Other Desert Cities
by Audio Damage · Delay · Multi-algorithm creative delay
Not rated yet
Other Desert Cities is a creative delay with six algorithms, from stereo dual delay and reverse delay to multi-head tape and granular pitch-shifting delay.
Dual LFOs, an envelope follower and a diffusor in the feedback path add movement, for $59 on sale ($79 list).
Best for: Vocals, Guitars, Keys & Synths, Drums, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic, Rock & Indie.
Keywords: creative, granular, reverse, tape, pitch-shifting, sound design, ambience, infinite, wide, drums, flat UI, mixing, multi-tap, resizable UI, sidechain input, simple, smooth, tempo-synced, thick, utility, vocals, wobble.
What it does
Other Desert Cities is a creative delay with six delay algorithms, named after desert places, and modulation that reaches almost every control.
- Desert Shores: a stereo dual delay with EQ, saturation, crossfeed and spread.
- Mecca: a reverse delay whose repeats play backwards.
- Cactus: a dual-delta delay with separate speed controls and pitch quantizing.
- Thermal: a dual multi-tap delay with spread, crossfeed and EQ.
- Mirage: a multi-head tape-style delay that simulates rotating heads.
- Sky Valley: a granular pitch-shifting delay with grain size and scatter controls.
Around the algorithms:
- Modulation: two tempo-synced LFOs with variable wave shapes and an envelope follower fed from the main input or a sidechain, routable to nearly every control.
- Diffusor: smears the repeats in the feedback path; Sound On Sound found it smooths artifacts and adds thickness.
- Gain and presets: full gain staging through the input-output chain (also modulatable), a cross-platform XML preset manager and a resizable Hi-DPI interface.
A fully working demo with a 20-minute timeout is available.
Source: Audio Damage product page
When to use it
Among the rated multi-mode delays, Other Desert Cities is closest in spirit to Timeless 3, which is about deep modulation and filtering, but it leans further into experimental sounds: reverse, granular pitch-shifting and rotating-head delays, with modulation on nearly every control. That sets it apart from EchoBoy, which is about faithful echo hardware with groove, and ValhallaDelay, which is about classic and reverb-like modes. It is also cheaper than all three, and Computer Music felt it could replace two or three plugins in a chain.
- Best for: modulated and reversed delays, granular echoes, tape-speed wobbles, infinite-feedback cross-rhythms and ambient textures.
- Genres: electronic, ambient, experimental rock and sound design.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a simple, classic echo; Dubstation 2 is quicker to set, and EchoBoy covers vintage units more faithfully.
- Tip: route the envelope follower to Mirage for tape-speed effects that follow the input, and use the quantized pitch modes on Cactus and Mirage to keep pitch sweeps musical (Sound On Sound).
What producers say
Both magazine reviews recommend it as an imaginative, good-value delay; the only gripes are a plain-looking interface and some algorithms that suit sound design more than mixing.
- Sound On Sound (Nick Rothwell, 2022) said it "takes on the audio delay world with gusto and imagination", praising the clean interface, the modulation and the diffusor for smoothing artifacts.
- Computer Music (via MusicRadar, 2022) praised the "exceptionally cool-sounding delays", simple modulation routing, strong presets and value.
- Tip (Computer Music): set Regen to 100% for infinite regeneration and minimal cross-rhythms.
- Criticisms: Computer Music found the GUI short on visual variety; Sound On Sound felt the granular Sky Valley mode has niche appeal and some algorithms can be unpredictable in a mix.
Where to buy
- Audio Damage: $59
- Plugin Boutique: $79
Tutorials and reviews
- Other Desert Cities Delay by Audio Damage (No Talking)
- Other Desert Cities by Audio Damage (Walkthrough and Demo)
- Other Desert Cities Review (Audio Damage)
- Audio Damage: Other Desert Cities // Brilliant Delay Plugin, Now on iPhone Too // Walkthrough & Demo
- Audio Damage AD054 Other Desert Cities
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