Delay Lama
| Delay Lama | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Audionerdz |
| Release | 2002 |
| Stable release | 1.1
/ June 6, 2002 |
| Operating system | macOS, Microsoft Windows |
| Type | Software synthesizer |
| Website | http://www.audionerdz.nl/index2.htm |
Delay Lama is a software synthesizer available as a Virtual Studio Technology plugin.
Origin
[edit]Delay Lama was created by three students of the Utrecht School of the Arts named Aram Verwoest, Steven Kruyswijk and Daan Hermans, collectively called AudioNerdz. It was a college project, meant to "make something different, useful, and fun". Frank Post was brought in to make the monk animation.[1]
It was released in 2002[1] as a freeware.[2] Only one version was released.[3]
Description
[edit]Delay Lama is a software synthesizer that emulates the human voice's frequency peak (formants) when making a vowel sound.[1] It is available as a Virtual Studio Technology plugin.[1][3] A cartesian plane (x and y axes) is used to control which vowel[1][2][4] (ooh-ow-ah-ayh-eeh)[4] is produced at what pitch,[1][2][4] or a MIDI keyboard with the pitchbender (which chooses the vowel).[2][4]
An animated 3D Tibetan monk mimicks singing the track.[3] It was the first VST plugin,[2] if not software synthesizer overall offering such a feature.[4]
Other features include control of portamento speed, of the dry/wet signal mix and of the level of the audio delay,[2][4] LFO modulation, a modulation section and a built-in equalizer. There are also many presets.[4]
The name Delay Lama is a pun on the concept of delay and the Dalai Lama.[3] As the name implies, the plugin offers a built-in stereo delay.[2][3][4] Multiple types are available, including tape, analog, stereo and digital.[4]
Use
[edit]Delay Lama has become a cult-classic.[1][3] It was used in successful records.[1]
- Timmy Trumpet and Savage – Freaks[3]
- Daiki Kasho – Baba Theme
- Jun Ishikawa – Machine Passage
- Hideyuki Fukasawa – Theme of M.O.D.O.K
- Yaga & Mackie – La batidora
- Angel & Khriz – Tu Me Pones Mal
- Gorillaz – Damascus
- NOMA – Brain Power
The 20th anniversary of the Delay Lama was celebrated in Friday Night Funkin' with the addition of the Delay Lama's design.[3]
Other versions
[edit]JonET released the Delay Lama-inspired MonkSynth.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Nugent, James (7 April 2026). "JonET releases MonkSynth (beta), a FREE Delay-Lama-inspired vocal synth plugin". Bedroom Producers Blog. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Home page". AudioNerdz. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sandzer-Bell, Ezra (24 December 2022). "Delay Lama: The Weird VST that Drove 1B+ Streams". AudioCipher. Retrieved 2026-09-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hope, Annika. "Delay Lama VST Review & Download". Music Gateway. Retrieved 2026-09-07.