So, I have another stupid pedal idea. If you had the choice, would you have a delay pedal that had multiple types of delays, or one single style of delay that had tap tempo?
The correct answer of course is "both", but I want to build 3xFV-1 based pedal and I'm told tap tempo isn't very well implemented in those. I guess I could use a pt based delay in the build, but I already have 3-4 of those kicking around (2 with TT in multis).
Convince me one way or the other guys!
Could you elaborate on the first option, "multiple types of delays"?
Are you talking about the difference between say, a Timeline which has lots of delays, and an El Capistan which has one type of delay?
I think both have their place, and it really depends on the quality of the delay and the tap tempo. I think you have your answer, because if the tap doesn't work well, the pedal won't be what you want ultimately. However, if you really need a good tap tempo system, perhaps you need to explore something else, and build a good FV-1 Delay that you don't need tap with, but can use because of it's many good sounding delays.
Jacob
I have a Mr Black Solid State Echo Chamber and it's got a straight forward tap tempo, as in no subdivisions. I did open it up and it looks like the tap is implemented with the fv-1 chip. If I remember correctly I saw 1 fv-1 chip and 2 24LC32A chips in there. This is off memory from a couple moths ago, but it looked like the tap was hooked up to one chip. It's quite a fun pedal. So it might be possible to get that going.
I like the aesthetic of a delay without tap tempo because it hearkens back to the days of tape delays and Memory Mans (Men? Mens?) where you turned a knob and found a delay time by ear. I haven't built a tap tempo delay, but I see the value of having one. I use the Line6 Echo Park if I want tap tempo.
I have a Behringer Vintage Time Machine, a Boss DD-6, and a Joyo D-Seed. Only the D-Seed has tap tempo, but you have to hit both foot switches at the same time for that. If I had to choose I'd go with multiple delay types over tap tempo, but I can see why someone else would go the other way.
I may well get yet another pedal if I find an affordable one with an easy-to-use tap tempo. Note I said affordable. The three delays I have cost me about 150 Euros for the lot (the DD-6 was used) - I'm not really Strymon's or Eventide's target market.
The main benefit I see to tap tempo is easily getting your timing set correctly for multiple songs. So if you've already built that option then build the multi and play around with those.