Welcome to Zystrix...

What’s new at Zystrix? Read on… February 3, 2025 Delay Pedals for the Metal Guitarist In the last issue we looked at modulation pedals (click here for a refresher) and this issue we’re going to look at the most bang-for- the-buck budget delay pedals for the metal guitarist. And there are so many delay pedals to wade through as to be staggering. So sit back and relax. Welcome to Zystrix, the heartbeat of the universe. Where creativity and free-thinking have more value than conformity. Background Artwork The colorful artwork that surrounds the edges of this website is invisible to many cell phone users. It’s included here for your enjoyment. Multiple copies are tiled together for a cohesive and seamless background seen all around this page. Enjoy. Introduction There are more delay pedals for the metal guitarist than ever before. And this listing does not pretend to be all inclusive, but in this issue we’re going to find the best bang-for-the-buck budget delay pedals available. They’ve got to have a great sound, more features, and of course, a good price with free shipping. As for me I never use them (except live) because there are so many free delay effects available that are plugins for a DAW. If needed I would use the free DAW plugins and then shop for pedals that could duplicate that sound. Now that I think about it, someone could make a lot of money designing and selling a pedal that utilized plugins. Hmm, note to self… At any rate, here are the best value-shopping delay pedals I found... THE FINE PRINT: We never use affiliate links to monetize this website. Unlike most music websites, Zystrix never receives any commission on any gear or software you may purchase via a link on this website. Ever. This keeps our reviews dead honest, and also helps keep your price of gear lower. Behringer VD400 This pedal is excellent, at least for the money. It’s an analog sounding mono echo and it’s great for short delays, and it has that familiar smudge in the longer repeats. If the pedal used before it is stereo (like a modulation pedal) then the signal will be mono when it’s plugged into this one. I found this pedal all day brand new for $25.00 USA, and even cheaper if you look for them used. To learn more or purchase one click here. If you need a delay pedal backup or you’re just experimenting then at this price it’s a steal. Just get it. Flamma FC17 This is another retro or vintage analog sounding delay pedal that’s good for the money. The timings range from 25ms – 600ms, but there is no tap tempo option. The pedal feels quite sturdy, it has a very small footprint on a pedal-board, and it offers true bypass. There’s not much more to add to this description except that the price is affordable. For $29.90 USA and free shipping it’s another bargain in the delay pedal world. Click here to get more info or to make a purchase of the Flamma FC17. Donner Yellow Fall And just when you thought it was safe to go outside, here’s yet another mono- in mono-out yellow vintage sounding delay pedal with a small footprint. It has the usual three knobs and true bypass. I was having a little trouble finding a reliable seller for this one, but if you do a search on the Walmart online shopping website they are available for $39.99 and free shipping. A simple pedal with a great sound at a great price. Harley Benton D-Seed Saying this delay pedal is dual channel is a little confusing at first. This delay is mono-in and mono-out, not stereo, but it has two delay function features that can be layered together for greater complexity. Tap tempo is also available by tapping both foot-switches at the same time. But the challenge becomes doing it successfully every time it’s needed. The versatility is quite good, the sound quality is good, and it’s a very solid feeling pedal, especially for the price. It also has two places for storing sounds. It’s hard to find too much fault with this affordable pedal. However, the main fault I do have is I couldn’t find a reliable seller here in the USA or I’d post their link. I finally found the pedal by doing a search on a music gear website called Reverb for $55.00 USA and free shipping. Joyo Aquarius This is the price point ($73.00 USA) where delay pedals start to cook in value and features. However, we’re still talking about a mono-in mono-out delay. But now there’s even more multi-mode delay choices and it has the addition of a 300 second looper (5 minutes) that can be used with the delay at the same time, if needed. The Aquarius features 8 digital delay effects built in with tap tempo. The effects are: Digital Delay, Analog Delay, Tape Echo, Tube Echo, Reverse Echo, Low Bit, Galaxy, and Mod which adds chorus modulation to the repeats. There are a lot of cool pristine sounds to be had from this pedal. Click here to learn more or purchase a Joyo Aquarius. Flamma FS03 Stereo Delay This pedal is the first one on the list that offers stereo inputs and stereo outputs. Yeah, baby. That means if you also run a stereo output modulation pedal (or whatever you have that’s stereo) before it you can still maintain your stereo image. The FS03 has 6 algorithms: