Created by Mats Nermark and inspired by the classic Circular Delay algorithm from the Lexicon PCM 70, this preset for the Late Replies plug-in recreates the characteristic rotating delay pattern that made the original effect a favorite among ambient guitarists, keyboard players, and sound designers.
Released in the mid-1980s, the PCM 70 became famous for its unique delay and reverb algorithms. Among them, Circular Delay stood out thanks to its unusual feedback structure: echoes appear to move in an almost circular pattern through the stereo field, creating evolving rhythmic textures that are quite different from a conventional ping-pong delay.
Late Replies is particularly well suited to create this type of effect, with its independent delay lines that can process the signal with effects and can be combined with its dual feedback loops. You can build simple or complex delay networks (or reverbs) inspired by classic hardware processors while extending them in new directions quite easily.
Matt’s preset captures the spirit of the original Circular Delay, taking advantage of Late Replies’ flexible architecture: it is a 3 taps delay with low pass filters on each tap (with slightly different cutoff frequencies) that are then repeated with a single feedback loop. The taps are panned left, right and center to create the movement. The main delay is synchronized with the host application (2 beats), but you can of course change it to anything you want (synced or not).
The preset can be used on guitars, synthesizers, vocals, percussion, or any source that benefits from animated stereo movement and evolving echoes. Watch out, though: when I first tried it on a guitar, I ended up spending more than half an hour just noodling with it!
Tip: If you like the effect but want a different stereo movement, try setting the L1 Xtalk parameter to 100%. The pattern will be inverted in the stereo field at each repeat.
The preset is available as a free download below:
[Download the Circular Delay preset]
Thanks to Mats for sharing it with the community!
