The Dual Looping Delay (DLD), designed by 4ms and Gary Hall, is an advanced audio processor for creative synthesis. Not a tape or analog emulation but a modern crystal-clear digital delay, the DLD combines features of delay, looping, and sample-tight synchronization for powerful and dynamic sound capture and modification. The DLD is designed to integrate seamlessly with modular timebase and sequencing devices such as the 4ms Quad Clock Distributor (QCD), etc.
What is a "Looping Delay"?
Modern looping devices grew directly from hardware digital delays of the late 70s and early 80s. A looping delay, modeled on units such as the classic Lexicon PCM42, has the very long storage times associated with dedicated looping, but without triggered record and playback functions.
By default, a looping delay records and plays continuously, though recording can be suspended at any time with Infinite Repeat. Sustain of delays and loops is mainly accomplished with regeneration, allowing an organic, evolving approach to sound creation as new material replaces old, more or less gradually. The 4ms Dual Looping Delay also provides advanced clock input and output facilities that allow for locking delayed and looped material with sequencers and rhythmic devices.
Key Features:
Two independent delay/loop channels, synchronized to a common time base
Almost 3 minutes delay/loop time per channel (2:54) in default storage mode (16-bit)
48kHz/16-bit sampling rate, option available for 24-bit storage
Extremely quiet, low noise and low jitter design
Normalled connections of input and output for flexible use in mono, stereo, or dual mode
Tap tempo button and clock Ping input set the basis for one "beat"
Delay/loop time set as a number of musical beats (or fractions of beats) using the Time knob, switch, and CV jack
Sample-accurate clock output for perfect synchronization
Loop clock outputs for each channel
Time switches change range of Time knob from 1/8th notes up to 32 bars
Digital feedback, up to 110%
Delay Level control, independent of dry/wet signal mix
Infinite Hold mode disables recording input and fixes regeneration at exactly 100%
Reverse mode plays memory contents backwards
With an infinite loop locked, knobs or CV can "window" around memory, by shifting the loop
Triggered toggle inputs for Infinite Hold and Reverse
Send and Return on each channel for feedback with external modules
CV jacks to control Time, Level, and Feedback
As new features are developed, firmware can be updated by playing an audio file into the DLD
20HP Eurorack module
New features in firmware version 5:
Ping Lock for each channel
Quantized Inf/Rev/Time Change Mode
24-bit audio (selectable with a jumper)
Reverse and Inf Hold can be toggled with gates or triggers
Delay Feed knob can be selected to be audio or linear taper
Runaway DC at high feedback settings (e.g. resonant delays) is eliminated
Auto-Muting now has a 1ms attack and decay
Cross-fade Time (CFT) for splices is now variable (set in System Mode from 0ms to 500ms)
Selection of External Clock De-jittering algorithms to allow the DLD to sync with many types of external clocks
Exiting Infinite Hold plays through, without restarting loop
- Module size:
- 20 HP Eurorack format module
- 0.98" (25mm) maximum depth with power cable
- Power consumption:
- +12V rail: 188mA max (jumper set to 5V)
- -12V rail: 48mA max
How much is my shipping?
Shipping is automatically calculated before you submit your payment information. Simply add items to your cart and proceed to the checkout page, where you'll be offered shipping options and their prices. In the UK it's normally around £4 for order values under £150, and free above that. Shipping to mainland EU is typically between £7 and £20, depending on the shipping method and the size and weight of the order.
Do you ship to my country?
Almost certainly - the site will give you an estimate of shipping costs if you add an item to the cart and then enter your country and postcode. If you have specific requirements (such as if you prefer UPS over FedEx, for example) then let us know in advance and we'll try to work something out for you.
Shipping methods
We use a combination of Parcelforce, DPD, Royal Mail and UPS for the UK, and for international orders it's either Royal Mail, UPS, DHL or FedEx depending on where you are in the world. If you have a particular preference then try to let us know BEFORE you order so we can look into it for you. Please note that there may occasionally be additional shipping charges if you live in a remote area, depending on what surcharges are applied by the shipper. We'll get in touch to discuss this with you in such cases.
Dispatch times
For UK orders, we normally dispatch the same working day if we get the order before 15:00. If you have a really urgent situation then of course drop us an email before ordering and we'll always do our absolute best to accommodate you.
