This is great--and the main lesson here seems to be that when you have a delay and a looper in the same box, all you really need is a volume pedal to make cool ambient drones over which to solo. I love the Volante--followed along & tried this setup with an eBow as well. Definitely lovely sounds I could meditate on for hours, I think. Another pedal you may wish to check out is the Empress Echosystem, which has a looper in the latest firmware (though you need an SD card). Basically the same idea--you can switch in and out of the looper and use the delay (or not) on the loop and/or solo.
Thank you very much. After playing in rock and blues bands for years I've become interested in taking my guitar playing into new directions. Your video was inspirational and a great help.
Great video. I just bought the Volante. It was between that and the Meris Polymoon. It was the Sound on Sound mode that tipped it for the Volante and I have to say it's an awesome pedal!
No - I do not have any toneprints that I have created. I generally use the stock delay types. Glad you are liking the videos. Thanks for letting me know!
Ooh that be delicious sounding. Now I'm thinking... Hmmm, can't afford a volante but can I do this with a combo of some of the effects I do have. Time for some more experimentation I think :o)
I like that you get into specifics of the Volante that a lot of other channels just skimmed (the looper, specifically) but I couldn’t help thinking that what you do with Volante here could be achieved with a less expensive and complicated delay. A Line 6 DL4 is less than half the price; if you're not using the degradation effects then the Volante is overspecc’d for most guitarists.
I think your point is valid that one feature may not be a compelling reason to purchase the Volante. But it is a strong contender if you are focused on tape style delays. As far as pricing goes, I am seeing the DL4 for $299 USD new and the Volante for $399, so the pricing is a little closer (unless you are referring to a used DL4).
Chords Of Orion £399 to £177 here in the UK. I'm certainly not suggesting that the Volante is expensive for what it is though: I'm sure it's on a lot of wishlists already and your video will certainly help to keep it there.
The Tired Horizon Yes, I have a DL4 and now you say that I think you're right but it's a rather old pedal now and loopers are, as you imply, more widely available at a lower price today. Bill's setup is pretty aspirational and the Volante is in keeping with that but I suspect that one could get close on a budget.
Chords Of Orion I think you can have as much money as it takes to get “close”. You might want to consider the entire chain, but let's ignore the guitar & amp and I suggest that you keep the Pitchfork because, as you show in the other videos, reliable tracking is such a demanding thing that you wouldn't want to go on stage with a cheaper harmoniser. Let's ignore the volume pedal as well. I'd be very interested to find what you find indispensable (in the interests of quality control) in the distortion/tone, delay and looper parts of the sound. Also, an eBow is not expensive and I think every ambient guitarist should own one, but how close can you get to the sound here without one? If we have to put a number on it, see if you can do everything to a good standard inside the cost of Volante without using a multi-effects unit.
Hey Bill, I've got a budget for a delay pedal. I'm just looking for something that will baste my creative juices. I'm thinking flashback or strymon big sky or timeline? If you wheee on a desert island which one of the them would you have
How does this loop freeze function compare with something like a EHX Superego? The Volante sounds warmer, less digital to me in the video. Nice job with all the Volante demos. I know I'll end up with one eventually...
Greetings from France ! Thanks you for your videos and tips about ambient music ! I just bought the Volante and it's a really inspiring machine, very versatile... I tried today to create this ambient drone, watched carefully your explanations to do the thing, but after many times I just didn't success to freeze the loop. It's frustrating ! Mr Vencil, I'd be very pleased if you can explain the process with more details : maybe I have to change the bypass mode into a buffered mode or something ? Intriguing... Thanks for all.
If you are referring to putting the loop into infinite hold, just hold down the ON switch for 1 second. check out the FAQ on this page for more information: www.strymon.net/support/volante/
Great! I love this song and wanted to know how you get this wonderful drone. I haven't got the budget for this pedal but I'm looking forward to have the new tc electronic infinite sample sustainer. It will be a good pedal for making drones I think! Hope you'll try it!
A little bummed out. When I first saw the beginning of the video, I thought that this effect was going to create the whole ambient sound stand alone. Not a gazillion things to get from point A to B. Oh well.
Wow. I think I see what you are saying - a standalone drone box? If so, I am sorry. Do you think it would be clearer to have the title say "Ambient Guitar Drone Machine"?
@@chordsoforion It's not a big deal. Just my first reaction :-) "How to Achieve Amazing Ambient Sounds with the Strymon Volante Stereo Delay / Looper" ? Idk ;-)
When using a standard looper, I normally create an empty loop so when I start playing drones or volume swells, it's easier to get smooth loops. I have not tried playing right as I start the "tape loop" splice point, but I suspect it would work just fine.
