Using the Reaktor Echomania Dub Delay Ensemble as an Effects Plugin

There are a lot of great delay plugins out there, and you can even create your very own using Reaktor. But with the Reaktor Echomania ensemble, you don’t have to! It is full of all the features you are probably looking for in a nice dub delay and it plays well with just about any sound. The wide range of sonic possibilities seems never-ending with this ensemble and is pretty intuitive to use. Of course, you can use this effect one sounds for projects other than dub. In fact, it works magic on classical instruments, experimental sounds and even acoustic folk. Let’s take a look at how this thing works and what it can do!

To begin with, we should probably understand how it works and what some of the capabilities are. To use this ensemble as an effects plugin, first load an instance of ReaktorFX as an insert on either a software instrument track or an audio channel. By default the Reaktor Echomania ensemble is synced to your DAW MIDI clock at a rate of 1/16. The Unit and Time parameters allow you to easily change this, which will result in different rhythmic elements and overall feel. You can affect both Delay and EQ Modulation with LFOs. The LFOs can use the default sine wave or a triangle wave, by toggling the Tri button(s) on their panels. The EQ panel allows you to focus in on a specific frequency range to work with and adjust the resonance and accent of that range selected. There are feedback, distortion/drive and noise options, too. So between all of this, and the ability to adjust the overall mix, you can accomplish quite a bit in very little time. Going from very gentle and subtle to extreme and uncomfortable in seconds.

To show how flexible the Reaktor Echomania ensemble is I have selected a short clip of a bavarian bass to play with. Here it is untouched.

[audio:https://www.nireaktor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Untouched-Bavarian-Bass.mp3|titles=Untouched Bavarian Bass]

And here it is using a snapshot called Spooky Resonance.

[audio:https://www.nireaktor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Spooky-Resonance.mp3|titles=Spooky Resonance]

Here it is again using a snapshot called 3/16th Dub.

[audio:https://www.nireaktor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/316th-Dub.mp3|titles=3/16th Dub]

You can also create your own snapshots, like this one that makes turns a bassline into a round.

[audio:https://www.nireaktor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Bass-in-a-Round.mp3|titles=Bass in a Round]

You can begin taking advantage of the built-in noise oscillator and pitch shifting capabilities to create sounds like this one.

[audio:https://www.nireaktor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Noisy-Frequency-Shifter.mp3|titles=Noisy Frequency Shifter]

Simply put, the Reaktor Echomania ensemble is one that should be getting more use in a lot of music. And it is a wonderful tool to use on FX and in foley projects, too! And don’t forget that you can change the capabilities and features of this ensemble by switching to Structure view, where all fo the routing and wiring is shown.

Remember to shoot us a message before you leave if you have a tutorial request, or would like to share one of your own with the community.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers,
OhmLab