The Best Free Delay Plugins for Your Metal Mixes

You’re scrolling through forums and watching YouTube tutorials, and you see it: that one slick, expensive delay plugin that everyone seems to be using. The GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) hits hard. You start thinking, "If I just had that plugin, my vocal throws would be epic, my guitar leads would soar, and my mixes would finally sound pro."

Here’s the thing, though. When it comes to bread-and-butter effects like delay, the specific plugin you use often matters a lot less than you think. What truly matters is your skill and knowing how to use the tool in front of you. A free delay plugin in the right hands can absolutely demolish a mix in the best way possible.

So, before you drop a couple hundred bucks on the next shiny object, let's look at some of the best free delay plugins out there and, more importantly, how to use them to get killer sounds in your metal productions.

Does Your Delay Plugin Really Matter?

Look, we get it. It’s easy to get caught up in collecting plugins. You see a top-tier producer like Jens Bogren or Will Putney using a specific tool and assume it’s the secret sauce. But the truth is, their mixes are incredible because they have world-class skills, not because they own a specific version of a BBD-style delay. They could get amazing results with your DAW’s stock plugins because they’ve mastered the fundamentals.

This is the key takeaway: spend less time chasing new tools and more time mastering the ones you have.

Of course, some plugins have unique features or a specific character that makes them perfect for certain jobs. If you need to surgically tame harsh guitar frequencies, a specialized tool like Soothe2 is a game-changer. If you want the specific tone of a Peavey 5150, you need an amp sim that models a 5150. But for delay? The options are wide open, and the free ones are shockingly good.

The key is to find a few workhorses that you know inside and out. Let’s dive into some free delay plugins that can easily become staples in your template.

Top Free Delay VSTs That Don't Suck

Here are a few powerhouse free delays that are more than capable of handling any task you throw at them in a heavy mix.

Valhalla Supermassive

Download Valhalla Supermassive Here

If you've been producing for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard of Valhalla DSP. Supermassive is their gift to the audio world—a delay and reverb plugin designed for creating massive, sprawling, otherworldly textures. While it has "reverb" in its DNA, its delay algorithms are the real stars for creating insane effects.

Why it's great for metal:
This is your go-to for ambient sections, synth pads, post-rock guitar swells, and clean vocal textures. Think of the atmospheric parts in a Deafheaven or Alcest track. Supermassive excels at creating an epic sense of space that a simple delay can’t touch. The different modes (like Gemini, Hydra, or Centaurus) offer completely different flavors, from clean, shimmering repeats to dark, modulated, granular chaos.

Actionable Tip:
Try this on a clean guitar intro. Put Supermassive on an aux send. Select the "Great Annihilator" mode. Set the MIX to 100% (since it's on a send), the DELAY to a 1/2 note, and crank the FEEDBACK to around 70-80%. Now, play with the WARP and DENSITY knobs. The Warp control can stretch the repeats into a smeared, reverb-like wash, perfect for creating a pad-like texture that sits behind the guitar. Automate the Warp knob to build intensity into a heavy section.

Kilohearts Delay

Download the Kilohearts Essentials Bundle Here

Part of the free Kilohearts Essentials bundle, this delay is the definition of a clean, no-nonsense workhorse. It doesn't have a ton of analog saturation or wacky modulation, but that’s its strength. It does exactly what you tell it to do, making it a perfect tool for precise rhythmic effects.

Why it's great for metal:
It’s ideal for tasks where you don't want the delay to add its own color. Use it for tight, rhythmic vocal delays, classic slapback on a snare, or creating a simple Haas effect to widen guitars or backup vocals. Its straightforward interface means you can dial in what you need in seconds without getting distracted.

Actionable Tip:
Create a classic vocal throw. Put Kilohearts Delay on a send. Sync the time to your DAW’s tempo and set it to a 1/4 note dotted value. Set the feedback to 0%. Now, instead of sending the entire vocal track to this delay, automate the send level to only pop up on the last word or syllable of a vocal phrase. This creates that classic effect where just the end of a line echoes out, adding drama without cluttering the main vocal.

Baby Audio Baby Comeback

Download Baby Comeback Here

Baby Audio has made a name for itself with creative, vibey plugins, and their free offering, Baby Comeback, is no exception. It’s a simple delay with a few tricks up its sleeve, most notably its built-in Ducker feature.

