FabFilter’s Timeless delay plugin was last reviewed by us 11 years ago, during its second version. Since then, the developers have released a significant update, pushing the plugin to version 3. This latest iteration maintains all the features that made it so remarkable in our April 2010 review, but it now includes a host of valuable new additions, along with a more streamlined and user-friendly interface.
One of the standout improvements in Timeless 3 is the ability to invoke up to 16 individual delay taps. These taps are visually represented in the interface as vertical lines, displaying their amplitude, panning, and delay time. This visual feedback makes it easier to understand and manipulate the delay characteristics, giving users a clearer sense of control over the plugin’s effects.
Another noteworthy addition is the new feedback effect section, which enhances the plugin’s creative possibilities. You can now apply up to five different effects—Drive, Lo-Fi, Diffuse, Dynamics, and Pitch—directly to the feedback path. These effects allow users to create progressively more complex and unique delay sounds. For example, you can add grit and dirt with Drive, blur the delays with Diffuse for a reverb-like effect, or squash the sound with Dynamics. The Pitch effect can shift delays up or down, creating pitch-shifted echoes. Each of these effects is controlled via a simple ‘more or less’ knob, which allows for quick adjustments to the intensity of the applied effect.
A key feature of the plugin is that each of these feedback effects can also serve as modulation destinations. This means you can modulate the effects using Timeless 3’s comprehensive modulation options, which include LFOs, envelope followers, X/Y controllers, and even MIDI CC. The ability to modulate the effects adds a layer of depth to sound design, enabling users to create evolving, dynamic delays that respond to the rhythm or dynamics of a track.
Along with the new features, FabFilter has provided Timeless 3 with a brand-new preset library. This library has been specifically designed to take full advantage of the updated features and expanded capabilities of the plugin. Despite the new presets, Timeless 3 remains fully compatible with presets from earlier versions of the plugin, so users who have been using Timeless v1 or v2 in their projects can seamlessly upgrade to Timeless 3 without any unwanted changes to their sound.
Timeless 3 retains all the advanced features that made its predecessor a favorite among producers, but the new interface and added functionality make it even more powerful. The updated interface is cleaner and more intuitive, helping to streamline workflow and reduce the learning curve for new users. Whether you’re looking to create subtle tape delays, wide modulated delays, or complex rhythmic patterns, Timeless 3 offers the flexibility to handle all kinds of delay-based sound design tasks.
FabFilter has also ensured that Timeless 3 is compatible with a wide range of digital audio workstations (DAWs). The plugin works with any VST, AU, AudioSuite, or AAX host, ensuring that users across different platforms can incorporate it into their workflow. This broad compatibility, along with its robust feature set, makes Timeless 3 a versatile tool for any producer or sound designer looking to enhance their projects with high-quality delay effects.
Timeless 3 is available for purchase at a price of £94, which is a fair price considering the depth of features and improvements it offers over previous versions. Additionally, FabFilter offers a free 30-day trial, allowing users to test the plugin in their own projects before committing to a purchase. This trial is available for download directly from the FabFilter website, giving potential users the opportunity to experience the new features and see if the plugin fits their creative needs.
Overall, FabFilter’s Timeless 3 represents a significant step forward from its predecessors. With the addition of multiple delay taps, the enhanced feedback effects section, and an improved modulation system, this plugin offers users more creative control than ever before. Whether you’re upgrading from a previous version or trying Timeless for the first time, this plugin is sure to become an essential tool in any delay-related sound design process.
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