What does Delay do?

[Bigsnake]

Was watching some videos of John Petrucci talking about his effects and he was using a delay effect.

Does it just delay the time until the note is played?

[Harley]

Does it just delay the time until the note is played?
No, it's probably best described as an "echo" or "repeater". With some you could hit a note and it would keep repeating until the guitar's frets rusted off. The note picked is heard instantly, but the echoes sound at the speed and intensities selected.

As an example, listen to the sound bites for this pedal. Scroll down. They will appear as shown below- (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Boss-DD3-Digital-Delay-Pedal?sku=151310)
MP3 Sound Bytes for Boss DD-3 Digital Delay Pedal
Long Delay
Medium
Multi Slap

In live settings the effect of reverb gets drowned out at fairly low volumes. Delay hangs in there much longer(higher volumes) and closely resembles reverb. The effect can be more easily heard by the audience. Many performers purchase simpler, less-expensive, non-reverb amps because of this.

[Bigsnake]

No, it's probably best described as an "echo" or "repeater". With some you could hit a note and it would keep repeating until the guitar's frets rusted off. The note picked is heard instantly, but the echoes sound at the speed and intensities selected.

As an example, listen to the sound bites for this pedal. Scroll down. They will appear as shown below- (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Boss-DD3-Digital-Delay-Pedal?sku=151310)


In live settings the effect of reverb gets drowned out at fairly low volumes. Delay hangs in there much longer(higher volumes) and closely resembles reverb. The effect can be more easily heard by the audience. Many performers purchase simpler, less-expensive, non-reverb amps because of this.


Thanks! I guess that's what Frusciante was using in a live video I saw. He would pick strings and then stop picking but the sound kept going.