I know this is a super basic question but when using a delay effect on a vocal how is it usually chained so that when you have a longer delay it doesn't cut through the main vocal when its playing? I often hear this in pop music when delays come through only when there are moments of silence to fill the space.

 

Is it usually done manually so that certain words are only delayed or is there a way to set up your fx chains so that a noise gate or something controls what goes to your delay?

 

I don't know whats usual, I prefer to use a la2a after my delay. With the mix knob arround 10% on the delay

 

Yes @elixter that's precisely what it's called, I'll give that plugin a shot. I've spent a lot of years avoiding learning the technical side of production since I figured it would make things boring but it always catches up to me =P