PolyDelay 1.0.1

PolyDelay Polyrhythmic Delay Plugin (AUv3)

PolyDelay is an audio effect plugin capable of operating in standalone mode or within any AU-compatible host application such as Logic Pro or GarageBand.

Overview

PolyDelay functions as a dual delay line and stereo effect with optional synchronization to host tempo. While it is capable of producing intricate stereo polyrhythmic delays, it also offers standard delay patterns such as dotted eighth and quarter note triplets.

Polyrhythms, Divisions, and Beats

The plugin calculates delay times based on a specified BPM (beats per minute) and utilizes a polyrhythmic notation D:B, where D represents divisions and B denotes beats. For instance, a setting of 3:2 indicates that the delay time corresponds to dividing two beats by three. This notation may initially be counterintuitive for those accustomed to note durations like quarter notes or dotted eighths, but the following explanations aim to clarify this process.

Fundamentally, the timing begins with the beat. At 120BPM, each beat (or quarter note) lasts 500 milliseconds. For a quarter note delay, both Divs and Beats are set to 1, representing one division per beat.

Typical note values at 120BPM include:

• 1/4 note: 500ms = 1:1 (length of one beat divided by one)
• 1/8 note: 250ms = 2:1 (length of one beat divided by two)
• 1/16 note: 125ms = 4:1
• 1/32 note: approx. 63ms = 8:1

The divisions double with each shorter note value. Additionally, dotted and triplet notes create more complex relationships. For example:

• 1/4D (dotted quarter): approx. 750ms = 2:3
• 1/4T (quarter triplet): approx. 333ms = 3:2
• 1/8D (dotted eighth): approx. 375ms = 4:3
• 1/8T (eighth triplet): approx. 167ms = 3:1

A common stereo delay setup might involve setting the left channel to 1:1 (quarter note) and the right channel to 4:3 (dotted eighth) with the stereo width maximized. For longer delay times, a setting like 1:8 results in approximately four seconds at 120BPM in Normal Mode or eight seconds when set to Half. The plugin’s presets include various examples, both conventional and experimental, to facilitate initial exploration.

The true potential of PolyDelay emerges when experimenting with unconventional divisions such as 5:4 or 2:7, which generate complex polyrhythmic textures. Applying these settings to simple sequences or rhythmic elements can reveal intriguing rhythmic interactions and sonic phenomena that challenge perceptual expectations.

Additional tone-shaping options include adjustable stereo width, high- and low-pass filters, stereo modulation, and internal limiting for level management.

For further information and support, please visit:

• www.waverley-instruments.com/robjackson