Delay is the secret behind most upfront vocals. It adds space and width without pushing the voice back the way a big reverb does, which is why rap and modern pop lean on it so heavily.
- Slapback: 60–120 ms, one repeat, low in the mix
- Synced: 1/8 or 1/4 note, 15–35% feedback
- Filter the repeats so they don't fight the lead
- Delay throws: automate a send on the last word of a line
- Quarter-note delay in ms = 60,000 ÷ BPM
Slapback delay
One quick echo, around 60–120 ms, with no or very little feedback, mixed low. You barely hear it as an echo; it just makes the vocal thicker and more present. Great on rap leads and anything that needs to stay dry but not flat.
Tempo-synced delay
- 1/8 note: a tight rhythmic echo that fills small gaps. The most common vocal delay.
- 1/4 note: longer and more obvious, good for hooks and sparse sections.
- Dotted 1/8: a bouncy, off-beat feel.
- Feedback 15–35%: two to four audible repeats.
- Ping-pong / stereo delays bounce left and right for width while the dry lead stays centred.
Delay times in milliseconds
If your delay doesn't sync to tempo: a quarter note in ms = 60,000 ÷ BPM.
| BPM | 1/4 | Dotted 1/8 | 1/8 | 1/16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 857 ms | 643 ms | 429 ms | 214 ms |
| 90 | 667 ms | 500 ms | 333 ms | 167 ms |
| 120 | 500 ms | 375 ms | 250 ms | 125 ms |
| 140 | 429 ms | 321 ms | 214 ms | 107 ms |
| 160 | 375 ms | 281 ms | 188 ms | 94 ms |
Filter the repeats
Unfiltered repeats compete with the dry vocal. High-pass the delay around 200–400 Hz and low-pass it around 4–8 kHz so repeats sound darker and further away. Many vocal delays have built-in filters; otherwise put an EQ after the delay on the send.
Delay throws
A throw is a delay that only catches one word, usually the last word of a line, which then echoes into the gap. Put the delay on a send and automate the send level up for that word only. It's one of the most recognisable moves in rap and pop mixing, and it adds energy without cluttering the verse. It also works great on adlibs (how to mix adlibs).
Delay or reverb?
Delay keeps the vocal upfront; reverb places it in a room. Many mixes use mostly delay plus a little short reverb. Reverb settings are in vocal reverb settings, and where both go in the chain is in vocal chain order.
FAQ
What's a good delay setting for vocals?
A 1/8-note delay with 20–30% feedback, filtered, mixed just loud enough to hear. Add a slapback underneath for thickness.
What delay time is slapback?
Roughly 60–120 ms with one repeat.
Should delay go before or after reverb?
On separate sends is easiest. If they share a chain, delay usually comes first, then reverb, so the echoes sit in the same space.
