Dubstation 2

Name: Dubstation 2
Price: 25 USD
Author: Audio Damage

by Audio Damage · Delay · Bucket-brigade dub delay

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Dubstation 2 is a bucket-brigade style delay with two delay lines, saturation and filters in the feedback path, aimed at dub and analog-style echoes.

Audio Damage has refined its algorithm since 2002; version 2.4 adds MIDI tap tempo and new presets, and it costs $29.

Best for: Vocals, Drums, Guitars, Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Rock & Indie, Lo-Fi, Hip-Hop & Trap.

Keywords: dub, BBD, chorus, ping-pong, reverse, vocals, wide, drums, mixing, samples & loops, snare, sound design, subtle, tempo-synced, vibrato, warm.

What it does

Dubstation 2 is Audio Damage's long-running dub delay, which it calls "the original dub delay plugin." It models bucket-brigade hardware with dual delay lines and analog-style saturation, using an algorithm the developer has refined since 2002.

Delay modes: single, dual or ping-pong stereo, with separate left and right delay times in dual mode.
Time range: 4 ms to 2 seconds, doubled with the x2 Time switch, either tempo-synced or free-running.
Feedback path: low-cut and high-cut filters plus analog-style saturation with an Amount control, from subtle warmth to distortion as the repeats build up.
Modulation: an LFO for chorus, doubling, vibrato and pitch sweeps on the repeats.
Reverse and Loop: two extra modes alongside the normal delay, for backwards repeats and looping effects.
Stereo width: a Width control that runs from mono to wide stereo.
Workflow (new in 2.4): tap tempo with MIDI support, Mix Lock to keep your wet/dry balance when changing presets, a shared preset browser with 30 factory presets, and a default preset option.

Version 2.4. Free demos are available.

Source: Audio Damage product page

When to use it

Dubstation 2 does one job: a bucket-brigade-style dub delay with self-oscillating feedback, filtering and saturation on a single small panel. That is narrower than the rated delays EchoBoy, Galaxy Tape Echo and Delay TAPE-201, which model classic echo hardware in more depth, and ValhallaDelay and Timeless 3, which cover many more styles and modulation options. Its focus makes it quick to set and easy to ride by hand during a mix, and it is one of the cheapest paid delays here. Other Desert Cities, from the same developer, is the choice when you want reverse, granular and multi-head delays with heavy modulation.

Best for: dub throws on vocals and snares, ping-pong echoes, filtered feedback swells you ride by hand, and chorus or doubling effects from the LFO.
Genres: dub and reggae, dub techno, ambient, hip-hop, electronic and post-rock.
Look elsewhere if: you want many delay styles, tape-machine models or multi-tap rhythms; EchoBoy, ValhallaDelay or Other Desert Cities cover more.

Where to buy

Plugin Boutique: $25
Audio Damage: $29

Tutorials and reviews

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