Tape, Liquid, Rainbow, Galaxy, Mod-Verse, and Low Bit. Each algorithm slot (7 user storable presets) can be used to save your favorite setting. It also has an 80 second looper, tap tempo, trail function for keeping the tails of the effects when the pedal is switched out of the circuit, and true bypass. And amazingly it’s only $78.00 USA with free shipping. Click here to learn more or to purchase a Flamma FS03. Mooer D7 X2 This stereo input and output delay pedal has 14 kinds of stereo delay effects: Analog, Digital, Tape, MoodVerse, Ping-Pong , Dynamic, Dual, Galaxy, Mod, Liquid, Fuzz, Rainbow, Crystal, and Low Bit. Tap tempo is offered by using the foot switch, and the echo tail hold function can be turned on or off. There are two tweak knobs for each effect and, depending on which effect you choose, will change how the tweak knobs filter the effect. The power supply is included with the pedal using 9V DC transformer at 300 mA to 500 mA. To my ear the effects range from vintage to modern to space-age. It’s a pretty cool pedal for $140.00 USA and free shipping. Click here to learn more or to purchase a Mooer D7 X2. T-Rex Replay Box The T-Rex Replay Box from Denmark features stereo input and stereo output, and the DSP processes each side individually similar to having identical delay pedals for each side. This pedal is simple to use, and the repeats are basically what you put in is what you get out. It’s a pristine clean and perfect delay – no modulation – just delay. It also features tap tempo, up to 3 seconds of delay time, and a small footprint. It can also use a 9-volt battery or a power supply (not included). This one’s a great sounding basic no-frills pedal for people who prefer simplicity. The big problem I found with this pedal is that it’s hard to find, but I did locate it at the Walmart online shopping website for $159.00 USA and free shipping. Boss DD-8 This clean sounding digital delay pedal has stereo input and output jacks which allow for mono only, mono input and stereo output, stereo input and output for a wide guitar sound, or wet and dry outputs, or wet only. That would probably cover all a person’s eventualities. And it can even run on a battery if needed (although not for very long) if your power supply poops out. There are eleven delay options: Digital, Analog and Tape, Reverse, Modulated, Shimmer, a Warp for delay feedback swells, Warm for softer repeats, and more. There’s a switch on the rear panel to select between hard bypass and maintaining the delay tails. The looper has a maximum loop time of 40 seconds in mono or 20 seconds in stereo. There’s even a jack for using external switches or an expression pedal for accessing even more sound features. There’s a surprising amount of sonic horsepower in this little gem. I found them used or open box for up to $50 off the typical new price of $179.99 and free shipping. Click here to learn more or to purchase a Boss DD-8 Delay Pedal. Line 6 DL4 MkII Delay This slightly smaller new version of the classic pedal from 1999 has lots more useful features than the original. There are the original pedal 15 delay sounds as well as 15 entirely new delay settings and an expandable looper. The internal memory allows up to two minutes of looper in stereo mono or four minutes of looper in mono. And the memory can be expanded for even longer loops with a micro SD card inserted. It also has stereo input and stereo outputs, if needed, a microphone input for vocal loops, and it’s possible to connect an external expression pedal for even greater control. It even has MIDI in and out/through for controlling the device via MIDI clock or even syncing it up with your favorite DAW (digital audio workstation) like a rack mount unit. Excellent. There are 6 different presets available via the foot switches or use the MIDI input to access 128 settings on the fly. This pedal would make a great addition to a home studio for external echo. It also features tap tempo for live use, true bypass, and a hidden reverb function. The effects include the ones from the original pedal: Tube Echo, Tape Echo, Multi- Head, Sweep, Analog, Analog Mod, Lo Resolution, Digital, Digital with Modulation, Echo Platter, Stereo, Ping Pong, Reverse, Dynamic, and Auto-Volume. And it also has these new extra effects that were not on the original: Heliosphere, Transistor, Cosmos, Multi Pass, Adriatic, Elephant Man, Glitch, Vintage Digital, Crisscross, Euclidean, Dual Delay, Pitch Echo, ADT, Ducked, and Harmony. There’s a lot of features crammed into this reduced size pedal, especially at $249.99 with free shipping, but if you look around there are used and open box ones out there for $25.00 to $70.00 less. Click here to learn more or to purchase a Line 6 DL4 MkII Delay. Extraordinary. Delay Pedals -- Conclusion It’s easier to choose a delay pedal if you know in advance what it is you need from your delay pedal, or if you can predict what you’ll need in the future. By the way, 90% of guitar beginners quit playing in their first year according to Guitar Inside Out… so your purchase decision may hinge on just starting out. And if so, the occasional off-on quick repeat delay requires much less