The NUX Duotime Dual Delay Engine is a stereo delay pedal from NUX. NUX describes it as grabbing inspiration from the golden era of legendary engineering like the Lexicon Delta, TC 2290, Eventide H3000, and more1. The right-hand Tap footswitch can be used to adjust the speed and delay subdivision21, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer came away calling it "a wild, inspiring and creative piece of gear," adding that delay fans are gonna love this one1.
The controls
The Duotime keeps its interface simple despite carrying two engines. Guitar World reported that each of the pedal's two delays features its own set of Time and Repeat knobs, dialed to adjust that delay's speed and number of repeats2. Pedal of the Day's review adds that the separate Repeats controls "let you fly into outer space," and that a single Parameter knob changes function depending on the delay mode in use1.
- Time knob (one per delay): adjusts the delay speed of each delay line2
- Repeat knob (one per delay): sets the repeats for that line2
- Parameter knob: has a different function for each delay mode1
- Tap Tempo switch: on-the-fly tempo adjustments; the right-hand Tap footswitch also sets delay subdivision12
The pedal is housed in a compact form factor with what Premier Guitar's press release called "ultra-simple controls," and Guitar World described the interface as simple23.
Two engines, routed in stereo
What sets the Duotime apart from a single-engine delay is that both lines run at once with independent settings. Pedal of the Day called it "a real stereo delay pedal" and noted the true stereo engine lets each delay be routed to a different output1. Premier Guitar's announcement put it the same way: "Duotime is a real stereo delay pedal with independent time / sub-division & repeat knobs"3. For a player, that means one engine can hold a short dotted-eighth bed while the other throws a long, washy repeat, with each going where you route it.
The five delay modes
The Duotime offers five delay types1:
| Mode | What it is |
|---|---|
| Analog Delay | Bucket brigade-style analog delay24 |
| Tape Echo | Based on Roland's RE-201 Space Echo2 |
| Digi Delay | Digital delay mode1 |
| Mod Delay | Based on the Ibanez DML algorithm, 20ms to 1499ms, described by Premier Guitar as "a weird and wonderful modulation delay"3 |
| Verb Delay | Described by Pedal of the Day as a "Pioneer 3 dimensional feeling Verb Delay"1 |
Where the delay modes come from
NUX drew on well-known delay designs for the Duotime's modes. Guitar World reported the Tape Echo mode is "a Tape Echo based on Roland's RE-201 [Space Echo]," the classic tape machine whose repeats darken and warble as they cycle2. The Analog Delay mode is bucket brigade-style, the circuit approach of vintage analog delay units24. The Mod Delay mode is based on the Ibanez DML algorithm, a rack-era modulation delay3.
Pedal of the Day frames the pedal's broader lineage as rack and studio gear: "grabbing inspiration from the golden era of legendary engineering like Lexicon Delta, TC 2290, Eventide H3000, and more"1. Two features worth noting for players who push delays into self-oscillation: Pedal of the Day highlights realistic infinite pitch-shift feedback in the Analog and Tape modes, and musical time-synced modulation rate in the Analog and Modulation delay modes1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's 2023 review summed the pedal up this way:
"leading to a wild, inspiring and creative piece of gear. Delay fans are gonna love this one…non-delay fans just might"
The review's overall view was that the Duotime is a wild, inspiring and creative piece of gear that delay fans will love1.
Related NUX delays
NUX makes several other delay pedals that share territory with the Duotime: the NUX NDD-7 Tape Echo, a Space Echo-inspired pedal with MIDI and a 40-second looper; the NUX Time Core Deluxe, a stereo delay with eight modes; the NUX Tape Core Deluxe tape echo; and the NUX Analog Delay. For the wider field, see the site's Delay Pedals page.
Videos
NUX
Hey Worship Leader
Chords Of Orion
News
Questions
Does the NUX Duotime have a built-in looper?
Yes. Alongside its two delay engines, the Duotime includes a built-in looper. Guitar World and GuitarPlayer both reported the looper at 40 seconds when the pedal was announced in November 2020, so you can record a riff or chord progression and play delay textures over it without any extra pedals on the board.
Is the NUX Duotime a true stereo delay?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes it as a true stereo delay engine with independent controls, and notes that each of the two delay lines can be routed to a different output. Premier Guitar's press release likewise called it a real stereo delay pedal with independent time, sub-division and repeat knobs for each engine.
What delay modes does the NUX Duotime have?
The Duotime offers five delay types: Analog Delay, Tape Echo, Digi Delay, Mod Delay and Verb Delay. The Analog Delay is bucket brigade-style, the Tape Echo is based on Roland's RE-201 Space Echo, and the Mod Delay is based on the Ibanez DML algorithm.
Does the NUX Duotime have tap tempo?
Yes. The pedal has a Tap Tempo switch for on-the-fly adjustments, and Guitar World notes that the right-hand Tap footswitch can be used to adjust both the speed and the delay subdivision while you play.
How much does the NUX Duotime cost?
When the pedal was announced in late 2020, Premier Guitar's press release gave a suggested retail price of $149.00, and Guitar World reported in November 2020 that it was available for $149.99. The two press figures differ by 99 cents.
Sources (4)
- NUX Duotime Dual Delay Engine, Pedal of the Day, 2023-03-30
- NUX unveils Duotime Dual Delay Engine stereo delay pedal, Guitar World, 2020-11-09
- Nu-X Releases the Duotime Dual-Delay Engine, Premier Guitar, 2020-11-06
- NUX Debuts New Duotime Dual Delay Engine Pedal, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2020-11-09
