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Description

The AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay is a quintessential tool for musicians and sound engineers seeking to add depth and texture to their audio projects. Known for its versatile delay capabilities, this effects processor delivers high-fidelity echo and delay effects, making it a staple in both live and studio settings. Designed with precision in mind, the DMX 15-80S offers an impressive array of features that cater to both novice users and seasoned professionals.

This digital delay unit is equipped with a robust set of controls, allowing for meticulous adjustments to delay time, feedback, and modulation. Whether you're aiming for a subtle echo or a dramatic, layered soundscape, the AMS DMX 15-80S provides the tools you need to achieve your desired sonic outcome. The digital architecture ensures clarity and consistency, while the intuitive interface facilitates easy navigation through its comprehensive settings.

Perfect for musicians who crave creative control, the DMX 15-80S integrates seamlessly into any setup. Its reliable performance is backed by a sturdy build and user-friendly design, making it a trusted choice for enhancing audio production quality. Whether you're crafting a new track in the studio or delivering a live performance, this digital delay unit is engineered to elevate your sound.

Key Features:

  • Versatile delay capabilities for a wide range of audio effects
  • Intuitive interface for easy navigation
  • Comprehensive controls for delay time, feedback, and modulation
  • High-fidelity digital architecture for consistent sound quality
  • Reliable performance suitable for both studio and live environments

Product specs

Brand AMS
Model Model DMX 15-80 S Computer Controlled Stereo Digital Delay
Finish Black
Year 1970s
Categories Delay

FAQs

What are the key features of the AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay?

The AMS DMX 15-80S is a computer-controlled stereo digital delay known for its high-quality audio processing and versatility. It offers adjustable delay times, modulation capabilities, and is renowned for its use in professional studio settings.

How does the AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay enhance studio recordings?

The AMS DMX 15-80S provides precise delay control and modulation options, allowing producers to create rich textures and depth in recordings. Its high-fidelity processing makes it a staple in achieving professional-grade soundscapes.

Is the AMS DMX 15-80S suitable for live performances?

While primarily designed for studio use, the AMS DMX 15-80S can be utilized in live settings to add dynamic delay effects. Its robust build and reliable performance make it a viable option for live sound engineers seeking high-quality delay effects.

Universal Audio

Universal Audio

UAD AMS DMX Digital Delay & Pitch Shifter Sound Examples

Video thumbnail for UAD AMS DMX Digital Delay & Pitch Shifter Sound Examples by Universal Audio

UAD AMS DMX Digital Delay & Pitch Shifter Sound Examples

Universal Audio

Universal Audio

Video thumbnail for AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay | VintageKing.com by Vintage King

AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay | VintageKing.com

Vintage King

Vintage King

Video thumbnail for AMS DMX: a delay with a terrible secret by No Fun Club

AMS DMX: a delay with a terrible secret

No Fun Club

No Fun Club

Video thumbnail for Martin Hannett's OG AMS dmx 15 - 80s by foleytronics fx repair

Martin Hannett's OG AMS dmx 15 - 80s

foleytronics fx repair

foleytronics fx repair

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay.

Features and functionality

  • The AMS DMX 15-80S uses a crystal oscillator for modulating stereo delay time, creating unique pitch modulation effects through speed and depth adjustments.

    Source
  • The granular module's position control acts as a delay time, allowing cascading pitch-shifted delays and blending traditional pitch effects when paired with a delay line.

    Source
  • Known for producing thick, rich vocal effects, enhancing vocal tracks with depth and texture.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The granular module on devices like the Zoia can replicate AMS DMX's pitch-shifted delays, useful for creating cascading effects with a VCA in the feedback path.

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Comparisons

  • Granular synthesis, used in older pitch-shifters like the Eventide H910, provides a similar pitch-changing method to the AMS DMX 15-80S, offering a glitchy character.

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Mods and upgrades

  • Filtering in the feedback loop, particularly with a multi-filter, can shape pitch-shifted sounds better than an SV filter due to resonance control.

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  • Some units have a unique power supply connection; internal power supply footprint allows for upgrade with a currently available transformer.

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Setup and maintenance

  • Shortest delay time achievable is 1 ms, ideal for tight slapback effects or precise rhythmic patterns.

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  • Units require new ribbons and total recap for reliable performance; original capacitors can cause power rail issues.

    Source

User experience

  • These units can be unreliable unless properly serviced, but once maintained, they offer excellent performance.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Universal Audio: AMS DMX Digital Delay & Pitch Shifter UAD Plug-In | Tape Op Magazine | Longform candid interviews with music producers and audio engineers covering mixing, mastering, recording and music production.

tapeop.com

The AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay UAD Plug-In impresses with its faithful emulation and modern enhancements, like panning and tempo sync. It offers lush chorus effects and a wider stereo soundstage, making it a versatile tool for producers aiming to capture ‘80s nostalgia or unique sound designs. The well-crafted manual is a boon, though the non-resizable plug-in window on Macs is a minor drawback. Despite this, the plug-in's affordability and capabilities make it a compelling alternative to the costly vintage hardware.

positive

New Software Review: AMS DMX Digital Delay & Pitch Shifter from Universal Audio — SonicScoop

sonicscoop.com

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
jimmarchi1

Groundbreaking

This used to be sitting unloved in a lot if studios under the lexicon and 2290 units and maybe a korg. Yes its old and quirky but its early digital delay lines hold up today. Wh er n its gotta sound like joy division? Yup.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how George Michael uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

George Michael

Singer

WHAM!