pedal power and money, so it’s a great way to learn. However, the person who needs lots of control with plenty of options and presets, well, those options were listed here too, and usually those musicians intrinsically know what they need. Do you plan on using a modulation pedal in the future? Is it stereo? A tap tempo feature is quite helpful in a live band setting, that is, if you play live. The option to run the inputs and outputs in mono or stereo is nice, but as your pedal board grows, a stereo input and output is always much better sounding and just plain more fun. MIDI control for external tempo control (especially from a studio DAW) is simply a beautiful bonus. I hope this list has helped you and maybe inspired you with your future delay pedal decisions. Don’t touch that dial… Stay tuned next time… Party! Delay is cool, but what pedal comes next on a pedal board? What else? Reverb. We’re going to look at some exclusively reverb stomp-boxes that are great sounding and inexpensive -- at least hopefully. Good reverb is not usually cheap. Just like we did here, we’ll be value (not price) shopping for more bang-for-the-buck goodies. Maybe I’ll see you next time. I’m on a whiskey diet. So far I’ve lost three days. Knowledge, art, and music for all.

Zystrix = a source, shaman, or library disseminating secret or lost knowledge, art, or music.

ZYSTRIX POPULAR FREE DOWNLOADS The Best Free Synthesizers of 2024 It’s another epic issue, and there’s lots of FREE downloads here. And the Honorable Mention Synthesizer List might surprise you. This list is long, so prepare yourself. And if it seems like too much to take in, I warned you. Click here for the official list of The Best Free Synthesizers of 2024. The Best Free Mastering Plugins Your DAW (digital audio workstation) will be so happy. And so will you. Here are the best of the best for EQ, compression, limiting, tube and tape emulation, reverb, delay, and honorable mentions. This list is a must have with lots of downloads. Check out The Best FREE Plugins for Mastering 2024. Here’s a free download of almost one and a half hours of original neo-classical solo piano by Dangerous Neighbors. This full length album called Piano Top to Bottom consists of 18 original piano pieces with the final piece in two movements. There is a bonus track making 20 files total. This download comes in three format options: the first option is a single file MP3 containing all the tunes in one chunk similar to tape recordings. The second download option is a folder with all of the separate MP3 piano pieces named and arranged in album order similar to a CD or MP3 player. The third download option is similar to videos found on “ZooTube” with the names and times on the screen. There is also a fourth surprise version made only for “ZooTube” and it is edited down to less than 15 minutes long because of their telephone number required rule. Basically it just guides the listener here. To download any or all of these options simply click here. Enjoy. Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses Introducing the next generation in guitar cabinet impulse responses. Try the new Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12. All of these cab IR files are based on old, new, and boutique 4x12 cab curves. All are recorded in beautiful 24-bit 48K mono and will work on most free and paid digital convolvers. Hear the guitar IR breathe fire with pure attitude. Don’t be suckered in with high-dollar sales pitches, there ain’t no guitar IR downloads better than these. Choose from many cab sound recording styles: cone, edge, angled, arm away, inside cab, back of cab, or back of room. Djammincabs is the world leader in guitar cab IR invention -- no other guitar IR company can imitate these. Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12 makes it easier for you to design your own personalized sound -- even your own Metal IR pack. If you can’t find a cabinet or combination you like here, then you don’t like 4x12 cabinets. This guitar IR download also includes a Tactical Munitions Manual with suggested uses and detailed cab combinations. This is the best free guitar impulse download available anywhere. Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12 “Murder Your Competition.” I feel brave. I want to try them now. Here’s my email... Djammincabs for Guitar Free Guitar Impulse Responses This is the original Djammincabs guitar cabinet impulse response collection that started it all. Click here to download over 200 Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses. Djammincabs for Bass Guitar Download Free Bass Impulse Responses Click here to download over 200 Free Bass Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses. Best Free Guitar Impulses. The Top 11 Best Free Guitar and Bass Cabinet Impulse Responses for 2022 (in alphabetical order…) Find, download, and test the best free guitar cabinet impulse responses for 2022. FREE BASS LOOPS SAMPLES DOWNLOAD ROYALTY FREE BASS LOOP SAMPLES FREE BASS LOOPS Over 200 samples are included in the collection Download the complete collection of 24-bit bass loops here. NOTE: This download size is approximately 