Been thinking about a flanger or a phase shifter......

[Geddyfleaharris]

It has been years since I have used either of these pedals but have been thinking lately of adding one. I think I had the effect they created backwards until last night when I was going through old threads. I thought a phase shifter would produce the big, slow "woosh" plus other sounds while the flanger produced a "watery" effect. But last night I found an old thread where Mystic Boo had links to an MXR 117 (?) and a Small Stone phase shifter. The MXR produced the big woosh effect which I love and the Small Stone produced the "watery" effect.

Do phase shifters pretty much stay to the watery effect? I loved the MXR!

[JanusZarate]

I've always thought of phase shifters as being "shimmery" ("watery" is a pretty good description, too). The Nano Small Stone is one of my favorites for that sound (I never quite liked the MXR Phase 90). Flanging is definitely a "swoosh" sound, sometimes "jet-like" (especially with overdrive or distortion).

[COOL AND DEADLY]

The Electro Harmonix Flanger Hoax is a pretty versatile piece. It is actually two phasers with limited delay. It has tons of controls, so you can dial in the effect you want. It sounds nice with the bass.
My favorite phaser is the Musitronics Mutron Phaser II. It has three controls and sounds great on bass.

[Geddyfleaharris]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

I've always thought of phase shifters as being "shimmery" ("watery" is a pretty good description, too). The Nano Small Stone is one of my favorites for that sound (I never quite liked the MXR Phase 90). Flanging is definitely a "swoosh" sound, sometimes "jet-like" (especially with overdrive or distortion).

Thanks Mystic! I want the "jet".

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by COOL AND DEADLY

My favorite phaser is the Musitronics Mutron Phaser II. It has three controls and sounds great on bass.

really? i've heard that those don't sound very good on bass due to low end loss and tone suck. do you have clips?

[bigchiefbc]

See, I'm gonna go ahead and disagree here. I love both phaser and flanger. But I think of phaser as being more "whoosh"-y than flanger. I think of flanger as sounding more warbly-wooshy than jet-wooshy. Here's an example of what I'm talking about: clip - This clip is going through a phaser, not a flanger, and its definitely the "jet whoosh"

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

See, I'm gonna go ahead and disagree here. I love both phaser and flanger. But I think of phaser as being more "whoosh"-y than flanger. I think of flanger as sounding more warbly-wooshy than jet-wooshy. Here's an example of what I'm talking about: clip - This clip is going through a phaser, not a flanger, and its definitely the "jet whoosh"

I can still hear the colorful "shimmer" of the phase, even with distortion. It's a characteristic that never goes away. Not that it's a bad thing, though.

But it's definitely things like that which make it hard to choose between phasing and flanging. They can sometimes "overlap" with similar sounds, but even when similar, there are enough subtle differences to tell them apart.

One other useful keyword for describing a flanger, depending on how you set it, is "metallic" - it's a sound a phaser can't do.

[3toes]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanger

The more you know

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

I can still hear the colorful "shimmer" of the phase, even with distortion. It's a characteristic that never goes away. Not that it's a bad thing, though.

But it's definitely things like that which make it hard to choose between phasing and flanging. They can sometimes "overlap" with similar sounds, but even when similar, there are enough subtle differences to tell them apart.

One other useful keyword for describing a flanger, depending on how you set it, is "metallic" - it's a sound a phaser can't do.

no argument there. There is definitely a discernable difference between phasing and flanging. And the ping-y, metallic edge to most flangers is the most telltale difference to me. To me, phasers have a more air-y, white noise-y swoosh to them

[JanusZarate]

Above all else, the recurring problem with phaser-versus-flanger threads happens to be semantics.

[Geddyfleaharris]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

One other useful keyword for describing a flanger, depending on how you set it, is "metallic" - it's a sound a phaser can't do.

The clip of the phaser "jet" is pretty cool but overll the sound that I heard from the MXR clip last night is the one in my head. As you say Boo - metallic. With a fuzz or distorsion I am sure it would sound huge!

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by Geddyfleaharris

The clip of the phaser "jet" is pretty cool but overll the sound that I heard from the MXR clip last night is the one in my head. As you say Boo - metallic. With a fuzz or distorsion I am sure it would sound huge!

SpankyPants did a hilarious but educational demo video of the MXR M-117R Flanger just the other day, showing different settings and plenty of distorted jet-flange action.

**COUGH Demo video for COUGH COUGH MXR M-117R Flanger COUGH**

Enjoy.

[Happynoj]

I think phasers are swooshy. Especially with a bit of OD.

Flangers are hard and metallic and jetty.

[Vic Winters]

Boss PH-3 is a very cool pedal that gets you a bunch of different watery sounds. 7 different modes, tap tempo and rate control via expression pedal.

[RickenBoogie]

You really need them both, maybe not at the same time, but c'mon, they're both too cool not to have.

[Geddyfleaharris]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

You really need them both, maybe not at the same time, but c'mon, they're both too cool not to have.

I am trying to exercise a bit of self control.

3 Toes - The Wikipedia link about flanging was a pretty cool read. Thanks!

[SpankyPants]

Originally Posted by 3toes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanger

The more you know

And knowing is half the battle.

[SpankyPants]

GEE AAYYEE JJJJJJJJOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

[James Hart]

I prefer Phasers to flange or chorus (though a nice chorus has it's place for me as well).

I had a Nano Small Stone that was pretty cool, but I wanted something a little 'less' and something a little more!

Now I use a Phase 45 clone and a Maxon PT-9 Pro+

Phasers a 'swishy' to me