In my opinion, this is the best free VST effect that came out in 2004. It truely is a jewel. This delay delivers, big time, and it is the only delay that I use now. I got rid of the 15 other free delay plugins I had installed because this one surpasses them in so many ways. It has a beautiful sound, great features, and a cool GUI. Get the 200 best free VST plugins ever made. From synth VSTs and drum VSTs to VST effects, this huge list has only the best of the best plugins. E-phonic Tape Delay is a free delay plugin that emulates the warm and warbly sound of tape delay. With the Systems Objeq Delay VST, Applied Acoustics introduces a unique delay unit that utilizes acoustic filtering. Acoustic resonances can be produced through the use of beams, drumheads, string. Download the Best Free Delay Audio Plugins. Just click and download. “This free VST delay plugin offers uncluttered access to essential stereo effect parameters. The free VST vocal effects plugin gives you the ability to control reverb parameters (pre-delay, space, time, and width), damping (low and high), EQ (lows, mids, and highs), and output gain (both reverb.

1. Best Delay Plugins
2. Best Free Delay Vst Reddit
3. Best Free Vst Delay
4. Best Free Stereo Delay Plugin

Looking for a way to add some depth and movement to your tracks without spending a load of cash? Or do you want to incorporate some dubby effects without investing in a costly and temperamental tape delay device? Delay plug-ins could be the solution.

These delay plug-ins deliver all the benefits of hardware delay units with the convenience of software. Best of all, they’re totally free!

Find more great gear here:

12 Free Ambient VST Plugins – Best Ambient VSTs Here are the best Free Ambient VST Plugins online that can be used with FL Studio, Reason, Ableton Live, and other VST supported software. Tutorial: How to Install VST Plugins.

Intro: About Delay Plugins

Delays are devices that add repeats or echoes to any sound that is routed through them. In the hardware realm, delays come in various types, from tape-equipped mechanisms to analog bucket brigade devices, to DSP units.

In the software world, there are delay plugins that aim to replicate the sound and functionalities of classic hardware devices. There are also more fully-featured units that incorporate modulation, and various other features that go well beyond what typical delays have to offer.

Even with the advent of DSP units and advanced-algorithm delay plug-ins, many musicians and producers continued to prefer hardware delays for their immediacy and warmer sound. But many current delay plug-ins now come close to replicating the warmth and idiosyncratic sounds of hardware devices. Even free plug-ins now compare favorably to the most revered hardware delay devices.

Best Free Delay VST/AU Plugins

The List

Plugin Roundup

Voxengo’s Tempo Delay is a stereo delay plugin intended for a wide variety of production applications.

As the name implies, it is a tempo-based delay that enables the setting of delay times in musical values according to the specified BPM. It also has a tremolo and a filter section.

Like the delay values, these can be adjusted independently for the left and right channels.

The Tempo Delay packs on a wealth of features that would be impressive even in a “for pay” plug-in. This could easily handle the majority of your delay needs.

Best Delay Plugins

Lagrange by Ursa DSP is a stereo delay that ups the ante by incorporating elements of granular synthesis. By capturing grains from different parts of the delay buffer, this plug-in can crank out some truly wild and wonderful sounds.

Lagrange is fully capable of producing more typical delay effects of course. But a simple twist of the delay knob or the feedback control results in everything from resonant, metallic clangs to evolving alien soundscapes.

Even if you already have a delay plug-in that you’re happy with, the Lagrange is a worthy addition to your arsenal.

Valhalla’s Freq Echo is another delay plug-in that can handle more vanilla echoes and repeats like a champ. But where it really shines is in its ability to spit out anything from swirling flanging and phasing to some of the most psychedelic textures you have ever heard.

Despite its simple and utilitarian interface, Freq Echo is capable of an exciting assortment of sounds. It even does a great job at cranking out warm and enigmatic dub echoes!

Kjaerhus Audio Classic Delay is a bit more of a “typical” delay plug-in than the ones mentioned thus far, but it is certainly no less capable. Three modes are provided–Tape, Analog, and Digital–and each does a great job of approximating their associated modes without introducing any additional noise.

There is a “quality” control that allows you to introduce varying amounts of “imperfection”, adding to the realism of the sound.

Although the Audio Classic Delay doesn’t quite get into the freaky territory as readily as other more esoteric delay plug-ins, it can do some fairly outrageous effects care of the reversible feedback. A good, solid delay that should make a nice companion to your other quirkier plug-ins.

