ValhallaDelay: The MODE Control

The MODE Control in ValhallaDelay is a high level control, that allows you to switch between different echo and delay algorithms.

Click on the MODE control in the lower left corner, to select the active algorithm:

Selecting a new MODE can change the controls visible on the screen. Only the parameters that are active in a given MODE will be visible in the GUI.

There are 7 different MODES in ValhallaDelay:

Tape: A detailed model of a tape delay with variable motor speed, based upon the RE-201 and RE-301.

  • The wow/flutter rate, wow/flutter depth, and overall equalization of the delay are a function of the delay time, as found in physical tape delays.
  • The MOD Wow and Flutter controls act as scales on the wow and flutter depths, in order to dial in the amount of “wear” on the tape.
  • Age controls the amount of asperity noise, as well as the depth of the tape splice artifacts.
  • ERA switches between different modeled tape echoes. The Past and Present models are darker and dirtier, with more of a pronounced high frequency oscillation for short delay times. The Future model is somewhat more “refined.”

HiFi: Another tape model, but with more control over mod rate / mod depth / EQ.

  • The idea is that this is a “higher fidelity” tape echo, similar to that rigged up with reel-to-reel decks in a studio.
  • The MOD Rate / Depth control the rate and depth of a random wow & flutter modulator. These rates are not a function of the delay setting, as they are in the Tape mode.
  • Age controls asperity noise. No splicing artifacts in the HiFi mode.

BBD: A model of a bucket brigade delay, complete with compander artifacts, BBD noise, and a limited high frequency response. This is a dark and dirty delay model.

  • MOD Rate/Depth control a smoothed triangle LFO, for adding subtle vibrato or pitch slews to the signal.
  • Age controls the amount of the noise in the BBD. This will vary according to signal level, due to the action of the compander.
  • Higher settings of Drive will create a “ducking” sound, as the compander kicks in.
  • ERA switches between darker BBD models, and a somewhat brighter Future model.

Digital: Based upon 1980s delay units, that used “floating point convertors” for a sound that had a bit of grit and a smooth delay.

  • MOD Rate/Depth control a smoothed triangle LFO, for adding subtle vibrato or pitch slews to the signal.
  • Age controls the bit resolution of the model, with higher values of Age corresponding to lower bit depths. 50% corresponds to a 12-bit delay.
  • ERA switches between different frequency responses and saturation types.

Ghost: Combines an analog-style delay with frequency shifting.

  • FREQ Shift controls the overall frequency shift of the signal, in hertz.
  • FREQ Detune creates a slight offset between the frequency shifts in the left and right channels.
  • ERA switches in different types of diffusion.
    • Past is the standard diffusion, heard in the rest of the plugin.
    • Present adds some “frequency dependence” to the diffusion, so that some frequencies are heard before others.
    • Future has far more frequency dependent diffusion. Perfect for ghostly voices from the beyond.

Pitch: A digital-modeled delay, with built in pitch shifting.

  • PITCH Shift controls the overall pitch shifting of the signal, in semitones.
  • PITCH Detune allows the left and right channels to be detuned from each other, in cents. Perfect for micropitch and doubling.
  • ERA switches in different types of filtering and saturation.

RevPitch: A delay that reverses and pitch shifts the input signal. The DELAY parameters control the “splice size” of the output signal.

  • PITCH Shift controls the overall pitch shifting of the signal, in semitones.
  • PITCH Detune allows the left and right channels to be detuned from each other, in cents. Perfect for micropitch and doubling.

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