My 3 Favorite Creative Delay Plugins (And How I Actually Use Them)
If there’s one effect I reach for constantly—next to compression—it’s delay. I love delays that don’t just echo but do something. Texture, tone, movement—that’s the good stuff. In this post, I’ll walk you through three of my favorite delay plugins and how I actually use them in my mixes to bring sounds to life.
And no, we’re not just slapping a delay on a send and calling it a day.
1. Relayer by UVI: My Secret Weapon for Shaping Space
Let’s start with a beast: Relayer. This thing isn’t just a delay—it’s a full-blown modulation and filtering playground disguised as a delay plugin. The interface can look a little intimidating at first, but once you dig in, it’s incredibly flexible.
I use it when I want my delay to move. For example, I’ll throw it on a vocal and use the built-in filter modulation to make the delay tail sweep dynamically with the performance. Add in some pitch shifting or distortion from within the plugin, and suddenly your delay is acting more like a synth pad than a standard echo.
This is one of those tools that turns a static loop into something you can ride for 16 bars without it getting boring.
2. EchoBoy by Soundtoys: Classic for a Reason
If you’ve been mixing for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard of EchoBoy. But there’s a reason it shows up on so many pro mixes—it’s ridiculously versatile.
What I love about EchoBoy is how it handles tone shaping. You can dial in vintage warmth or bright, crisp delays without reaching for extra EQ. I’ll often use it on a vocal throw with the saturation turned up and the high-cut slightly engaged, so it tucks behind the dry vocal but still adds emotional lift.
It also plays really well with automation. One of my go-to moves is automating the Mix knob so the delay only creeps in at the end of a line or phrase. Subtle, but powerful.
3. Manny Marroquin Delay by Waves: Simple, Smart, and Just Works
Waves’ Manny Marroquin Delay isn’t the newest or flashiest plugin—but it might be the most practical. Everything is laid out clearly, and it gives you quick control over the essentials: delay time, reverb, distortion, and modulation—all in one tight interface.
One of the things I love about it is how easy it is to dial in a delay throw that feels alive. I’ll often use the modulation and distortion controls together to give a vocal delay a bit of movement and grit. The reverb section is surprisingly usable too—it’s not just tacked on; it actually blends well with the delay tone.
If I want to go fast and still sound polished, this is my go-to. It’s like the Swiss army knife of creative delays.
Creative Delay is About More Than Timing
One thing all these plugins have in common: they let you treat delay like an instrument. I rarely use delay purely for repeats anymore. I want modulation, saturation, and dynamic movement. Whether it’s giving a vocal throw more bite or turning a snare tail into an ambient wash, these tools help you blur the line between mix effect and sound design.
So if you’ve been stuck using just the stock delay in your DAW, try stepping outside the box. Automate something. Filter it. Distort it. Stack it.
Delays can be a lot more than echoes—they can be emotion.
Got a favorite creative delay plugin? Drop it in the comments. I’m always hunting for new tricks.
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