Question:
what are flange, and phase?
digitec sells a flanger, and phaser pedal, and i have no clue what they do.
Answer:
I know that a phaser just takes the signal in and out of phase and gives it almost a swirling effect. Flange is actually like a chorus pedal when it comes to what it does. Only a flange works faster, listen to the samples on Musicians Friend.
Answer:
Flange is a mix of phase and chorus.
Answer:
That's a good definition!
I think Flanger was originally done in the olde days by putting pressure on the tape (the flange) while the guitarist was recording. By adjusting the pressure, the range could be manipulated... correct me if I'm wrong.
Out of the two, I use Flange more, and would reccomend it
-Nick
Answer:
flange is produced by delay. It starts out like a chorus...the signal is split, one side is straight, while the other has a slight (>20ms) modulated delay on it (this explains the rate, depth, and delay on most flangers). Flange is different than chorus in that the delay signal can be feed back onto its self (the feedback or regeneration control). This is where the metalic wooshing and swooshing comes from.
Phasers are a filter effect. Think about the parametric eq on a mixer. Now turn the level up and sweep the frequency from one side to the other. That gets you in the general ballpark of explaining how the effect works. Again, the signal is split, so one side is straight, one side is effected.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Only Alive I think Flanger was originally done in the olde days by putting pressure on the tape (the flange) while the guitarist was recording. By adjusting the pressure, the range could be manipulated... correct me if I'm wrong.
Yep...two tape machines running side by side, in synch. One machine would either be running on a random varispeed or slowed by touching the flange of the tape reel. This would slow the tape down, creating the downward swoosh...while realeasing it would make the tape on the machine catch up to the other machine, creating the upward swoosh.
Answer:
Originally Posted by LWatford flange is produced by delay. It starts out like a chorus...the signal is split, one side is straight, while the other has a slight (>20ms) modulated delay on it (this explains the rate, depth, and delay on most flangers). Flange is different than chorus in that the delay signal can be feed back onto its self (the feedback or regeneration control). This is where the metalic wooshing and swooshing comes from.
Phasers are a filter effect. Think about the parametric eq on a mixer. Now turn the level up and sweep the frequency from one side to the other. That gets you in the general ballpark of explaining how the effect works. Again, the signal is split, so one side is straight, one side is effected. Don't phasers actually mess with the phase of the signal? Or is that just kinda what it sounds like? Cause I know if you mess with the phase of two different signals enough, you can get the same sort of sound, just not going back and forth. Kinda like a phaser put on pause.
Answer:
Originally Posted by ApparentlyNothing Don't phasers actually mess with the phase of the signal? Or is that just kinda what it sounds like? Cause I know if you mess with the phase of two different signals enough, you can get the same sort of sound, just not going back and forth. Kinda like a phaser put on pause.
Yes...that part just gets complicated to explain!
After the signal is split, one side gets fliped 180 degrees out of phase. The filter (all-pass) introduces "phase lag," which is basically a delay that causes the signal to phase shift. This signal is mixed back with the input signal. Since some of the frequencies that have been filtered will be out of phase, they cancel each other out. Other frequncies are "on the edge" of being out of phase, so they get attenuated also (but not cancelled).
Phasers can have a different number of Stages (2, 4, 8, 12, etc.). This is the number of different notches that are created in the signal. This can be created by either a more complex filter, or by stringing several filters together. For example the MXR Phase 90 is a 4-stage phaser. It uses four filter sections in series.
Thats not the best explaination I know...there are lots of really good, super technical expliantions on the internet, let me know if you'd like links.
Answer:
Originally Posted by LWatford Yes...that part just gets complicated to explain!
After the signal is split, one side gets fliped 180 degrees out of phase. The filter (all-pass) introduces "phase lag," which is basically a delay that causes the signal to phase shift. This signal is mixed back with the input signal. Since some of the frequencies that have been filtered will be out of phase, they cancel each other out. Other frequncies are "on the edge" of being out of phase, so they get attenuated also (but not cancelled).
Phasers can have a different number of Stages (2, 4, 8, 12, etc.). This is the number of different notches that are created in the signal. This can be created by either a more complex filter, or by stringing several filters together. For example the MXR Phase 90 is a 4-stage phaser. It uses four filter sections in series.
Thats not the best explaination I know...there are lots of really good, super technical expliantions on the internet, let me know if you'd like links. Ah, ok. Just making sure what I learned in recording class wasn't all wrong. When we started talking about phase and stuff, our prof also talked about phasers with guitars and such, seeing as how he's a guitarist too. Thanks man.