying algorithm without changing the various parameters. This can be used to experiment with different algorithms without losing parameter settings as occurs when changing the Type.

Diffusion

Diffusion has its own LFO modulation parameters.

From the Blocks Guide:

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Since the Diffusor borrows many of its default settings from the other Multitap delay types, you may not immediately get classic sounds when you select it. Try the following settings for a lush reverb-like blanket effect.

Begin by resetting the channel and then setting its type to “DIFFUSOR”. Now make the following settings:

• Time 1: 400 ms
• Time 2: 647 ms
• Time 3: 1047 ms
• Time 4: 1694 ms

Change all four Tempo parameters to “NONE”.

Now we’re ready to listen to these very long times. Play a short sharp note or noise and listen to how the echoes build in density as they feed back into each other. Now lower the Master Time to 50% and repeat the test. Now lower Master Time further to about 20% and you’ll start to understand how what sounds like a clutter of echoes at long times becomes a rich reverb-like diffusion effect at shorter times. Experiment with other Time and Feedback settings, modulation, and even Tempo to vary the texture of the effect.

Ring modulation

Single-sideband (SSB) ring modulators can be used to create strange and interesting echo sounds. To defeat the modulators, turn Master Ring Mod Mix to 0.

Envelope follower

The Multitap Delay has its own Envelope Follower, allowing volume swells.

The Owners Manuals recommend these settings: Threshold -70, Attack 400, Release 15.

Tips, tricks and troubleshooting

Factory presets

The MTD block is showcased in some factory presets. Search the Factory presets page for "multitap".

Use the Multitap Delay as a chorus

Individual delay lines in the Multitap Delay block can act a choruses. Each delay line has a LFO. The rate and depth of each LFO is individually adjustable. These add to the main LFOs which modulate each delay line at the same frequency but different phases. By using short delay times the Multitap Delay block can act as four parallel choruses, each with independent rate and depth.

FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES

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[1] Four fully independent chorus voices, each with its own LFO and fully parametric control of time, level, pan, and tone, plus two global LFOs? It's a more versatile and powerful unit than a Tri-Chorus or the previous Fractal Audio "Quad Chorus", and in my quick experiments, easy to dial in so it sounds GREAT. Did I mention Feedback? It's actually a QUAD-CHORO-FLANGE! And you have two of them? audio I'm also thrilled to be using just one block to recreate my trust Ibanez BC-9, which was simply a 2-voice chorus with separate rate and depth on the left and the right. That unit has some very cool sounds.

Replicating the Quad Chorus

The Quad Chorus block in the previous generation of processors has not been migrated to the Axe-Fx III, FM3 and FM9.

In current firmware, the Multitap Delay block provides a "Quad Chorus" effect type.