· By The Vocal Market
TL;DR Delay is the most underrated vocal effect. Slapback (80 to 120ms) for intimacy. Dotted eighth for pop and EDM energy. Ping pong for space. Tempo-sync everything. High-pass at 300Hz, low-pass at 8kHz on the return. Use it on a send, not an insert. Reverb gets all the attention, but delay is what makes a vocal sound wide, rhythmic, and alive. U2's entire sound is delay. Billie Eilish's intimate ASMR vocals: slapback delay. Every modern pop chorus that feels big without feeling washed out: delay. This guide covers the five delay types you actually use on vocals, the settings that...