Why it's great for metal:
The Ducker is a game-changer for lead vocals and guitar solos. It automatically lowers the volume of the delay repeats while the main signal is playing and brings them back up in the gaps. This allows you to use a wet, noticeable delay effect without it washing out the performance itself. The delay stays out of the way of the important stuff, then swells into the spaces.

Actionable Tip:
Put this on your lead guitar aux send. Set a fairly wet delay with a 1/4 note or 1/8 note dotted time and a decent amount of feedback. Now, engage the Ducker and turn it up. As the guitarist is shredding, the delay will be tucked underneath, barely audible. But as soon as they hold a note or leave a space between phrases, the echo trail will bloom and fill the space. It’s a pro move that makes your leads sound huge and polished automatically.

Your DAW's Stock Delay

Seriously. Whether you’re using Pro Tools’ Mod-Delay III, Logic’s Stereo Delay, or Reaper’s ReaDelay, your stock delay plugin is probably one of the most underrated tools in your arsenal. They are low on CPU, have zero latency (or are perfectly compensated for by your DAW), and can handle 95% of the delay tasks you’ll ever need.

Why it's great for metal:
They are the ultimate utility tool. You can create ping-pong delays for stereo width, use extremely short delay times (under 30ms) with no feedback to create a Haas effect for widening panned rhythm guitars, or dial in classic tempo-synced echoes for vocals. Since you already own it, it’s the perfect plugin to deeply learn inside and out.

Actionable Tip (Haas Effect):
Duplicate a mono synth lead or a backing vocal track. Pan the original hard left and the duplicate hard right. On the duplicated track, insert your stock delay plugin. Set the mix to 100% wet, feedback to 0%, and turn off tempo sync. Set the delay time to somewhere between 10ms and 25ms. The result? A massively wide stereo image from a mono source. Be sure to check your mix in mono to ensure you don’t have any weird phasing issues.

Putting It All Together: It's Not Just About the Plugin

Even with the best free delay plugin, just slapping it on a track won't get you a pro sound. The real magic happens when you treat the delay itself as another instrument in your mix. This is almost always done by putting your delay on an auxiliary (aux) send track. This lets you process the delay signal separately from the dry source.

EQing Your Delays

Your delay returns should almost always be EQ’d. Without it, the echoes will have the same frequency content as your source, which can create a muddy, cluttered mess.

• High-Pass Filter (HPF): This is non-negotiable. Use an EQ after your delay plugin and cut out the low end. Start around 150-200Hz and go up from there. This keeps the delay from interfering with the bass and kick drum.
• Low-Pass Filter (LPF): Just as important, use a low-pass filter to roll off the high end. This tucks the delay back in the mix, making it sound more natural and preventing it from clashing with the cymbals and the "air" of the lead vocal. Start around 4-5kHz and adjust to taste. This is one of the key techniques for getting maximum impact from your EQs.

Compressing and Saturating Your Delays

Want your delays to have a consistent level and a bit more vibe?

• Compression: Place a compressor after the EQ on your delay track. This can even out the volume of the echoes, making them sit more smoothly in the mix. This is especially useful for long, atmospheric delays on vocals. For more on this, check out our guide to metal compression secrets.
• Saturation: A sterile digital delay can sound a bit boring. Put a saturation plugin after your delay to add some harmonic distortion and character. It doesn't have to be anything fancy; even a free tube or tape emulation plugin can make a huge difference, making the delay feel more "glued" to the mix.

Learn the Techniques, Not Just the Tools

As you can see, getting killer delay sounds has more to do with technique than the price tag of your plugin. These free tools are more than powerful enough to create pro-level effects if you know how to use them.

These techniques are a great foundation, but imagine watching the producers behind bands like Gojira, Lamb of God, and Periphery build these effects from scratch. On Nail The Mix, you get the actual multitracks from massive metal albums and watch the original producer mix the song live, explaining every single decision—every EQ cut, every compression setting, and every delay throw.

If you’re ready to stop collecting plugins and start building real-world skills, check out the full Nail The Mix sessions catalog and see what it’s like to learn from the best in the business.