delay tap tempo issues

[gendefect]

I'm pretty sure it's not a problem with my rhythm...

I've been playing around using my delay pedal to hit a note once and have it repeat over and over again slowly in time with the music. I've been playing along to a recording done to a click. What I keep noticing is that when I set the tap tempo based on the tempo of the track I'm playing along to, the delay doesn't seemed properly timed to the track, it always seems a little too fast. So I've started trying to hit the tap tempo just a little slower than the track itself. It's inexact, but that has seemed to get a lot closer to the delay actually staying in time with the track.

Has anyone else had a problem like this? I'm using an Empress Superdelay, which otherwise is awesome. I'm guessing it's not necessarily the Superdelay and that maybe this is just a quirk of tap tempos, but I'm wondering if anyone has any info. Thanks!

 

[gendefect]

Anyone?

 

[magnus02]

thats odd... ive never noticed that on my superdelay but maybe i just have poor rhythm...

 

[braken]

My SD is spot on despite my half a$$ed rhythm. Is it happening on all settings?

 

[travisvwright]

I'm actually astounded with how close you actually can get. Think about it if you are off by only 5 100ths of a second at the end of 5 bars you are a whole second off.

 

[JoeyHarley]

hate to have to be the one...but it's your timing. took me years to admit it myself, but it is. you're never gonna get it exact, unless you use your delay as the metrononme. the last couple songs i wrote have rythym parts that all run through my tape echo. so i just used the echoes to keep time. worked perfectly!

 

[sub rosa]

It's not the tech, its human limitations. It's never going to be 100% exact. Flesh, muscles, electrical pulses through nerves etc.

 

[lux_interior]

No, I've also seen it with my Vintage Modified Empress Superdelay. When I had the regular unit, it just happened that I didn't notice it so I don't know if it applies to that, too. There is another guy that also witnessed the same thing with tap tempo inaccuracy: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?posts/7131078#post7131078

In some modes it's always dead accurate, in others it's not. I can't remember which ones. I don't really think it's a question of tapping accuracy because I deliberately tried to isolate the problem (I also play drums so my tapping is pretty much spot on). The funny thing was that in one mode (say mode 2) with modulation set to off it was happening, and set to slow it was not! I found a way out of the problem by tapping only 3 or 4 times, and not more. It usually helps, but not always. I wanted to ask other people here in TGP, but I thought it was better to ask Empress first. I am still waiting for an email response, but since you are mentioning it too I thought I could chime in. I haven't witnessed any other similar problems with tap tempo pedals that I have used.