HoRNet HDD1

HoRNet HDD1 1.1.0 is available, this update is free for owners of our digital delay plugin and includes:

• Added support  for Apple Silicon

Classic lo-fi eighties digital delay for guitar

HoRNet HDD-1 is an emulation of the very first digital guitar delay pedal. This iconic guitar effect was created during the early 1980s, a time when digital technology was becoming more affordable and accessible to musicians. As a result, it opened up new creative possibilities in sound design and became a defining effect for many musicians during that era. The HDD-1 plugin not only recreates the original sound of these early digital delays but also adds modern features to enhance flexibility for today’s musicians. This plugin is a powerful tool for both those who seek vintage tones and those who want to explore lo-fi, experimental soundscapes.

One of the standout features of the HDD-1 is its internal architecture. The pedal uses a 12-bit ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) to capture and store sampled audio in RAM banks. The 12-bit resolution contributes to the lo-fi character of the delay, producing a sound that is often more gritty and raw compared to modern digital delay effects, which typically use much higher bit-depths. Despite this digital sampling, the rest of the circuit is entirely analog. This hybrid approach—digital for the sampling and analog for processing—gives the plugin a unique character. When the signal passes through the feedback loop, it becomes progressively more degraded with each repetition, which creates a warm, somewhat distorted sound. It’s this feedback mechanism that gives the HDD-1 its signature charm and uniqueness.

The frequency response of the HDD-1 is also part of what makes it stand out. Unlike modern delay units that are often designed to have a flat frequency response (preserving all of the original signal), the HDD-1 has a sharp cutoff at 7 kHz. This results in a mellow sound, as the higher frequencies are gradually attenuated with each delay repeat. This characteristic helps the plugin emulate the qualities of the early digital delays, which were limited by the technology of the time. In addition, the pre-emphasis and de-emphasis filters play a crucial role in shaping the overall tone. These filters were essential in the original hardware design to balance the frequency response of the delay. In the HDD-1, they contribute to the vintage sound, adding an extra layer of authenticity.

The HDD-1 offers complete control over the digital delay. You have the ability to adjust key parameters like level, feedback, and delay time with ease. Whether you’re looking for subtle echoes or extreme, distorted repeats, the HDD-1 lets you tailor the effect to your exact specifications. This hands-on control is part of what makes it a valuable tool for musicians, as you can experiment with settings to find the perfect sound for any musical context. If you’re working on a track that requires ambient textures, a gentle delay can be dialed in with just the right amount of feedback and wet mix. For more experimental applications, such as sound design or lo-fi production, you can push the delay to its limits, allowing for glitchy, stuttering effects that add texture and depth to your mix.

In addition to its unique sound, the HDD-1 also replicates the inherent analog saturation and hiss that was present in the original hardware. The slight background noise and saturation add to the vintage character of the plugin. However, because we understand that some users may not always want this extra color, we’ve included the option to turn off the hiss and saturation separately. This makes the HDD-1 versatile enough to suit a wide range of musical styles—from lo-fi indie rock to more polished electronic or ambient music productions.

The stereo mode is another exciting feature of the HDD-1. The pedal, by its nature, is mono; however, enabling stereo mode creates a fake stereo effect by splitting the signal. The dry signal is routed to the left channel, while the wet signal (the delayed sound) is sent to the right channel. This setup creates a sense of width and space, making it ideal for enhancing your mix. For example, when the delay time is set between 12.5 ms and 50 ms, the delay is so short that it doesn’t just create a traditional echo but produces a pseudo-stereo effect. This is achieved by utilizing the Haas effect, a psychoacoustic phenomenon where two identical sounds are slightly offset in time, leading the brain to perceive them as coming from different directions. This trick is perfect for adding dimension and depth to your sound without needing to use actual stereo delays.

Another innovative feature is the Hold mode. When activated, the Hold mode records the last few milliseconds of audio (ranging from 200 ms to 800 ms) while the effect is turned off. Once the delay is turned on, this recorded sound is repeated, creating a looping or stuttering effect. This mode is particularly useful for creating rhythmic loops or ambient textures, adding a layer of unpredictability to your sound. It’s a great tool for live performances, allowing musicians to create dynamic, evolving layers of sound in real-time.

For those working in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), the sync to host tempo function is a game-changer. This feature automatically syncs the delay to the host tempo of your DAW, ensuring that the delay is always in time with the rest of your project. You can easily set the delay time to sync to 16th notes or any other subdivision, making it easy to create rhythmic, time-sensitive delay effects. This is especially useful for electronic music producers who need to align delay effects with complex rhythms or for sound designers who want precise control over the delay’s timing.

In conclusion, the HoRNet HDD-1 is an incredibly versatile and powerful plugin that offers a unique blend of vintage digital delay characteristics with modern features for today’s musicians. Whether you’re looking for classic lo-fi sounds, creating intricate sound design, or adding spaciousness to your mix with stereo effects, the HDD-1 delivers an authentic and customizable delay experience. Its rich, analog-inspired tone, combined with modern features like stereo mode, Hold mode, and tempo syncing, makes it an indispensable tool for musicians and sound designers alike.