What is flanging?
Flanging is an audio effect that works by using a modulated delay to introduce pitch variations to a copy of te source audio. This copy is then mixed in with the original audio, creating the typical flanging effect. The specific movement of the flanger is controlled by the shape, speed and depth of the LFO that controls the modulated delay. Many flanger plugins also have a feature to control the feedback of the modulated delay, allowing you to create extreme flanging effects. A chorus effect is similar to a flanger effect, but uses a different range to modulate the delay, and usually does not include a feedback control. This is because a chorus effect is oftentimes used to create the illusion of multiple voices or instruments playing together or to add a subtle flavour to a track, while a flanger is used for more extreme creative effects.
What is the history of flanging?
Flanger has a long history in music production and engineering, as examples can be heard back as far as the 60’s and was very present in rock music of the time, with some uses more extreme than others. The word ‘flanger’ comes from recording studio when studio engineers would record a sound onto a tape reel, and then would play it both at the same time to a third tape reel. When the engineer applied a bit of pressure on one of the original reel’s ‘flanges’ (the part of the tape reel that holds the tape together), it would slow down by a few milliseconds and produce the effect we all know today.
What famous mixes or songs use flanging?
Kashmir by Led Zeppelin uses a Flanger on the drum track through the entire length of the song:
Kraftwerk also used a flanger in their song “Trans-Europa Express”, which you can hear very clearly on the drums throughout the track also.
Pro tips using flanging- with Enrico Tiberi (nrec)
1) Create a wide rave lead
A flanger can be used to give a more rave-ish sound to a synth lead, like on the Roland Sh-101 synth.
2) Add stereo width and depth to a pad
Flangers can really help create a great depth and stereo to atmospheres, like with this Juno synth pad.
3) Create some stereo movement on the drum bus
For this tip you should send your full drum bus to a return/bus channel and hi pass the whole channel. Then, add a flanger with some stereo movement.