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 | | | | Nov30Written by:Rip Rowan
Tuesday, November 30, 1999 6:00 PM  MetaFlanger is a stereo flanger unit that offers all forms of flanging from subtle stereo widening to full-out jet takeoff effects. MetaFlanger's flexibility is a result of some intelligent decisions to provide the user with options not usually found on flangers.
Controls are provided to adjust the level and polarity of both the effect and the feedback loop. The dual phasing switches are a great feature that can really change the quality of the flanging effect. When setting up the effect I found myself trying all four different phasing configurations, and each one had its own use.
 MetaFlanger
The input to the effect also includes a swept high / low pass EQ. The EQ is a great idea that lets you control the color of the effect as well as controlling the bass cancellation that occurs when you start messing with the phase controls. For really "wide and fat" flanging effects you can use the low-pass EQ to get a strong "phasey" effect while retaining clarity. Use a high-pass EQ to make the treble "sizzly" without creating a "whooshy" sound, or to flange a bass without the bass dropouts normally associated with flanged / phased bass.
I have usually found that any given flanger usually can do only one or two truly decent effects. Some are nice and clean, but can't get really "swooshy" while others can really "scream and whoosh" but sound lousy at more subtle settings. In my opinion the real power of this unit is the phase and EQ controls that allow the flanger to have virtually any useful color and depth. If there's a particular flanging effect that you like, MetaFlanger can do it.
All flangers are really just delay units with short delay times and (usually) feedback loops. What makes them "flange" is that they modulate the delay time. This creates a doppler effect. You can demonstrate the flanging effect easily: while saying "ssshhhhhhhh", quickly move your open hand in front of your face like you're slapping yourself on the end of your nose, from touching your nose to about 6 inches in front of your face. (Important safety tip: don't let anybody see you, or you'll wind up in a straightjacket painting flowers with the paintbrush in your teeth.)
While your hand is moving toward you, the reflected sound waves are compressed and rise in pitch. While your hand is moving away from you the reflected sound waves are expanded and lower in pitch. Since these reflected sounds mix in the air along with the unreflected sound, you hear all kinds of phase cancellation effects resulting from the overlapping and slightly pitch-shifted sound sources.
Like any flanger, MetaFlanger lets you control the initial delay time as well as the rate and depth of the delay modulation. You may choose to use a sine or triangle wave as the modulation source. A graphic sweeper light indicates the depth and speed of the modulation. A "stop" button is provided that freezes the modulator, locking in the "color" of the effect. I didn't use this on a song, but it's pretty cool - kind of like using a wah pedal in a fixed position to achieve a unique - but not modulating - sound color. I could see this being a great effect to get a unique color on a guitar solo or drum loop.
MetaFlanger includes a "tape" button that creates a more tape-flanger-like sound quality by delaying the dry as well as the effected sound. This allows the wet signal to "go through the null" creating the classic jet flanger sound. A "link" button is also provided that links the depth and speed control together in an inverse relation. As you lower the depth, the speed increases.
The final cool touch is a "stereoizing" effect that controls how the effect is injected into the signal. With the control at its center position, the flanger sweeps in mono. As you drag the control, the effect "widens" until at the widest setting the flanger is operating in "full wide stereo".
One option I found lacking was the ability to enter mod speed in terms of BPM (Beats Per Minute). All of the other Pro-FX units allow you to enter mod speed in terms of BPM. When doing a flanging effect on a full mix, for example, it would be nice to be able to enter the mod rate in BPM to more easily time the "whooshes" to happen in time with the music. I would also like to have the option of two more modulators: saw up, and saw down, which would cause the flanger to always sweep in the same direction rather than back-and-forth.
I really like the sound of MetaFlanger. When I was growing up in bands, it seemed like every guitarist I knew at some point got addicted to the sound of those crappy, metallic-sounding stompbox flangers, and as I result I really don't use flanging effects. MetaFlanger's "tape" settings solve the flanging problem for me by creating much more "vintage" flanging effects. I find MetaFlanger to be a great effect on BGVs, guitars, cymbals, and even Full Mix Jet Flanging a la "Life in the Fast Lane."
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