I use both the AD-900 and the Rocket Ride First Echo on the Moon.
I got the AD-900 after hearing Geoff Wells use it:
Strat-o-lux wrote:For me the best delay is an old tape unit. But that's not what you're asking about, is it? And they're often not practical on the gig.
Strat-o-lux is right about tape delay units.
For convenience on a board,
without maintenance issues, for live and as a cheaper alternative,
i prefer to have the First Echo on the Moon.
I AB'd it with a Roland Space Echo 201 with a guy from The Gear Page.
(need to do it again now my camera is repaired).
The guy that owned the Space Echo was able to tweak the Rocket Ride VERY close to the Roland 201.
Nothing will do a Tape Delay better than a Tape delay and there is always the white noise issue....
Having said that, Bjorn who has owned many tape delays and modded the First Echo on the Moon
based on what he loved about them, says "a tape delay is like a motorcycle.
Always in need of maintainence."
Some guys don't find the periodic head cleaning tape buying a hassle.
Here are some tape delay/ ambient settings: