Tonecarver tcDelay8 (redux)

[ToneCarver]

The next plugin to roll off the newly invigorated Tonecarver bench is tcDelay8, an improved version of the original Delay8 plugin.

8 independent modulated delay lines operating in parallel, series, or a user-configurable combination thereof.

Zip file is here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/io7t664w ... phzox&dl=0

See the enclosed README files in the docs folder for (simple) install instructions and usage tips.

Comes with a few starter presets. I lost all hearing in one ear a few years ago so cannot really craft any good stereo presets. If you make some good presets for it please share so that others may benefit.

Comments, crits, and bug finds warmly welcomed.

Have fun.

[JerGoertz]

Thanks for sharing this!

[MRT]

I've enjoyed your plugin's over the years, so it's great to see you back in action.
Thanks.

[Jonathan Shepherd]

Thanks mate, will test here in a bit. I enjoy the varied takes on delays, yours especially. Good day-

[metalifuxx]

Hoping some people make some more cool starting point presets for this, although it seems like it’s meant for the user to make their own customized 8 tap delay network. This plugin is pretty deep for a free plugin, sort of like PSP 608 clone but graphically more easier to use and get to grips with. He bills it as a Yamaha UD8/Magic Stomp multi tap delay effect clone for those Allan Holdsworth layered series/parallel delay multi tap effects.

Everyone should watch that video. All the stuff accessible under the hood with the different routing and tweak panels. The phase sync to whatever taps etc. The separate GUI modular cable routing panel for all the taps. Paid delay plugins rarely get that deep and offer that sort of visible delay tap routing.

[GaryG]

So great to see an updated version after all these years, I still have the original installed

The graph is very welcome, certainly helps keeping track of what's patched where.

Thanks!

[Jonathan Shepherd]

Just got around to using this and hoo boy it's a super keeper. I'll have to restrain myself from getting lost in experimentation. It's easy and deep, like the game of Go(but not near as intimidating). You win!

[ToneCarver]

Thanks for all the kind words! Very encouraging.

[Shabdahbriah]

This is awesome! Thank you so much.

[pekbro]

Awesome! Great stuff, as always

[Juanjo]

Ooohhh late to the party but very interested, thank you for sharing these! I remember Tonecarver legacy plugins very fondly, and particularly I remember 2 or 3 times looking for worthy alternatives to Nova and not finding any... if a refreshed Nova is in the cards I might pass out.

[arseniy2]

Why there is no Stereo input option? It makes things 10 times more complicated to setup.
There is some bug or smth, when the knob Depth set to 0, and the knob Rate up, then it might still give vibrato thing, which seems wrong. Rather the depth is moving very slow to the new point, or a bug. At least if feels kinda wrong and not as expected that with depth at 0 the vibrato stops.

Is there a noise in there? Somehow setting high feedback on all delays brings up a noise. Which is not good at all. As it makes high feedback preset not possible with this issue. Ok, there is no noise, but it creates build with high frequencies especially.

It misses ping pong delay. Or I am not sure yet how to set up

I'd like to see some more features in this, are you open to suggestions? I could also try to team up and make design and some presets.

[ToneCarver]

Why there is no Stereo input option? It makes things 10 times more complicated to setup.

All the delay lines are mono. To have a stereo delay set the input for one lane to LEFT and the input for a different lane to RIGHT. Perhaps save that setup as a "Stereo" template and use that as a starting point for other stereo presets.

This delay was inspired by the Yahama UD-Stomp hardware which provided great sounding delays and choruses using 8 mono delay lines. This plugin carries the quirks and characteristics that mimic the original unit.

There is some bug or smth, when the knob Depth set to 0, and the knob Rate up, then it might still give vibrato thing, which seems wrong. Rather the depth is moving very slow to the new point, or a bug. At least if feels kinda wrong and not as expected that with depth at 0 the vibrato stops.

Hmm .. will have to look into that. Are you seeing this when using only a singe delay line, multiple delay lines? Can you send a preset that re-creates the problem (shows the modulation happening when depth is 0)?

Is there a noise in there? Somehow setting high feedback on all delays brings up a noise. Which is not good at all. As it makes high feedback preset not possible with this issue

High feedback will ultimately introduce noise due to the maximum signal level exceeding 0 dBFS after the repeating sounds pile up on each other. The automatic wet gain compensation will try to keep that value under 0 dBFS but that dynamic range compensation can also end up morphing the wave shape as things become more and more compressed which unavoidably introduces some additional noise in the signal (which is then repeated and amplified) in very high feedback situations. Noise in high feedback situations is a common characteristic of feedback-oriented effects. The Low Pass filters could be useful there to soften the noise if it is too harsh.

It misses ping pong delay. Or I am not sure yet how to set up

A true ping-pong delay usually requires cross-feedback among the delay lines to achieve the alternating left/right output. This plugin can organize delay lines in parallel and/or in series, but has no ability to crossfeed between delay lines so cannot provide a true ping-pong effect.

I'd like to see some more features in this, are you open to suggestions? I could also try to team up and make design and some presets.

I am always open to suggestions.

[ToneCarver]

Is there a noise in there? Somehow setting high feedback on all delays brings up a noise. Which is not good at all. As it makes high feedback preset not possible with this issue

High feedback will ultimately introduce noise due to the maximum signal level exceeding 0 dBFS after the repeating sounds pile up on each other. The automatic wet gain compensation will try to keep that value under 0 dBFS but that dynamic range compensation can also end up morphing the wave shape as things become more and more compressed which unavoidably introduces some additional noise in the signal (which is then repeated and amplified) in very high feedback situations. Noise in high feedback situations is a common characteristic of feedback-oriented effects. The Low Pass filters could be useful there to soften the noise if it is too harsh.

Oh, wait ... I am seeing a residual noise that is accumulating in the high end when feedback is high. Not overdriven, just high. Hmm .. it does go away by dropping the LPF cutoff frequency .. but it should not be there at all really.

Legit bug. Thanks!

[arseniy2]

This delay was inspired by the Yahama UD-Stomp hardware which provided great sounding delays and choruses using 8 mono delay lines. This plugin carries the quirks and characteristics that mimic the original unit.

Inspired - means, not necessary to be limited as original. Currently this delay is quite tedious to work with. Creating a stereo input preset takes so much time, and that will rightfully turn off a lot of users.
To make lanes stereo is just a step forward to be more user friendly, more possibilities and easier and faster to work with. I'd make 8 inputs and outputs for each lane. And choose Left, Right, Mid, Side, Stereo as a selectable option on inputs and outputs.

I like the potential that it could be a versatile unit and could work as well as chorus, flanger, dimension expander, maybe even phaser things if having a notch filter option(having 2 identical delays with one of them inverted, then moving filter, is already creates phaser effect, but takes away lanes).

If you allow 0 ms or close to 0 ms, like 0.1-0.2 ms then also a comb filter things would be possible.

Also to have more attention to the plugin it is better to have more appealing interface.

Dunno if this interesting. Probably a huge tons of work to add stuff I could suggest, besides the audio processing functions a UI with more features to make faster and easier work for user. For example copy paste lane - all lane knobs positions copied to another lane with one click.

I would try create maybe a google doc for that.

Hmm .. will have to look into that. Are you seeing this when using only a singe delay line, multiple delay lines? Can you send a preset that re-creates the problem (shows the modulation happening when depth is 0)?

It's not a preset but by moving knobs. And knobs are often a matter of use with automation. At one point I might want a vibrato on the delay and at other I'd would want clean signal without mod. So I would automate that but would fail because it is not responded. I checked it once again and it seems it just takes a lot of time to reach the max amplitude of the mod depth as well as to fall back to 0. It's like sliding, but very very slow. I don't like it as if I needed a slow change in depth I would just slowly move the depth knob. But with this slow slide I have no possibility to have fast change in the mod depth.

By the way, just used a sine to test this mod depth and the plugin has a huge saturation going on. Can it be optional too, so we could had the delay with or without saturation by our wish?
Here is a video showing there is a saturation and that the mod depth knob changing happens with very very slow slide like 6 seconds.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xsil707f ... 9fh8e&dl=0

This saturation might be the reason feedback accumulating on the high freqs.