I have never played it, but just listened to it again (it had been a few decades! ;)). It's not very complex, so it would be fairly easy to learn. The key factors are the tuning (CACGCE) and knowing how to travis pick.
I would say that overall the Volante is less stereo focused than I would like to be. But it would definitely be nice if it had the same "psycho-acoustic" stereo thing that the regular delay had.
Hi Mikhail - I'm curious about how the mono SOS looper works - does this mean SOS mode outputs the same identical signal to both jacks (left out and right out)? Or does SOS mode only output the signal to one jack (e.g., left out)? I wonder if maybe Strymon will release a software update to address this to support stereo... By the way, I love your channel and look forward to more videos :)
@@nowwhat1 The SOS signal is summed to mono and comes out of both left and right outputs. You can hear it in the drone that I created in this video. Use earbuds or headphones...
yes, Bill explained that earlier - mono out to both jacks... Hardly Strymon will release any software update to that - there should be a serious reason why they did it in mono - some kind of hardware routing or limitation... Their Looper in Timline was stereo several years ago now and it's a good Looper
It's okay, but if you want to learn guitar you don't want to start going in the direction of sounding like a computer,or sounding like a startrack episode.Its better to learn tone , not sound effects.Nothing is better than the true accoustics of a guitar.True tube amps being pushed.Coloring your guitar with effects gets tiring to the ear.artificial.Remember tone is alive,sound is dead.people overlook that.
This is great--and the main lesson here seems to be that when you have a delay and a looper in the same box, all you really need is a volume pedal to make cool ambient drones over which to solo. I love the Volante--followed along & tried this setup with an eBow as well. Definitely lovely sounds I could meditate on for hours, I think. Another pedal you may wish to check out is the Empress Echosystem, which has a looper in the latest firmware (though you need an SD card). Basically the same idea--you can switch in and out of the looper and use the delay (or not) on the loop and/or solo.
Thank you very much. After playing in rock and blues bands for years I've become interested in taking my guitar playing into new directions. Your video was inspirational and a great help.
Another great video. Thank you.
Long live ambient!!!
Thanks, Bill!
You are welcome!!
@@chordsoforion have a great weekend, buddy👍😎👍
Nice one Bill! Thanks for the vids...
Wish I could take personal guitar lessons from this guy.
This is great! Awesome demo, great tones discovered with this set up.
Am a total fan of the timeline myself which I use with the strymon remote switch......it is super....I even got to approximate my Fulltone TTE....
Nothin' wrong with the Timeline!
Great video. I just bought the Volante. It was between that and the Meris Polymoon. It was the Sound on Sound mode that tipped it for the Volante and I have to say it's an awesome pedal!
Too cool.
that piece at the end is just magic! me as a pure synthesist even like ;-)
Nice guitar man!
Awesome!
Great sound Bill! Greetings from Costa Rica!
Greetings! I just picked up a tc triple delay off of your recommendation. Do you have any tone prints?
Awesome pedal. Thanks for your videos!
No - I do not have any toneprints that I have created. I generally use the stock delay types. Glad you are liking the videos. Thanks for letting me know!
You should try Caroline Guitar Co’ Meteore with the Volante!
Ooh that be delicious sounding. Now I'm thinking... Hmmm, can't afford a volante but can I do this with a combo of some of the effects I do have. Time for some more experimentation I think :o)
I like that you get into specifics of the Volante that a lot of other channels just skimmed (the looper, specifically) but I couldn’t help thinking that what you do with Volante here could be achieved with a less expensive and complicated delay. A Line 6 DL4 is less than half the price; if you're not using the degradation effects then the Volante is overspecc’d for most guitarists.
I think your point is valid that one feature may not be a compelling reason to purchase the Volante. But it is a strong contender if you are focused on tape style delays. As far as pricing goes, I am seeing the DL4 for $299 USD new and the Volante for $399, so the pricing is a little closer (unless you are referring to a used DL4).
Chords Of Orion £399 to £177 here in the UK. I'm certainly not suggesting that the Volante is expensive for what it is though: I'm sure it's on a lot of wishlists already and your video will certainly help to keep it there.
The Tired Horizon Yes, I have a DL4 and now you say that I think you're right but it's a rather old pedal now and loopers are, as you imply, more widely available at a lower price today. Bill's setup is pretty aspirational and the Volante is in keeping with that but I suspect that one could get close on a budget.
ok. this sounds like a challenge. so we want SOS/Looper plus delay on a budget? How much $$/££ are you thinking?
