xaoc samarkanda vs verbos multi-delay processor

[kesserich]

I'm in the market for a new delay. Not looking for a traditional high quality end-of-chain but something a bit more interesting. I've currently narrowed it to down to samarkanda vs multi-delay processor. Does anyone who has experience with both chime in with their opinions?

Thanks

[mdoudoroff]

So different. One is designed to be ultra clean whereas the other is all about character. Both are all-in on patch programmability, but to different ends. Samarkanda is about flexibility, creating different signal topologies—a toolkit. The Verbos has one set path, albeit with lots of patchable outputs and feedback opportunities, plus “reverb”. I would think that if you’re intrigued by the Verbos, you’d better love how it sounds, and you probably should at least take a careful look at the OAM Time Machine, too.

[kesserich]

Regarding the OAM Time Machine. It looks to me that:

Time Machine Advantages: clock
Verbos Advantages: reverb, pitch shift, multiple inputs, pre mixed outputs like odds and events

Does that sound about right or am I missing something?

[etckla]

Regarding the OAM Time Machine. It looks to me that:

Time Machine Advantages: clock
Verbos Advantages: reverb, pitch shift, multiple inputs, pre mixed outputs like odds and events

Does that sound about right or am I missing something?

You're missing a fair bit. I don't think they're really comparable on a feature basis because the philosophy of their designs are quite different. You should watch YouTube demos until you get a flavour for what their strengths and limitations are. The Lucas Marchal demos of the Verbos are brilliant. There are many good videos of the Time Machine also.

[TheMelodist]

I would also consider Rainmaker in the conversation.

[clwilla]

I'm in the market for a new delay. Not looking for a traditional high quality end-of-chain but something a bit more interesting. I've currently narrowed it to down to samarkanda vs multi-delay processor. Does anyone who has experience with both chime in with their opinions?

Thanks

I wouldn’t consider the MDP an end of chain anything. It’s a module that goes best as part of a voice signal chain, not something you throw everything at.

These 2 delays could hardly be more different.

[clwilla]

Regarding the OAM Time Machine. It looks to me that:

Time Machine Advantages: clock
Verbos Advantages: reverb, pitch shift, multiple inputs, pre mixed outputs like odds and events

Does that sound about right or am I missing something?

You're missing a fair bit. I don't think they're really comparable on a feature basis because the philosophy of their designs are quite different. You should watch YouTube demos until you get a flavour for what their strengths and limitations are. The Lucas Marchal demos of the Verbos are brilliant. There are many good videos of the Time Machine also.

Agree. These 2 are not something you can just compare feature for feature.

[natureclubcassettes]

These 2 delays could hardly be more different.

nothing to add except +1 of this

[lfad]

I've only owned the Verbos MDP. It was cool and unique because of all the per tap outputs and envelope followers. This allowed for quite a bit of patching creativity. Of course you need a relatively fleshed-out system to take advantage of that. The actual bottom-line sound of it though was sort of mediocre to me. Nothing bad about it, but nothing super special either. Just sort of dark taps with a kind of tinny mediocre reverb. The fun came from its patchability.

Samarkanda based on everything I've seen of it is much more of a clean, digital effects network sort of tool, more oriented around features like sync, hold, and reversal (none of which the MDP has) and chaining the four delays together in interesting ways.

Can you provide more info about what you're looking for beyond it being "a bit more interesting" than a traditional end-of-chain delay? There are a lot of good delays out there. Samarkanda and MDP are both going to run you a pretty penny and are two of the largest delays on the market, and unless you have a pretty big system to take advantage of all their patchability, you may be better served by something a little less gigantic.

[KolmasPaeae]

Having just updated my delay line with exactly those two, I can only say (sincerely) that they are two of the most mutually complementary delays in a setup (especially if you only have those) that I have experienced and that I can think of!

The Time Machine looks great, but seems to sound very different (ie: clean) compared to the MDP (which again is, subjectively, a big selling point on that one). The MDP is a bit pricey, though. But then again, it is pretty unique, especially with the patchability that can lead to wonderful otherwise unobtainable results..!