Delay Time

Calculator

Insert dot for decimals.

Where should I insert that Delay?

You should delay all the instrument, in input to the mixer, with its own Amplifier playing on the stage - placed back to the PA Speakers.

For example, on the stage you have a Bass speaker playing, but the same signal is sent to the PA speakers that are placed to the front of the stage (Figure 1). Without delay, the audience will receive the sum of this two sound that are not in phase, so it can be attenuated. To allign this two signal in the air, you need to reproduce the Bass delayed on the PA. The same apply for an Electric guitar with its Ampli.

Does it make the difference?

Definitely yes! Seeing is believing.

Figure 1 - Distance between speakers

If you have a Soundcraft SiExpression mixing console, in Figure 2 you can find where to add the Delay time.

Figure 2 - Delay encoder on Soundcraft SiExpression

Theory

• Where:
• \( DelayTime \: [m] \) is the delay time in milliseconds to set to the mixing console (Figure 3);
• \( Distance \: [m] \) is the distance between the instrument speaker on the stage and the PA one (Figure 2);
• \( SoundSpeed \: [m] \) is the propagation speed of the sound, and it depends on the temperature and humidity of the air;
• The final multiplication for \( 1000 \) converts the seconds to milliseconds.

Speed of Sound table