POD HD Flanger...

[Will Chen]

Alright, if you've read my HD posts, you've likely seen my slight displeasure with some of the mod effects. That experience has extended to the flangers. Now, I don't pretend to be a connoisseur, I've only owned one dedicated flange in my life (Boss) and it was a long time ago. That being said, the tone from that pedal set my expectation and it has been met by every multi-fx and VST I've had on the (rare) occasions I've needed it. I had skipped through the HD effects many times but never really sat down with the flanger and tried to dial it in. Last night I was working on a tune I need to learn for a Saturday rehearsal with a new group and I thought flanger might sound cool in the bridge. So I went through each flange and...wtf? None of them really sound like what I would expect a flanger to sound like, certainly nothing capturing the "swoosh". Any one with a similar experience?

[longi]

I thought they were reasonably good, I thought the Wah Wah's were the worst effect on it.

[TomWaitsForNoMan]

Completely agree. The best I could do is tweaking with the Jet Flange ... and it's still nothing like that "Airplane" whoosh sound. They all sound more chorus-y then flange-y... I really think the script phase can sound much more authentic so I've been using that when I want that sort of "thing"

[hour9]

I agree. I've been trying to get a Van Halen "Unchained" flange sound but can't figure it out.

[stratchamp57]

Maybe you could Stick a g3 after the pod?

[Will Chen]

Originally Posted by longi

I thought they were reasonably good, I thought the Wah Wah's were the worst effect on it.

I can get much, much closer to the sound of my crybaby than I can get to the flange tones I have in my head and I've heard in other multis and dedicated pedals.

Originally Posted by TomWaitsForNoMan

Completely agree. The best I could do is tweaking with the Jet Flange ... and it's still nothing like that "Airplane" whoosh sound. They all sound more chorus-y then flange-y... I really think the script phase can sound much more authentic so I've been using that when I want that sort of "thing"

Yeah, I'm actually using the Script Phase for another tune and that's what I fell back to last night.

Originally Posted by Kutless999

Maybe you could Stick a g3 after the pod?

The biggest draw in using any multi-fx unit for me is to minimize the complexity of my set up. Adding the G3 only for flange, an effect I almost never use, seems like overkill. In fact, stacking multi-fx units in general isn't something I'm interested in at all.

[Gigbag]

At first I couldn't get decent flanger tones, but eventually tweaked enough to get usuable ones. It would have helped me to acually have the knobs set up the same on the models as the real analog pedals I have. Try these for starting points (note, it will vary with placement of the effects, and also try boosts in front for some):

EVH, Ain't Talk'n Bout Love (turn on for the C to B note riff):

Analog Flanger model
Speed: 0.3 to 0.32 Hz
Depth: 33%
Feedback: 98 to 100%
Manual: 50%
Mix: 100%


EVH, Unchained:

Analog Flanger model
Speed: 0.4 Hz
Depth: 82%
Feedback: 100%
Manual: 75 to 80%
Mix: 100%

or

AC Flanger model
Speed: 0.38 Hz
Width: 82%
Regen: 100%
Manual: 82%

Heart, Barracuda:

Analog Flanger model
Speed: 0.85 Hz
Depth: 16%
Feedback: 6%
Manual: 63%
Mix: 100%

[DarthVanHollis]

EVH's Flanger was always set exactly the same. Here's what works for me.

AC Flanger
Speed 0.10 Hz
Width 40%
Regen 40%
Manual 95-100%

There are so many knobs on a Flanger it is a tough effect to get to sound right. I think that Line 6 should just make every knob 1-100. It's stupid to have the Hz listed for speed on effects that don't normally use that paramater.

[overunderdrive]

there are like 5 flangers in there, and you can't find a good tone?

user error IMHO.

[whackystrings]

Try experimenting: Drive before and after flanging effect. Same applies to univibe and phaser effects. Van Halen stuff was all flanger then dirt ('cos of course the dirt was the amp).
If you are in doubt, just try it. Don't take my word for it!