369 Megs. Free Pendulate Synthesizer Presets Original Newfangled Audio Pendulate synth patches/presets Click here to download over 240 Free Pendulate Synth Presets (patches) Synapse Audio Dune Synthesizer Download Over 200 Free Synapse Audio Dune 2 and Dune 3 Synthesizer Patches and Presets Click here to download over 200 FREE Synapse Audio Dune 2 or Dune 3 synthesizer patches or presets. NOTE: This synth patch download is slightly over 1 Meg in size. Free Reverb Impulse Responses This is our most popular download page. Choose from hundreds available in 48K 24 bit WAV format including many new original reverbs. CabSpace Over 400 Guitar Isolation Booth Reverbs Download over 400 Free Zystrix Original Reverb Impulse Responses, and over 200 Free Zystrix Original BONUS Reverb Impulse Responses. Download all the Alesis MIDIVerb 4 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Lexicon MPX-1 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Alesis Wedge reverb impulse responses. Download over 50 Reverb Relics from the past including oil cans. Click here to download free reverb impulse responses. Free Drum Samples Only Available from Zystrix Free Gong Samples and Sounds Free Snare Drum Samples and Sounds Free Bass Drum Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Cymbal Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Bells Samples and Sounds The Ultimate Original Drum Sounds List Download over 2000 original slammin’ rock bass drums. Download original Gongs, Cymbals, Broken Cymbals, and Bells. Download Over 200 Free Original Bass Drum Sounds and Samples. Download over 200 Original Free snare drum sounds. Click here to download Drum Kit Sounds. Dangerous Neighbors The SW Michigan Rock Band Power Trio. Free Rockin’ Music Downloads Download tunes from the 80s to today. Use the special codes on the Embalmed for Life page (see the DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS link below) and get free downloads for the complete album and the free horror audio book The Fluid - Embalmed for Life. Click here to download various music from the rock band Dangerous Neighbors. Download Free Synth Samples for Intros, Interludes, and Endings Listen to example #01 by clicking here (MP3 Sample) Download FREE professional quality stereo sample packs that slowly evolve over time. All samples are in 48K 24 bit WAV format and are about 20 seconds long or more. If you like suspense, psycho, outer space, or terror then this collection is for you. These range from paranoia to sci-fi, cinematic gore to strange industrial horror, and creepy creatures to insane laboratories. Click here to download all the synth Intros, Interludes, and Endings. DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS The Fluid, Embalmed for Life There are Free Audio Book codes for Audible downloads (must sign up). There are also free sample downloads of the book reading. There are free downloads of music samples. There is a free “Look Inside” download of the paperback. There is a free glossary of the largest list of mortuary slang in the world. The Free Dangerous Neighbors Album The Fluid, Embalmed for Life comes included as part of the audio book and parts are available here as a free download. The paperback book is available for sale at Amazon dot com. I have no control over these sales; because of the Amazon agreement I cannot offer complete paperback or complete audio books here. And for some reason most book sales go to Japan. Who would have thunk it? Click here for free audio books, book reading samples, music samples, etc. Take me back to the top of the page. Zystrix Privacy Policy THE FINE PRINT: Zystrix is a world leader in personal privacy and we take your privacy very seriously. We do not store, sell, give away, or barter with any of your personal or private information including your email, IP address, links clicked, location, habits, tastes, online activities and behaviors, or anything else considered personal or private information. We never have. Zystrix is not and has never been a participant in any advertising program including but not limited to the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Sweetwater, Reverb, or any other affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees from readers by click-through advertising and linking to the aforementioned or any other companies. Zystrix does not allow companies like Doubleclick, Clickbank, Zedo, Linkbucks, Hubspot or any other related clandestine personal privacy internet problems to occupy space or have any presence on or in the Zystrix website. Zystrix does not and has never used Google Analytics, therefore this site is not required to have those annoying cookie agreement popups. Zystrix has no links associated with the sale or offer of any products, and we do not allow this. Unlike so many other websites similar to this one, this Zystrix privacy policy keeps our reviews dead honest, cuts out any unnecessary middle man, and keeps this website free from cookies and the influences of Google and the many other unethical purveyors of your digital exhaust and personal information. Open source, private, and honest. It’s our mantra.