Im looking to buy a delay pedal for my synth (esq-1 if youre wondering). I have problem, or a question for more experienced synthplayers.
Since im gonna sequence it with my DT i would like the delay to sync to the tempo of the pattern. Ive seen some pedals with MIDI but they are quite expensive. Is it worth it? Or is it as easy to use a pedal with tap tempo? Seems like it might be bit of an annoying thing to have to tap the tempo all the time.
Also product recommendations would be appriciated 
To me, midi syncing delays to the synths is a must. It synces both the tempo, and the transport (start-stop), and helps making things sound much cleaner.
I use both an eventide timefactor and a source audio nemesis.
Both are great.
The eventide has many potentiometers, so you can handle the sounds live and make great stuffs.
I prefer the sound of the Nemesis, and I find it more versatile. And the nemesis comes with an app, that allows customizing presets using a computer.
Also, the nemesis can be used with an fx loop (so you connect any external fx to it, that will only affect the delayed signal, the original signal remains dry). This feature really opens up new soundscapes.
I also had a pigtronix echolution deluxe in the past, sold it, and I regret it sometimes. It works and sounds great, and has an app interface to create presets.
Cheers,
been looking at this which looks good if on a budget…
I agree having midi makes things much easier. I had an Empress Effects Echosystem for a while which can take Midi with a 1/4" adaptor in the control port. It was pretty awesome, but I’m currently I’m using the Source Audio Collider which has both delay and reverb and has standard midi inputs. Not QUITE as many options as a stand-alone delay but definitely can do a lot and saves me from needing a separate reverb box.
Eventide H9 and Timeline also have built-in MIDI-synced loopers.
Going the much, much cheaper route, I know the Alesis MidiVerb 4 does this. It’s pretty affordable, and while it doesn’t have a ton of character, it’s stereo, and has plenty of effects.
I have the MicroVerb 4 and that has both multi and chained effects (running two different mono effects out of each channel), and if I remember right both program changes and parameters are midi-controllable. I’m pretty sure the Midiverb does the same thing, but you might want to double-check. I think the MicroVerb 4 also syncs to clock but I’m not positive.
I work with the same 2 pedals, they are great. You can also use the LFO from the DT to control one of the parameters via MIDI.
Damn. I think I need to sell something just to be able to afford a delay pedal. I was hoping for that taptempo shit.
Thanks for all the tips but they are all quite expensive! Im kind of on a budget. If I dont sell that guitar 
What about tc flashback x4, boss DD-200 or alexander pedals radical delay?
I also looked at the trex replica, it says it has midi but i read somewhere that you need an extra pedal for that. Confusing!
unless they updated the firmware lately, the mooer ocean machine does not sync to midi clock!
very strange, but true… otherwise I liked it a lot for the price!! I returned it because of the lack of midi sync.
seriously?
that is an odd decision when it has a midi socket!
GFI Specular Tempus has midi in and is a reverb/delay combo pedal. A bit pricey though.
…tap tempo all the time?
…includes the fact ur planning to have the delay on all the time…
sure?..
some thoughts on this…
ur takt delivers already delay in sync…all the time…if u whish so…
and even this internal delay, hard synced so to say, will shatter for a moment to it’s new parametersettings and it’s new tempo, following the new updated pattern content…
if u now add another clocked external delay, this will do the exactly the same…
while there is no chance to change anything about it’s values…
…a delay can be an instrument of it’s own…
…giving it new tapping values on the fly is in fact one of the big turnarounds to actally “play” it beyond feedback values and stuff… u really can make it “sing” though…
u can half or double it’s timing anytime u wish so…
and it’s tempo change glitches , u’ll have eitherways, synced or not, is part of the whole game when we’re talking delay here…
that’s all gone, once it’s hard synced…
and u loose all control of the way how it should proceed the tempo change…
then it’s just following the new rules of new tempo and will change to it as fast as possible…because by nature given physics, it can’t catch first strike and fits in accurately right away again…because it can’t see into the future…
so glitches will always be part of the game, no matter what…but by tapping tempo u can make it glitch to next new tempi way more musically…and keep the option of half speed or double speed or triplets at any givin time…
so, i hardly recommend a delay that sounds damned nice and gives a fuk on midi sync…make it an instrument of it’s own…not playing all the time…as any other instrument won’t…
…timeline by strymon is an upper class delay that does it all…
…good old echo boy analog dealy by electro harmonix is pretty cheap for it’s truu analog sounding and has “only” hands on control in realtime to offer…
…ps…i’m talking live here…
for recording situations, ur all fine with the given delays of ur daw…
respectively, invest the money better in some vst/au stuff like the new delay from valhalla…than in some stomp pedal…
You should avoid listening to demos of the Bastl Thyme.
IIRC they still haven’t released a firmware update, yet. So no midi clock sync.
it looks like they actually have, but still no clock sync!
Boss RV500 looks like another option, but not sure how easy/possible it is to switch the delay in/out with the footswitch on that which is kinda how i’d like to use it.
Maybe tap isnt the end of the world as reeloy says
(I thought the most annoying thing about that Valhalla delay is that there’s a whole separate button for dotted delays so you can’t use a MIDI controller to just scroll through the tempo locked delays…)
Hahaha thanx for saving my economic situation here! I think i might try a tap tempo and then sell it if it gets annoying. And save money meenwhile.
I probably should! Oh no! To late…
If you are into DIY / Arduino you could build a connection to a tap input from the MIDI clock/tempo. That would be the cheapest solution.
I second that an exact tempo synced delay could sound too perfect and boring. When I started with a few Korg Volcas I used a Behringer EM600. I loved the sound and sometimes I am still missing the modulation effect. When working in Ableton live I alwasy giv a few percentage difference to the exact tempo to make it more organic. So tweaking in or tapping a tempo doesn’t have to be bad.
Are we talking about live? What parameters do you want to tweak? And what tempos exactly do you play during one set?
You could also build a delay with a Teensy and an audioboard - but that is advanced microcontroller tinkering. I don’t know if there is a complete instruction for such a solution.
No not live so youre both probably right!
I just dont wanna buy something that i will regret later if i feel like i need midi.
But i think ill start out with one without midi
Not really into DIY
Definitely yes if you can afford them. I have the Strymon TimeLine and that is just insanely good with midi. Not just for clock but sending it messages from any one of my Elektrons to tell its looper to start, overdub, play, reverse, etc etc. Also, you mentioned using tap tempo. My experience is it’s just never accurate and even the tightest of taps will fall out of sync within a few bars.