Flanger

Generally, a flanger pedal attempts to recreate the effect of pressing on, or otherwise manipulating, a reel-to-reel tape deck. Because the action modulates both the speed and pitch of the sound produced, flangers occupy a gray area between time-based and waveform-based effects. For a pedal-based reproduction of tape flange and other analog studio tricks, try out a Strymon Deco.

Both chorus and flanging overlap in being short delay-based effects. Chorus effects add several replications of the original input sound, while flangers usually create one slightly slower, mildly pitch-bent effect in parallel to the original input. Analog and digital technology pushed the flanging effect, which is often used as a more extreme effect than chorus, and often compared to the sound of a jet taking off. For an expert explanation, read Andy’s Tone Tips on the two effects.

Unlike flangers, phasers are not time-based effects. Phasers manipulate the waveform of an audio signal.

In addition to the stompboxes mentioned in our rundown of The Best Flangers Ever Made, the EarthQuaker Devices Pyramids is worth a look. It offers amazing tones, stereo ins and outs, and preset recall.