The WatKat is a clone of the Wem Watkins “Custom” Copicat that is billed as a “Tribute to Charlie Watkins”. Like the original hardware unit that inspired its design, the plug-in is noisy, unpredictable, and wonderfully lo-fi.

How closely it actually replicates the sound of the Copicat is up for contention. But one thing is for sure: the Watkat does add a lot of character to your tracks.

Cockos’ ReaDelay is part of the ReaPlugs FX suite that will be familiar to users of the company’s celebrated Reaper DAW.

ReaDelay is a multi-tap delay that can have individual delays of as long as 10 seconds, with practically no tap count limit.

Tap lengths can be set to time values or quarter notes. The option to choose one or the other is always good to have in a delay, and it is an especially nice touch in a free plug-in.

++audio’s Rubbadub excels at thick and dirty dub delay, but it can handle various other task as well.

The good range of modulation options make it capable of producing cool flanger effects, and there is even a variable filter for more creative options. Unfortunately, it is not available for download at this moment, and we don’t know when it will be.

Top Pick

All these delays are actually pretty good, and you really can’t go wrong with any one of them. Some are better suited to certain applications than others of course, as in the case of Valhalla’s Freq Echo’s capability to product modulated delays. But they can all handle a broad range of delay tasks, from standard echoes and slapback to flanging and chorusing, to more outlandish effects.

That being said, one plug-in stands out in particular: Voxengo’s Tempo Delay. With its array of features, its modulation options, and great sound, this is one of the best free delay vst plugins that can stand up proudly against the best paid offerings on the market.

Disclosure: When you buy through our links, we may get a commission at zero cost to you.

Just like chorus and flanger effects, a delay effect is also a member of modulation effects, where an audio sound is modulated by adding a time-delayed version of the sound to itself and then varying the size of that delay over a specific period of time.

The way delay work is taking an input signal to a storage buffer (it keeps the input sound in memory), and then plays it back at a later time as defined by the delay time, which is otherwise known as an echo effect.

Delay can add interesting vibes to your mix, consider the following example:

Here is a drum loop I am working on, I love how the element sits together, but, I’ll love to add some kind of delay to the clap to make it sound more groovy, here is the before and after: Best free distrotion guitar vst.

Without Delay:

https://exclusivemusicplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/No-EchoBoy.mp3

With Delay:

https://exclusivemusicplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/With-EchoBoy.mp3

Believe it or not, this is all done with delay, and I use it heavily when creating groovy drum loops, this just shows you how wide you can go with using delay.

Here is another example using a vocal, I added delay automation to the end portion of the vocal sample:

https://exclusivemusicplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Delay-Effects-Vox-Sample.mp3

I can go on and on, but I’ll leave the rest to you, having said that, let’s dive into the best free and paid delay VST effects plugin I have ever come across, starting with…

Page Contents

• 10.) MykraDelay v3.0 (Free)

1.) EchoBoy by Soundtoys (Paid)

EchoBoy is the collection of numerous, and classic echo devices in one clean cutting edge interface, if you want an echo that just works right off the box without fiddling with tons of knobs, then this is your go-to plugin.

The interesting thing about this plugin is that it features 30 built-in styles modeled on vintage gear, so, no matter the track you are working on, you’ll find an echo tone that fits with the mix, for example, you’ll find classic echo box tones, including EchoPlex, Space Echo, Memory Man, DM-2, and the TelRay oil can delay.

EchoBoy is not any delay plugins mate, you can achieve an endless possibility with this plugin, and thank goodness, they’ve loaded it with super awesome rhythm. Simply switch EchoBoy to Rhythm Echo mode for a new experience entirely. In this mode EchoBoy lets you select the rhythmic timing of up to 16 repeats. Rhythm Mode is like having a tape echo with up to 16 read heads (or “taps”).

You can add taps to the Rhythm Editor graph, control their timing, and sculpt their loudness curve using the Shape control. Rhythm Echo mode is a unique take on delay effects that might just become your new secret weapon in the studio.

