How It Works
Technical view
The current `Self-Oscillating Delay` patch uses a damped comb loop with a relatively high base feedback coefficient and then soft-clips the loop output before blending it with the dry source. `time` sets the loop length, `feedback` pushes the loop closer to runaway recirculation, and `tone` opens the damping inside the loop, so the patch behaves like a deliberately unstable delay voice rather than a clean echo.
- Delay & Echo
- waveshaping / saturation
- delay processing
- oscillator / LFO modulation
- DC blocking
Signal Path
Compiled preview chain
Preview source: An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with a 19-sample right-channel delay and slight left/right shelf-EQ offsets before it hits the delay core.
- 1internal picked-string demo phrase
- 2stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
- 3high-feedback damped comb loop
- 4soft clipping on the loop output
- 5dry / processed blend
- 6DC blocker
- 7output gain trim
- 8final tanh limiter
Preview source
An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with a 19-sample right-channel delay and slight left/right shelf-EQ offsets before it hits the delay core.
Effect core
Soft-clipped high-feedback comb delay designed to push toward self-oscillation.
Signal path
The static waveform and the live player both reflect this compiled signal chain.
- internal picked-string demo phrase
- stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
- high-feedback damped comb loop
- soft clipping on the loop output
- dry / processed blend
- DC blocker
- output gain trim
- final tanh limiter
Controls that matter
These are the currently active controls detected in the FAUST source for this effect.
- mix: Blends between the dry source and the processed delay texture after the effect core.
- output_gain_db: Applies final post-effect level trim after DC blocking and before the output limiter.
- time: Sets the delay length of the saturated comb loop.
- feedback: Pushes the comb loop closer to runaway recirculation before the soft clipper.
- tone: Raises the low-pass damping cutoff inside the loop.
Code-backed analysis
The generated description is tied to the active helper blocks and routing found in the current DSP.
- demo
- fx
- outputStage
- leftDemo
- rightDemo
- channelFx
- phraseMono
- previewShiftSamples
Controls
Audible controls in this DSP
Blends between the dry source and the processed delay texture after the effect core.
Lower settings stay more direct; higher settings move the patch toward the effected repeat field.
Applies final post-effect level trim after DC blocking and before the output limiter.
Matches loudness without changing the actual delay structure.
Sets the delay length of the saturated comb loop.
Moves the self-oscillating tone from tighter ringing toward longer echo spacing.
Pushes the comb loop closer to runaway recirculation before the soft clipper.
Builds more repeats and drives the loop toward self-oscillation.
Raises the low-pass damping cutoff inside the loop.
Makes the runaway repeats darker or brighter.
Analysis
Code-derived notes
Current implementation intentionally pushes a damped comb loop toward self-oscillation and shapes the result with soft clipping.
Active blocks
- demo
- fx
- outputStage
- leftDemo
- rightDemo
- channelFx
- phraseMono
- previewShiftSamples
- oscEcho
- pickedVoice
- combLP
- delayA
- softsat
- fund
- pickEnv
- ampEnv
- triggerAt
- maxDelaySamples
Inactive helpers
- synthVoice
- organVoice
- bellVoice
- quantize
- echoOnly
- diffuser
Warnings
No current warnings are attached to this effect.
Source
- library/delay-echo/self-oscillating-delay.dsp
- Output stage: DC blocker -> output gain trim -> final tanh limiter
- Library position: 127