[Gigbag]

Originally Posted by DarthVanHollis

EVH's Flanger was always set exactly the same. Here's what works for me.

AC Flanger
Speed 0.10 Hz
Width 40%
Regen 40%
Manual 95-100%

There are so many knobs on a Flanger it is a tough effect to get to sound right. I think that Line 6 should just make every knob 1-100. It's stupid to have the Hz listed for speed on effects that don't normally use that paramater.

I'll give your settings a try. The ATBL and Unchained (and other EVH flangers) were pretty much the same. Unchained just has the regeneration maxed out (compared to ATBL). He does use some other extreme flanger settings/sounds at times though.

[Will Chen]

Originally Posted by overunderdrive

there are like 5 flangers in there, and you can't find a good tone?

user error IMHO.

Have you done a head to head comparison? If so, go ahead and post some clips to prove your point. I'm going to try the settings posted later tonight and see if i can get something more to my expectations. I can just punch up the flangers in other units with zero adjustment and the sound as expected. If this has something to do with the pod stereo summing issue (like the analog chorus in previous releases), I'm probably just going to shelf it for a little while and use my RP500.

And BTW, not trying to get a VH sound really. But I guess his usage is the most well known.

[overunderdrive]

Originally Posted by Will Chen

Have you done a head to head comparison? If so, go ahead and post some clips to prove your point. I'm going to try the settings posted later tonight and see if i can get something more to my expectations. I can just punch up the flangers in other units with zero adjustment and the sound as expected. If this has something to do with the pod stereo summing issue (like the analog chorus in previous releases), I'm probably just going to shelf it for a little while and use my RP500.

And BTW, not trying to get a VH sound really. But I guess his usage is the most well known.

look, I'm not really a flanger guy, but I've used various flangers over the years--mainly for more chorus-type stuff--and the POD flangers, going all the way back to the MM4, sound like, well, flangers.

as always, the modeled stuff, regardless of who makes it and how good it its, is never quite as chewy and thick as the real analog gear, but it usually responds the way you would expect it to.

here's the MM4 flanger at 7:38... sounds like a flanger.

[Will Chen]

Originally Posted by overunderdrive

look, I'm not really a flanger guy, but I've used various flangers over the years--mainly for more chorus-type stuff--and the POD flangers, going all the way back to the MM4, sound like, well, flangers.

as always, the modeled stuff, regardless of who makes it and how good it its, is never quite as chewy and thick as the real analog gear, but it usually responds the way you would expect it to.

here's the MM4 flanger at 7:38... sounds like a flanger.

Sure. Sounds like nice subtle flanging. The stuff in the RP can get those sounds but can also do the sweeping jet type of tone. When you try for a more in your face tone, the sweep doesn't sound smooth. Also, the tone becomes muddy vs the RP which can do some pretty extreme flanging and still sound clear. The closest is the analog flanger (thanks for the settings guys), but when you up the feedback and depth, there's a weird detune thing happening at the bottom of the sweep which just doesn't sound right to me.

Here's a clip. First HD, then RP, then G3, all into the HD using a bassman model with some delay. The HD is just about as crazy as the analog flanger will get, both the RP and G3 can get way, way crazier and over the top if dialed in as such. Maybe I'm crazy and just splitting hairs.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zr3achg1ra31x0t

[_pete_]

Originally Posted by Will Chen

Here's a clip. First HD, then RP, then G3, all into the HD using a bassman model with some delay. The HD is just about as crazy as the analog flanger will get, both the RP and G3 can get way, way crazier and over the top if dialed in as such. Maybe I'm crazy and just splitting hairs.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zr3achg1ra31x0t

No, you are absolutely correct.
That first flanger in the clip sounds hideous.
The RP flange is far and away the best of the three in your clip. It sounds like a flanger is supposed to.