►Key Features

• Choose from 30 different echo styles: Echoplex, Space Echo, Memory Man, DM-2, and many more
• Warm-up vocals with high-end tape sound modeled on the Ampex ATR-102
• Control saturation, tape flutter, and diffusion for strikingly analog-sounding effects
• Create rich stereo delays with Dual and Ping-Pong modes
• Adjust shuffle, swing, and accent. The only echo with true “groove”
• Design one-of-a-kind rhythmic delay effects using Rhythm Echo mode

►System Requirements

Plug-in Formats (64-bit only):

• AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite, VST, and Audio Units (AU)

Supported Sample Rates:

• Minimum: 44.1 kHz, Maximum: 192 kHz

Minimum Requirements:

• Operating systems: Mac OS X 10.8 or later; Windows 7 or later
• An internet connection is required at the time of activation
• A FREE account at ilok.com is required (a physical USB iLok is not required)

Officially Supported Host Applications

All version 5 Soundtoys products come with 64-bit VST, AU, and AAX Native plug-in formats. Here is a list of all of the DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) that we currently support:

• Fl Studio 10 and above (I personally tested this, that is what I used in the audio demo above)
• Pro Tools 10.3.5 – 2018 (Mac & PC: AAX Native and AudioSuite)
• Logic Pro 9 & X (​Mac: AudioUnits)
• Ableton Live 9.2.2 – 10.1 (Mac: AudioUnits & VST; Windows: VST)
• Digital Performer 8 – 10 (​Mac: AudioUnits & VST; Windows: VST)
• Studio One 4.5 (Mac: AudioUnits & VST; Windows: VST)
• Cubase 7 – 10 (Mac & PC: VST)
• ​Nuendo 6 – 10 (​Mac & PC: VST)

2.) Modnetic by Surreal Machines (Paid)

Modenetic offers comprehensive emulation of classic analog tape delay hardware from the 1970s. No mere slavish analog emulation.

You’ll find four powerful effects in one: supreme analog emulated tape delay, extremely realistic spring reverb choices, bucket brigade chorus/ flanger/phaser, and classic tone.

Also, it features a classic digital phaser, reverse-tape, and clickless real-time routing options, which is also built solid enough for live performance as well as to transform your studio.

Modnetic has been optimized from the ground up for better quality and performance, as well as a wider and new set of sounds.

►Key Features:

• An Echo section with three combinable virtual tape heads, two different reverse delay effects, and a hold mode for immediately sustained loops.
• A Reverb section with 35 carefully crafted IRs
• A Modulation section featuring chorus, flanger, and phaser effects, including analog models inspired by BBDs (Bucket Brigade Devices), clean digital effects, and special sonically ‘broken’ flavors.
• Four vintage machine ‘characters’ that affect the tonal and sonic qualities of the delay and modulation effects, with a character dial that controls the strength of the selected ‘machine style’
• Comprehensive routing options for blending the three effects in unique and creative ways
• Rewritten from scratch since the original Max For Live version to be fully optimized for both sound and performance in all modern DAWs

►System Requirements

Mac:

• OS X Lion (10.7) or higher
• 32 bit or 64-bit VST 2.4, VST 3 or Audio Unit host
• Minimum Intel i5 CPU and 4GB RAM or more recommended

Windows:

• Windows 7, 8 or 10
• 32 bit or 64-bit VST 2.4 or VST 3 host
• Minimum Intel i5 CPU and 4GB RAM or more recommended

3.) Imperial Delay by Boz Digital Labs (Paid)

Imperial Delay is designed to be simple and as well versatile, it gives you full control over every nuance of your delay but does so in a way that doesn’t get in the way of your creative side.

It features a built ducking (sidechaining) where the direct signal brings down the level of the delay effect to avoid mumbling of too many frequencies. Also, you get a dynamic feedback, which has two levels of feedback, level-dependent on the loudness of the input signal.

One of the features I really dig is the Pitch function, this gives you the ability to independently detune left and right channels. It can create interesting effects, as well as doubling. In subtle amounts, it enhances stereo width without phase issues.

The smear knob provides a low-pass filter effect for placing the delay signal deeper into the background, with the effect applied progressively with each feedback pass.

►System Requirements

Available Formats

• Win: VST 32/64, RTAS, AAX Native
• Mac: VST 32/64, AU 32/64, RTAS, AAX Native

4.) Deleight by Audiority (Paid)

Deleight by Audiority is a stereo multi-tap delay processor that is based on a ’90s digital delays hardware processors.

It does more than just a mere delay plugin, it features multiple delay-based effects, whether you want super simple echoes to multi-voice choruses, flangers, doublers, early reverbs, and more. Enable Loop mode to set Deleight as a looper device, with Speed and Reverse controls, to create special effects and textures.

One feature worth mention is the Loop mode, you can create amazing effects with this function, also, it supports loop mode with speed as well as reverse controls, this would be awesome when used together with an automation clip.

