Yes on the delays. I first recieved a tip way back when (in 2000 I think), I didn't know how to dial them up, but they were definitely adding something nice. The tip was very simple, just start around 400/500ms, get your delay to fit, then turn the mix down until you hear a difference when you turn it on and off. Most hardware delays just wont get in that zone where they blend in just right. So really happy with that, and that you can hi/low pass to make it roomy without sounding like artifacts from using a delay. Using mono delay is also kinda cool as you can pan it off to the right for kind of a 3D type effect. I think that's one of the standard uses also, from what I remember in the Art of Mixing book I got (good book for learning EQs and thinking in 3D).

The Eleven Rack is great at this kind of thing.

What I really wanted to do is keep learning because I've gotten to where I feel like I have to have the same FX, but then I hear some recordings that are really polished and stand out. Some of my favorite sounds come from guys who like to bump the reverb up more than I do, my son even makes it really obvious, but the Arena reverb doesn't mess with the tone too much (IMO it improves the tone if anything) and blends nicely even when you want that ambient sound. So I started using the Arena verb a lot more after that. In a mix, it works great.

So it's nice to see what you all like and get an idea.