Automating "Turn On" of Delay effect

[mbouteneff]

This is kind of a stupid question -- I'm sure there's a simple answer, please help.

Is there a way to automate Delay so the last word or two in a sentence are affected only? For example, let's say the lyric is:

"I want to apply Delay now."

"Now" is the target section. Turning "ByPass" off just before "now" doesn't work, because it the delayed effect is then immediately heard for preceding words "..apply Dealy..". One rough work around is copying and pasting "now" into another track, and applying the affect to that track only, but that causes other complexities.

Automation is the main problem -- I can just turn on/off Delay in the track view while the song is playing, and it sounds just fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

-Mike

 

[LfO]

It depends on what delay you're using. If you're just running an old copy of Home Studio, you're probably out of luck. If you've got the Sontius fx, though, you can automate just about anything. I know I found it pretty easily in the help file or manual.

Somehow, you can get to a "Arm for recording" window for the effect, arm the parameter, and then hit the Record Automation button (different from the regular Record button). The result will be a track envelope for that parameter.

 

[gullfo]

you can use volume envelopes to set the level of the echo or reverb (either by using the automation capabilities OR automating the volume on a buss itself). if you create a buss, put a vocal send to it, and put the delay and/or reverb on it, you can just use the buss volume control to add it when you want it...

 

[maximum octopus]

Or you could just split the file right in that spot and "apply" the delay to the part of the file that you wish. Quick fix but it works.

 

[mbouteneff]

Thanks so much for everyone's responses!

LfO:
- I'm using Sonar 3, so automation is an option. However, as soon as you "arm" Delay, it both 1) applies delay to all audio from the point of "arming" forward, and 2) plays delay applied to audio BEFORE the arming point..! That produces a challenge if, for example, I only want to apply delay to a single word in an entire sentence.

gullfo:
- The same problem above applies: As soon as you turn up the volume for the desired section, delay is immediately heard for any audio occurring directly before the targeted section.

maximum octipus:
- Yeah, this is the only solution I've been able to come up with. It's a bit rough, but works if you can smooth out some of the glitches.

==> Here's the thing: in track view, where the various effects are listed in the left margin, clicking on the 'checkbox' to turn an affect on or off DOES produce the result I'm looking for. (in other words, I can turn on Delay by hand immediately before the word I want to apply delay to, and all the preceding words are NOT affected.) However, this on/off button cannot be automated (at least, I haven't been able to figure out how), and therefore cannot change during .WAV file creation.

I'll probably have to go with maxumum octipus' solution for now, unless there's a better way?

Thanks for your help, everyone!!

-M

 

[guttadaj]

Gulfo had it the closest in my opinion. You would set up an effects buss with the delay effect patched into it. The delay should be on 100% wet. But then, instead of automating the volume of the buss, you want to automate the volume of the Send to that buss in the actual track itself.

That should do the trick.

HTH
-Jeff

 

[gullfo]

then set the buss input instead... bring up the input level on the buss (or send envelope) when you need it... i generally only use it to turn it down on quieter parts or song ending, but you can set you envelope to the input instead - leave the output up (or envelope that as well...) and that should let you select what parts you send to the delay.

 

[peterk312]

Here's another method for getting delay on just one or two words: CUT the clip where the words are you want the delay in, then COPY just that small clip. Insert a new track and paste the clip in the same time slot. Add your delay to the effects bin and you're off.

You may need to compensate in the original track for where the words overlap. This would require some experimenting, maybe with a quick automated mute.

--just another example of thinking in the digital realm rather than doing things always to mimic the analog model.

 

[gullfo]

sure... i often clone tracks then cut out parts to create a comp with slightly different effects, pan, etc... definitely a beautiful thing™ digital is in this regard... cloning tracks helps ensure they match initially and if you have non-destructive editing, you can easily mix and match parts... with SONAR you can also have it clone the track without making copies of the source WAV file so it saves space and if you do a "real" edit on the WAV, it copies to all clones...