Flying Delay
Key Features
- Tape emulation slider that adds analog-style saturation and harmonic coloring to delay repeats
- Delay time from 50ms slapback to 5-second ambient trails with host tempo synchronization
- Ping-pong stereo mode for wide left-right echo movement across the stereo field
- Dual 12dB/octave lowpass and highpass filters for shaping the tonal character of repeats
- True mono mode that uses approximately half the CPU of stereo operation
- Fully automatable parameters with fine Ctrl-click adjustment and resizable GUI
- Glitch-free operation with wet signal SNR above 96dB and aliasing below -96dB
Description
Flying Delay by SuperflyDSP is an analog-modeled delay effect that recreates the warm, saturated character of vintage tape echo machines. The Tape slider adds harmonic coloring and subtle saturation to the delayed signal, giving repeats an organic, degraded quality that sits naturally in a mix.
Delay time ranges from 50ms up to five seconds, covering everything from tight slapback to expansive ambient trails. Host tempo sync locks repeats to your project's BPM, while ping-pong mode sends alternating echoes across the stereo field for wide spatial movement.
Built-in lowpass and highpass filters at 12dB per octave let you shape the tonal character of each repeat, darkening tails for a vintage feel or thinning them out to stay behind the dry signal. The wet signal maintains a signal-to-noise ratio above 96dB with aliasing below -96dB, so the analog warmth comes from the tape emulation rather than digital artifacts.
The resizable GUI provides fine parameter adjustment via Ctrl-click, and all controls are fully automatable for evolving delay effects. Flying Delay supports both stereo and true mono operation, with the mono mode using roughly half the CPU resources.
Available as VST3 on Windows and as VST3 plus Audio Unit on macOS, with a Linux build also offered. The plugin follows the VST3 preset saving standard for easy recall across sessions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Flying Delay work on Linux?
Yes. SuperflyDSP provides a native Linux x64 build in VST3 format. An ARM v7 build has also been listed as coming soon on the developer's site.
Can Flying Delay be used as a short reverb?
It can. Setting the delay time to around 50ms creates very short reflections that approximate a tight, room-style reverb effect. Engaging the tape slider adds warmth to these short reflections for a more natural result.
Does the Tape slider affect the dry signal?
No. The dry signal passes through completely unprocessed. Only the wet (delayed) signal is colored by the tape emulation, saturation, and filters, so your original audio stays clean.
What is the difference between the stereo and mono modes?
Stereo mode processes both channels independently and enables the ping-pong feature. True mono mode processes a single channel and uses roughly half the CPU, making it ideal for mono sources like vocals or bass where stereo delay is unnecessary.