Chords Of Orion I think you can have as much money as it takes to get “close”. You might want to consider the entire chain, but let's ignore the guitar & amp and I suggest that you keep the Pitchfork because, as you show in the other videos, reliable tracking is such a demanding thing that you wouldn't want to go on stage with a cheaper harmoniser. Let's ignore the volume pedal as well. I'd be very interested to find what you find indispensable (in the interests of quality control) in the distortion/tone, delay and looper parts of the sound. Also, an eBow is not expensive and I think every ambient guitarist should own one, but how close can you get to the sound here without one? If we have to put a number on it, see if you can do everything to a good standard inside the cost of Volante without using a multi-effects unit.
great vid as always ! for drones would you reccomend this or the night sky ?
Hey Bill, I've got a budget for a delay pedal. I'm just looking for something that will baste my creative juices. I'm thinking flashback or strymon big sky or timeline? If you wheee on a desert island which one of the them would you have
I'm using the flashback. It's a great pedal to start with.
How does this loop freeze function compare with something like a EHX Superego? The Volante sounds warmer, less digital to me in the video. Nice job with all the Volante demos. I know I'll end up with one eventually...
Morley needs to keep you supplied with Little Alligators free of charge - you’ve probably tripled their sales! :)
cool,,.-
Hi Bill, well I currently have a DECO and a DIG. Wondering if you would recommend a Volante as well or would I have enough to go with for now?
Greetings from France ! Thanks you for your videos and tips about ambient music ! I just bought the Volante and it's a really inspiring machine, very versatile... I tried today to create this ambient drone, watched carefully your explanations to do the thing, but after many times I just didn't success to freeze the loop. It's frustrating ! Mr Vencil, I'd be very pleased if you can explain the process with more details : maybe I have to change the bypass mode into a buffered mode or something ? Intriguing... Thanks for all.
If you are referring to putting the loop into infinite hold, just hold down the ON switch for 1 second. check out the FAQ on this page for more information: www.strymon.net/support/volante/
@@chordsoforion Thanks, I will try again ;)
Great! I love this song and wanted to know how you get this wonderful drone. I haven't got the budget for this pedal but I'm looking forward to have the new tc electronic infinite sample sustainer. It will be a good pedal for making drones I think! Hope you'll try it!
Thanks for checking in Nicolas! I do indeed have an Infinite Sustainer on the way. Statuned!
@@chordsoforion wow that's great! I felt it 😋 I'm looking forward to ear what you'll do with it. No doubt it will be awesome, like usual 🙏
Seems like this is becoming one of your favorite pedals, yeah?
It's a good one for sure. That being said, I am not giving up my DIG or Flashback Triple Delay any time soon. :-)
A little bummed out. When I first saw the beginning of the video, I thought that this effect was going to create the whole ambient sound stand alone. Not a gazillion things to get from point A to B. Oh well.
Wow. I think I see what you are saying - a standalone drone box? If so, I am sorry. Do you think it would be clearer to have the title say "Ambient Guitar Drone Machine"?
@@chordsoforion It's not a big deal. Just my first reaction :-) "How to Achieve Amazing Ambient Sounds with the Strymon Volante Stereo Delay / Looper" ? Idk ;-)
Nice! But why do you first record an empty loop?
When using a standard looper, I normally create an empty loop so when I start playing drones or volume swells, it's easier to get smooth loops. I have not tried playing right as I start the "tape loop" splice point, but I suspect it would work just fine.
Can you play Bron Yr Aur?
I have never played it, but just listened to it again (it had been a few decades! ;)). It's not very complex, so it would be fairly easy to learn. The key factors are the tuning (CACGCE) and knowing how to travis pick.
Can it be used for bass
It can be used for any instrument that has ever been created. 😎
don't you find it frustrating that Volante SOS mode is... MONO!!? I was totally dazed with this "surprize"
I would say that overall the Volante is less stereo focused than I would like to be. But it would definitely be nice if it had the same "psycho-acoustic" stereo thing that the regular delay had.
Hi Mikhail - I'm curious about how the mono SOS looper works - does this mean SOS mode outputs the same identical signal to both jacks (left out and right out)? Or does SOS mode only output the signal to one jack (e.g., left out)? I wonder if maybe Strymon will release a software update to address this to support stereo... By the way, I love your channel and look forward to more videos :)
@@nowwhat1 The SOS signal is summed to mono and comes out of both left and right outputs. You can hear it in the drone that I created in this video. Use earbuds or headphones...
yes, Bill explained that earlier - mono out to both jacks... Hardly Strymon will release any software update to that - there should be a serious reason why they did it in mono - some kind of hardware routing or limitation... Their Looper in Timline was stereo several years ago now and it's a good Looper
It's okay, but if you want to learn guitar you don't want to start going in the direction of sounding like a computer,or sounding like a startrack episode.Its better to learn tone , not sound effects.Nothing is better than the true accoustics of a guitar.True tube amps being pushed.Coloring your guitar with effects gets tiring to the ear.artificial.Remember tone is alive,sound is dead.people overlook that.
I do t think this is aimed at beginners.