GAIA Exploring Sound (PDF) - Roland Corporation Australia
GAIA Exploring Sound (PDF) - Roland Corporation Australia
GAIA Exploring Sound (PDF) - Roland Corporation Australia
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So now you can choose which method you prefer. Hardware or<br />
software. Either way you can turn on a delay signal.<br />
What is Delay?<br />
We’ve all seen movies where someone might yell out to the<br />
mountains. They say; “hello,” and some time later they hear their<br />
voice return; “hello.” The sound might not be as clear, but is very<br />
definitely an echo of their voice.<br />
This time-delay occurs because sound travels at a finite speed. It<br />
takes some time for the sound of the voice to reach the first<br />
mountain, and then the same amount of time to bounce back.<br />
This is what we refer to as Delay in the <strong>GAIA</strong>. You play a note, and<br />
after a predetermined time-delay you will hear that note played<br />
again.<br />
So, back in the 1980s, how was that effect achieved?<br />
Actually, prior to that, musicians would use what they called a<br />
tape delay, like the very famous <strong>Roland</strong> RE-201.<br />
Figure 10.4 <strong>Roland</strong> RE-201<br />
This device really was an elaborate tape recorder. It had one<br />
record head, and several playback heads. A loop of magnetic<br />
tape would pass the record head, receiving the signal. It would<br />
then travel on to the first playback head.<br />
Depending upon how fast the tape was moving this first playback<br />
head would replay the signal after a small time-delay. The result<br />
was much the same as the guy in the mountains.<br />
However, then the tape would pass more playback heads, each<br />
with a slightly greater delay caused by the tape passing them in<br />
succession. As a result the Delay would be repeated. A sort of;<br />
“hello,” “hello,” hello,” “hello” effect.<br />
Times Change<br />
As time moved on it became obvious that the Tape Delay concept<br />
wasn’t going to last. The tapes would wear out, degrading the<br />
sound. Being a mechanical device the parts would need constant<br />
maintenance.<br />
So a better solution was needed, preferably purely electronic.<br />
One of the earliest solutions was to take advantage of what was<br />
called a “bucket brigade” device.<br />
Imagine a fireman trying to put out a fire. Let’s say that his water<br />
outlet is 15 meters from the blaze. Of course, he could just fill the<br />
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