For international orders, we normally dispatch the same day if we get the order before 13:00 but again, occasionally it might be the next day before we can send it out, and sometimes FedEx or UPS may come a little earlier than scheduled which would also push an order into the next day.
Shipping times
Since April 2020 the couriers we use have suspended guarantees for shipping times, so even though we're paying them for priority services - 24-48 hours for most of the world - in practice it's often an extra day on top and sometimes it can be longer.
There is absolutely nothing we can do about this unfortunately. If you are outside the UK and it's a life-or-death situation where you absolutely MUST have that passive mult for the next day then... it may be better to find a local supplier.
Saturday shipping
If you're in the UK and you order before 15:30 on a Friday then we can send something for a Saturday delivery (NB: this applies to UK mainland addresses only). The success rate with DPD is about 95% so it's worth a punt most of the time. Please note that if you select Saturday shipping on an order placed earlier in the week, we'll wait until Friday to ship it.
Pre-orders
If a product is listed as a pre-order, it means we've ordered it from the supplier but it's not physically in stock yet. The product listing will include an estimated shipping date based on the best information we have from the supplier, but do bear in mind this is subject to change and is not a guaranteed date.
If you place an order containing a mixture of in-stock and pre-order items, we'll normally hold off on shipping anything until the pre-order item(s) have arrived, rather than splitting it into multiple shipments. If you need the in-stock items sooner, we'd recommend placing separate orders. As always, please get in touch if you have questions.
Product Overview
The Dual Looping Delay (DLD), designed by 4ms and Gary Hall, is an advanced audio processor for creative synthesis. Not a tape or analog emulation but a modern crystal-clear digital delay, the DLD combines features of delay, looping, and sample-tight synchronization for powerful and dynamic sound capture and modification. The DLD is designed to integrate seamlessly with modular timebase and sequencing devices such as the 4ms Quad Clock Distributor (QCD), etc.
What is a "Looping Delay"?
Modern looping devices grew directly from hardware digital delays of the late 70s and early 80s. A looping delay, modeled on units such as the classic Lexicon PCM42, has the very long storage times associated with dedicated looping, but without triggered record and playback functions.
By default, a looping delay records and plays continuously, though recording can be suspended at any time with Infinite Repeat. Sustain of delays and loops is mainly accomplished with regeneration, allowing an organic, evolving approach to sound creation as new material replaces old, more or less gradually. The 4ms Dual Looping Delay also provides advanced clock input and output facilities that allow for locking delayed and looped material with sequencers and rhythmic devices.
Key Features:
Two independent delay/loop channels, synchronized to a common time base
Almost 3 minutes delay/loop time per channel (2:54) in default storage mode (16-bit)
48kHz/16-bit sampling rate, option available for 24-bit storage
Extremely quiet, low noise and low jitter design
Normalled connections of input and output for flexible use in mono, stereo, or dual mode
Tap tempo button and clock Ping input set the basis for one "beat"
Delay/loop time set as a number of musical beats (or fractions of beats) using the Time knob, switch, and CV jack
Sample-accurate clock output for perfect synchronization
Loop clock outputs for each channel
Time switches change range of Time knob from 1/8th notes up to 32 bars
Digital feedback, up to 110%
Delay Level control, independent of dry/wet signal mix
Infinite Hold mode disables recording input and fixes regeneration at exactly 100%
Reverse mode plays memory contents backwards
With an infinite loop locked, knobs or CV can "window" around memory, by shifting the loop
Triggered toggle inputs for Infinite Hold and Reverse
Send and Return on each channel for feedback with external modules
CV jacks to control Time, Level, and Feedback
As new features are developed, firmware can be updated by playing an audio file into the DLD
20HP Eurorack module
New features in firmware version 5:
Ping Lock for each channel
Quantized Inf/Rev/Time Change Mode
24-bit audio (selectable with a jumper)
Reverse and Inf Hold can be toggled with gates or triggers
Delay Feed knob can be selected to be audio or linear taper
Runaway DC at high feedback settings (e.g. resonant delays) is eliminated
Auto-Muting now has a 1ms attack and decay
Cross-fade Time (CFT) for splices is now variable (set in System Mode from 0ms to 500ms)
Selection of External Clock De-jittering algorithms to allow the DLD to sync with many types of external clocks
Exiting Infinite Hold plays through, without restarting loop
Technical Specs