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used for Michael's vocals on "Faith", as mentioned by sound engineer Chris Porter in this March 2013 Sound on Sound interview.

"I only used a few effects for George's vocals. The Lexicon 224 produced those extended high-frequency pings that you can hear on the reverb-y vocals, and there was also the AMS RMX16 reverb and DMX 1580 delay line. The real characteristic vocal sound right the way through 'Faith' and beyond was an AMS 30-millisecond delay panned slightly left of centre, a 45-millisecond delay slightly right of centre; sometimes with pitch variation on each side, but generally not.

See how James Petralli uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

James Petralli

Singer, Guitarist

White Denim

...
Verified via Instagram

In an Instagram reel on the White Denim Music account, James Petralli discusses the making of the song "Look Good" and mentions, "That's me, the cowbell, going through an AMS Delay." This statement confirms his use of the specific gear.

See how Whitney Houston uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

Whitney Houston

Singer

...
Verified via Mixonline

Whitney Houston utilized the AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay for her vocals on "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)." This is confirmed by her mixing engineer, who stated, "Other outboard gear Frazer says he leaned heavily on for the song included the AMS devices—the RMX 16 (reverb) and DMX 15 (delay)," as reported by Robyn Flans on Mixonline.

See how Meat Beat Manifesto uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

Meat Beat Manifesto

Music Producer

The Orb vs. Meat Beat Manifesto

...
Verified via MusicRadar

"Then I added synth from the studio’s Roland JX-3P. And the vocal hiccup sound was a bit of trapped audio in the Neve AMS. Every ’80s studio seemed to have one."

See how Martin Hannett uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

Martin Hannett

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

" On Joy Division' Unknown Pleasures I used several of my AMS 15-80S delays and my Marshall Time Modulators to create a room with walls that moved in and out"

See how Martin Rushent uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

Martin Rushent

Music Producer

The Human League

...
Verified via Soundonsound

It was while working on the Human League's 'Fascination' that Martin Rushent invented one of the most popular studio tricks of the '80s: using the 'loop triggering' facility on the AMS DMX1580 digital delay as a primitive sampler. "I used it for the bass, snare and bass riff," he says. "I knew AMS reasonably well by the time they brought out this very high-quality digital delay line, so I asked if they could adapt it so that it wouldn't erase its sample. I'd been working with the Linn Drum and realised that it was just a memory of drum sounds, but I wanted to make my own sounds. So they put in four seconds of delay for me. All you had to do was feed in the signal and it would start sampling the moment it saw a rise in voltage. Then you could edit it a bit. After that you'd set it to Fire mode and trigger it via a click fed into the audio input, so I used the Micro Composer to send it a pulse. AMS asked me to show them what I wanted it for so I did a demo by feeding in a bass drum sound and triggering it via the Roland. After that, they made it standard on their products, sold it to the Japanese, and I made fuck-all out of it!"

See how Philippe Zdar uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

Philippe Zdar

Composer, Music Producer

Cassius

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video you can see Philippe Zdar showing 2 AMS Digital Delays

See how Tom Bailey uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

Tom Bailey

Singer, Guitarist

Thompson Twins

...
Verified via Muzines

"I've recently made two fantastic discoveries - the AMS Digital Delay/Reverb, which is made in Burnley somewhere, and Roland's Dimension D, which both help to keep the keyboard sounds clear and separate. Almost anything you do with them sounds great. Also I use the Roland Chorus Echo and the Yamaha 1010 signal processor live."

See how Julian Swales uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

Julian Swales

Guitarist

Kitchens of Distinction

...
Verified via Extendplay

The XTDP website features a brief interview/quote from Julian wherein he reveals some of the gear used during KoD's heyday. Among his rack units, he lists a 15-80S.

See how Kenji Kawai uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

Kenji Kawai

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified

Kenji Kawai is confirmed to use an AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay in his studio, as it is listed on his official website under his profile.

See how Rusty Egan uses AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay

Rusty Egan

Drummer, Music Producer

Time Zone

...
Verified

Mentioned as a part of the equipment used on Visage's 1984 album "Beat Boy", according to Egan's 1984 interview with Electronic Soundmaker & Computer Music.

H

Hugo Nicolson

Composer, Music Producer

Primal Scream

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Thinking on his feet, Nicolson plugged up an AMS DMX 15-80S delay, set to an eighth and a 3/16th, and added them to the beat he’d programmed. “So it had this kind of shuffly movement going on in the background,” he says, “and suddenly the beat sounded a lot better. Back then there was a lot of shuffle going on in the grooves. So I was using my engineering skills to kind of make up for my musical ineptness. The congas in ‘Come Together’ were these funny little bad-sounding bongos and I basically squeezed as much bongo-ness out of them as I could with a Bell [Electrolabs] flanger. That was another bit of gear that I loved.”

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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2

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