►Key Features

• Stereo Multi-Tap Delay (4+4 Taps)
• Delay Buffer of 5 seconds
• 7 Time Ranges
• Tempo Sync
• Left, Right and Feedback channels
• Normal and Cross channel feedback modes
• LFO with 11 waveforms
• Channel Linking
• Loop Mode (with Speed and Reverse controls)
• Resizeable User Interface

Best Free Delay Vst Reddit

►System Requirements

Best Free Vst Delay

Mac:

• OS X 10.7.5 or later
• VST2, AU, and AAX (32-bit or 64-bit host)
• Intel i3 or higher
• 2GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024 × 768

Best Free Stereo Delay Plugin

PC:

• Windows XP SP3 or later
• VST2, AAX (32-bit or 64-bit host)
• Intel i3 or higher
• 2GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024 × 768

5.) Reverser Snapin by kiloHearts (Paid)

This is a simple and superb plugin by kiloHearts, Reverser does a delay and a reverse section of the input sound, this is particularly handy when you are either trying to break into sections in your music arrangement.

You can either use it as a regular VST/AU plugin, or you can use it with kiloHearts snapin hosts Multipass and Snap Heap where you can combine effects in amazing ways.

►System Requirements:

• CPU: 2 GHz or faster
• Memory: 1 GB or more
• Operating System: Windows (7 or newer) or Mac OS X (10.7 or newer)
• A VST / Audio Unit / AAX compatible DAW
• Supported formats: AAX / AU / VST2 / Snapin

6.) PlexiTape by Audiority (Paid)

PlexiTape is a clean emulation of a vintage tape echo that made “THE SOUND” of the ’70s for its tone and reliability. Audiority modeled the full mechanism of the original tape echo, e.g the motor, tape, FET preamplifier, heads, and even the infamous “Sound On Sound”.

SOS allows you to use bypass the echo and therefore use the tape as a looping recorder.

Furthermore, Audiority expanded it with new features including a full stereo double delay line, tempo sync, and more.

►Key Features:

• Analog Modeled Vintage Solid State Tape Echo
• Auxiliary Echo with Echo Pan for full stereo effects
• 3 Echo Modes: Echo, Off (Preamp + Tape color only), and Sound On Sound
• 2 FET Preamp models: Early and Late
• 2 Playback Modes: Regular (with Varispeed) and Sync
• Varispeed from 3 to 15 IPS
• Echo Tone equalizer
• Internal hum noise (fully adjustable, for increased realism and self-oscillation)
• Resizable interface

►System Requirements:

PC

• Windows 7 64bit or later
• Intel i5 or higher
• 2GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024×768
• VST2, VST3, AAX 64-bit host

MAC

• OSX 10.8 or later
• Intel i5 or higher
• 2GB RAM
• Screen resolution: 1024×768
• VST2, VST3, AU, AAX 64-bit host

7.) Easy Supra Delay (Free)

Easy Supra Delay plugin by easytoolz is a free stereo delay plugin.

Features:

• Stereo-Delay-FX
• ModulationTime -> 10 sec (Free Run) – Feedback
• 2 LFO´s (Free-Run – 6 waves )
• Bitcrusher – Downsampling
• Filter (LP-HP-BP-BR) Cutoff – Resonance
• Pan – Mix
• 16 Presets plus, you can also make your own

System Requirements:

• Win32 and VST only

8.) Adam Monroe’s Delay (Free)

Adam Monroe’s Delay is a free delay VST/AU/ AAX plugin. It features traditional delay parameters such as time and feedback, as well as high/low-pass filtering and synchronized ping-pong panning.

It supports both 32 and 64-bit version:

Download: Win VST / Win AAX / Mac VST / Mac AU

9.) Proximity (Free)

Proximity is easy to use delay plugin based on several psycho-acoustic models. The idea is to give mixing engineers a reliable tool for manipulating the depth of several sound sources in a straight forward and convincing manner.

It is available in both 32 and 64-bits versions for Windows and Mac OS X in VST & AU format.

Download: Windows / Mac

10.) MykraDelay v3.0 (Free)

MykraDelay is a discontinued delay plugin by Mykrawaves, and comes loaded with tons of features for delaying purposes.

Features:

• Auto tempo detection
• Independent Left and Right channel delay times and feedback amounts (linkable sliders)
• Peaking filter in the feedback path
• Stereo widening / narrowing & pan settings

System Requirements:

• Vst and windows only