Arturia Delay MEMORY-BRIGADE delay plug-in: features and spec-based rating

Arturia’s Delay MEMORY-BRIGADE is a dark, lo-fi delay based on a classic 1970s analog delay (BBD). It has three delay modes, an input EQ, an envelope follower and an LFO with 16 destinations.

A delay delays a sound and repeats it, like an echo. You use it to add width and rhythm to vocals and guitars.

In this article we compare Delay MEMORY-BRIGADE with 10 delay plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Summary

Among the 10 delay plug-ins, Delay MEMORY-BRIGADE is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 3.3.

Strengths

• Easy to blend (4 points): you can shape the repeats with filters and so on so they do not get in the way of a vocal.

Who it suits: people who want to add a dark, gritty, analog-style echo.

Main features of Delay MEMORY-BRIGADE

The dark, slightly distorted sound of a BBD

A dark, filtered echo based on Electro-Harmonix’s Deluxe Memory Man. The manufacturer explains that it studied and recreated the circuit of the real unit. Uses such as a slapback on vocals, or adding a thin, dark atmosphere to the whole mix, are also introduced.

Chorus and vibrato

As on the original device, you can add chorus and vibrato wobble. The manufacturer explains that the delay length also supports settings longer than the real unit.

An envelope follower driven by input level

It can automatically move the delay parameters to match the loudness of the incoming sound. You can change the character of the echo between the parts where you are singing and the parts where you are not (this is a different function from ducking).

Input EQ and saturation

Raising the input adds a lo-fi distortion. The input EQ can also narrow the band sent to the echo.

Where it is useful

• Adding a short slapback to a vocal
• Adding a dark, slightly rough echo to a guitar
• Mixing in a BBD with the input raised on drums to add a rough texture

Rating by criterion

Tone character: 3 / 5

We check whether you can choose the tone of the repeats, such as the warmth of tape and analog gear.

A delay with the dark, slightly distorted sound of a BBD (a bucket-brigade analog device). There is no switching to other tones, such as tape style.

Rhythm and width: 3 / 5

We check whether you can make rhythm and width, such as repeats that bounce left and right or repeat several times at different intervals.

There are three modes (left-right, ping-pong and mid/side) and tempo sync. No function for placing multiple taps is listed.

Easy to blend: 4 / 5

We check whether you can adjust the repeats so they do not get in the way of the vocal (for example, making them quieter while singing).

It has an input EQ, an envelope follower that moves settings with the input volume, and an LFO. Raising the input adds saturation.

How we score (Delay plug-ins)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Tone character	Warmth that blends with a vocal, and the choice of coloration	Choose from the styles of many vintage units	Tape-style sound plus other coloration to choose from	Either tape-style or vintage-style	Clear digital sound only	—
Rhythm and width	Ping-pong, multiple taps, tempo sync and so on	Multi-tap rhythm editing and ping-pong, or more	Multiple taps and ping-pong	Either ping-pong or tempo sync	—	Not mentioned on the official page
Easy to blend	Controls that keep it from getting in the way of a vocal	Ducking and a filter for the delayed sound	Two or more controls, such as a filter and saturation	One control	—	Not mentioned on the official page

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: adding depth and lingering tails to a vocal. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Tone character" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

Delay MEMORY-BRIGADE system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows 10 or later (64-bit; ARM is not supported) / Mac (macOS 10.13 or later, Intel and Apple silicon)
Plug-in formats	VST, AU, AAX, NKS (64-bit), standalone app
Trial	Not listed on the retailer’s product page
OBS (streaming)	Not confirmed

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on October 17, 2026.

Compared with other delay plug-ins

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