HY-Plugins Releases HY-Delay 2 VST/AU Plugin (REVIEW)

HY-Plugins has released HY-Delay 2, a delay VST/AU plugin for PC and Mac. The plugin is available in two different versions, the feature-limited Free version and the Full version which is priced at $40 (reviews of both versions available below).

Let’s start with the Free version, as it is virtually identical to the Simple Delay mode found in the Full version of HY-Delay 2. The Simple Delay mode features a bitcrusher module on the input, followed by the delay (delay time and offset) and feedback (feedback amount and crossfeed) controls, filter and soft clip modules, and the output section with input/output gain and stereo width controls. It is quite similar to the old HY-Delay in terms of functionality, although the soft clip and stereo width options are a welcome addition to the basic feature set.

The free version of HY-Delay 2 Free is fully functional, except for the fact that it lacks the five additional delay modes that are available in the full version of the product. Users looking for an easy to use delay plugin with all the necessary basic features (and a few extras), should definitely give HY-Delay 2 Free a try. It is particularly well suited for use in dub, reggae, dub techno and similar music styles, as it is capable of emulating the quirky character of old tape and digital delay units. The plugin can be downloaded completely free of charge from the developer’s website, no registration required.

HY-Delay 2 Review

The full version of HY-Delay 2 (priced at $40) is the first commercial product released by HY-Plugins, a company that stormed the budget friendly music software world earlier this year with a series of excellent freeware VST and AU plugin. HY-Delay 2 Full features the Simple Delay mode found in the free version of the plugin, with the addition of Stereo Delay, Twin Delay, M-Tap Delay, Pitch Delay and Filter Delay modes. The different modes are selected using the menu of the left hand side of the user interface. It is not possible to use multiple delay modes within a single instance of the plugin.

There’s little point in describing each delay mode in detail because there’s a lot of similarity between them, so let’s take a quick look at some of the highlights. Pitch Delay is tremendous fun to use, especially when the pitch shift module is placed in the feedback path, potentially resulting in some utterly crazy sounding risers and ambient swells. On the other hand, placing the pitch shifter on the input or the output can be used for, say, turning single notes into chords, so there’s a lot of room for creative use. The M-Tap Delay is a close second in terms of tweakability, providing four delay “taps” that turn HY-Delay 2 into a rather capable rhythmic effect.

One particularly great thing about HY-Delay 2 is the fact that the developer decided to create a tabbed user interface with access to six different delay modes, instead of going for one huge interface with all of the features crammed into a single panel. This way, we’re basically getting six well optimized delay effects in one, instead of a monstrous feature-packed delay plugin with questionable user friendliness and efficiency. Sure, having all of these features (filters, pitch shifting, soft clipping, tap delay, etc.) on a single panel would look impressive on the screenshots, but dialing in the right settings each time you load the plugin would probably be a rather tedious task.

The user interface is well designed and clean looking. It is fully scalable, which is good news for users with higher resolution screens. The plugin performs equally well in all six modes, with the average CPU hit ranging somewhere between 2% and 4% per instance. The installation process can be automatic or manual, depending on the type of installer package that you choose to download from the developer’s website. Upon purchase, you will receive your personal product key which should be entered to unlock the full version of the software (before unlocking, the plugin will operate in demo mode with occasional volume drops).

The Verdict

The free version of HY-Delay 2 is a recommended download for virtually anyone looking for a simple and easy to use freeware delay effect. The commercial version of HY-Delay 2 adds five additional modes that basically turn it into a 6-in-1 delay plugin. The asking price of $40 is definitely worth it if you’re looking to add tap delay and pitch delay effects to your sound design arsenal.

More info: HY-Delay 2 ($40)

Last Updated on September 14, 2016 by Tomislav Zlatic.