Above, The Incredible Flanging Machine is a stereo Flanger

that excels at dense swirling textures

Above, showing the 1/4" Input and Output Jacks

Audio Examples

Here is an audio example using Unit number 4

No Longer available

So what is this flanging beast ?

The Incredible Flanging Machine, at its core, has the same basic 3 controls that almost all flangers have.

A rate control which sets the speed of the LFO. This is what sweeps the flanger. (LFO stands for Low Frequency Oscillator)

A depth knob which sets the size of the LFO. This sets the amount of sweep, or technically the amplitude of the LFO.

And a feedback control, sometimes called color, which sets the level of feedback that is returned back to the input. This increases the flanging sound, think more swirly.

The Incredible Flanging Machine adds to this simple concept, by creating a multi flanger. There are three flanger sections and three feedback loops that are all synchronized to the same LFO. The LFO in The Incredible Flanging Machine is very precise and can operate at very low speeds to achieve a smooth and creamy flange effect. The LFO is controlled by a continuously variable knob that has 6 turns of control and LEDs blink the LFO rate.

There are two switches that add additional flavoring to the flanger. Switch 1 adds a pre delay so the delay lines can cross thru the initial delay time. This creates an additional sweeping effect. There are two (or three if SW2 is on) waves all crossing this initial delay time at two different different times.

Switch 2 turns on the third delay line and turns on an additional feedback loop. When switch 2 is turned on the feedback 2 knob controls the level of feedback 2 and 3.

Go Super Swirly Mode by chaining the two sides. The left and right side audio are completely independent, so you can plug the output of one side into the input of the other. Then the one LFO controls a six headed swirly beast.

The Incredible Flanging Machine also has a clean/ flanged control so the effect level can be easily controlled.

Can be operated in mono or stereo. In and out jacks are 1/4 inch switchcraft jacks. Audio levels can be from guitar/bass level to pro audio level.

All of this in a super quiet stereo unit that is built to last for many years. Size is 7.5 X 5 X 3 inches high.

A high quality 4 layer circuit board designed by Mad Science Lab powers the flanger

The Incredible Flanging Machine Controls

The Rate Knob adjusts the speed of the LFO that sweeps the flanger. This is a free spinning knob. The blinking of the green and red LEDs indicates the LFO speed.

The green LED on the left will be always on at the lowest speed, and the red LED on the right will be always on at the fastest speed. The other LED will continue to blink.

When turned on the LFO is set at its slowest speed ( .15 HZ or about 6 seconds per cycle) The red LED will on for 3 seconds, then off for 3 seconds while the green LED is steady.

6 Complete turns of the knob clockwise will take you to the fastest setting, about 20Hz

The rate knob is the only free spinning control.

The depth knob adjusts the range of the sweep for the flanger. This control adjusts the maximum size of the LFO that modulates the flanger.

If this control is set low, the LFO will be smaller and the flange will have less sweep. At lower settings the SW1 switch for pre delay will have no effect, because the delay is never going as low as the pre delay amount.

The feedback 2 knob adjusts the amount of feedback for the second delay line.

When SW2 is ON this knob adjusts the feedback level for delay lines 2 and 3.

Higher settings will emphasize the sweeping of the flanger.

The feedback knob adjusts the amount of feedback for the first delay line.

Higher settings will emphasize the sweeping of the flanger. The feedback 1 and 2 knobs will bring out different frequencies in the audio.

S1 turns on the Pre Delay. This adds a small amount of time to allow the flanger to go through the initial delay time like a reel to reel flanger can. This switch has no effect if the depth control is set below half because the LFO is only modulating a small amount at a higher delay time then the pre delay time.

The S1 switch is used to add additional coloring to the sound. This is a subtle change that also depends on the settings of the other controls.

Up Pre Delay ON

Down Pre Delay OFF

TWO or THREE Flangers?

Flanging will be simpler and waves more pronounced with S2 down

S2 up will add more waves, but max wave is lower since now 3 waves competing. Think ripples on water

S2 turns on a third delay line and its feedback loop, to create the third flanger.

The feedback level for this third flanger, along with the Feedback 2 level, is then set with Feedback 2 control.

Up Flanger 3 turned ON

Down Flanger 3 turned OFF

This control sets the amount of the flanger versus input signal. When set fully counter clockwise or to 0 (clean) the output matches what is input to the unit.

All the way clockwise the flanger effect is at maximum. Depending on other knob settings, the output level may exceed the input level slightly at maximum flange. So set this lower if over driving inputs to a device.

Line In 1/4 Switchcraft jacks

These inputs are for line level inputs, or almost any other low level input.

For best results with guitar or bass, use it as the last foot pedal in your rig. Or just place it after your distortion/ pre amp pedal. Another great choice, is to use it in a stereo effect send and return loop, on a pre amp or amp.

Line level or pro audio level from synthesizers, drum machines or mixers works great. This is one of the reasons we created this flanger. Pro Audio quality flanger

Line Out 1/4 Switchcraft jacks

These Outputs are line level, matching the input levels when the Clean/Flanger knob is set to 0 or clean.

There is an analog output amplifier driving these outputs so they can power long cables, and they have some jam.

SUPER SWIRLY MODE

To get even more flanging, go into Super Swirly Mode.

Plug into the left input with a mono source, then plug the left out into the right in and take the right out to your mixer or amp.

Basically, plug one side into the other to chain the 2 flangers into a 6 headed flange monster.

Technology

The Incredible Flanging Machine uses a 24 Bit Digital signal processor operating at a 48K sampling rate to create a super clean flanging machine.

A Mad Science Lab custom designed analog output filter and analog amplifier insure a smooth and creamy output for your flanging pleasure.

ROHS Compliant No hazardous materials or chemicals

The circuit boards are made and assembled in Oregon. The cases are drilled and painted in Oklahoma. Final assembly is done in California.

The power used by this unit is very small.

Multi flanging
OK so we made that term up, but not the idea, one of the first units to multi flange was the original Electric Mistress. (1976-1981)
The Electric Mistress used the SAD1024 dual analog delay line IC chip to create two linked flanger lines, and then add them together with feedback. Unfortunately, the chip is long gone, and newer bucket brigade devices have only one delay line. We acknowledge the inspiration and influence designer David Cockerell and Electro-Harmonix have had on the flanging world. We have an original Electric Mistress in the lab, and no, The Incredible Flanging Machine is not emulating the Electric Mistress, its taking the idea to the next level, or two.

More info on the Electric Mistress flanger below

http://www.metzgerralf.de/elekt/stomp/mistress/index.shtml
http://www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=80

Of course we also need to thank Les Paul for rigging up the first flanger.

Flange on mighty Les more info on flanging here

Above - The main DSP board that does all the work