How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

[Christobevii3]

I can't really figure out how to use delay basides the quick one note repeat? What do you use it for and how do you set it up that it adds something else to your sound?

Flanger and phaser, what is there besides the van halen stuff that you can do with them before I purchase some and which do you recommend?

 

[wahwah]

Re: How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

You can try using longer delays, around 500ms, with a couple of repeats, to add space to solos. It works best with analog or tape echo sim delays, because the repeats lose their top end and melt into the next note. It's also a matter of setting the level far enough back so that the delays are more like "ghost notes" as opposed to strident repeats. Set the delay output to be around 50-60% of the original signal. You can also use tempo related delays to set up rhythms, ala The Edge from U2 and Andy Summers from The Police.

Phasers are also good for clean funk, and they also work well on slower speeds under a wah. On faster speeds, some of the better phasers can achieve something like the Leslie effect on a Hammond. They can also be used to add just a slight shimmer to a sound to make it a little more interesting. I'm a fan of the old MXR phasers, but not the Dunlop reissues which are crap by comparison. You'll also find a lot of people who like the Small Stone phasers.

I've never been a big fan of Flangers, it's a very dominant effect that can generally only be used sparingly. Having said that, used well it can be a great effect. Hope this helps.


Cheers.......................wahwah

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

The key to good delay sounds (as wahwah pointed out) is the mix or level control. Set it for somewhere around a quarter note with the mix down and about three repeats. Play some 16th note lines and see how it sounds. Also, I used to hate delay when I had only used Boss digital delays, but since I've found analog and analog modeling delays I love them.

As far as Flangers are concerned, the EVH sound is an MXR with the Regeneration maxed. If you back it off, even to 50% it's a lot more subtle and interesting to me. Not to mention, I find the EHX Deluxe Electric Mistress and the Ibanez DFL to be more to my liking than the MXR. (For an example of the DFL in action check out RATM - Wake Up and Tool - 46 & 2)

One thing you can do to make a Phaser more interesting is set it slow for a dramatic sweeping effect (The Phase 45 and Tonefactor Nebula sound like Breathe, the Small Stone can do it too with the color switch down). Another thing as wahwah said is to set it fast for a quasi Leslie effect. There are a few different types of Phaser, I love that 2 stage sound like the Phase 45 and Nebula. Tonefactor has some videos on Youtube.

Good luck on you effects quest.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

There are no rules....no rules at all!!
Nothing is best, otherwise nobody would ever sound interesting or fun with effects!

 

[DankStar]

Re: How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

like he said, the best applications are what comes to mind and finger when you're goofing with them. clean, dirty, the amount of effect - it's all personal taste.

i find that those 3 effects are nice when recording but i can't really sit down and jam or practice with a phaser or flanger going on. or they're fun for a few minutes, then you just want to shut the things off.

a delay is ok sometimes for slow solos, especially with bends, where you stop the bend and it keeps reapeating 4 or 5 times. best to play at a speed that fits with the delay time. quick slapback or doubling to me is not useful at all.

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

What flangers and phasers do you recommend i look at buying? The phaser on my boss me-50 seemed ok, the flanger not so much so im looking at the mxr one.

 

[schecterplayer]

Re: How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

the HBE psilocybe is a pretty cool phaser, the MXR ones are ok, but not awesome

 

[LesStrat]

Re: How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

Niels nailed it.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

I can't really figure out how to use delay basides the quick one note repeat? What do you use it for and how do you set it up that it adds something else to your sound?

Flanger and phaser, what is there besides the van halen stuff that you can do with them before I purchase some and which do you recommend?

I like my delay set up with a sound like it is echos in a large valley. I just use a DOD cheapie.... i set the volume of the repats lower then my original signal and the have 3 repeats max! I change the speed sometimes a little but i mostly keep it with simular delay time.... I turn it on and off.. i never have it going for too long a period

Flanger i use for clean sounds to add a lush tone... as well as solos... i prefer a long sweep... and not too much depth... I aim for the Van Halen early days solo Flanger tones.. yet i just use a Boss from the late 80's taht has been my baby for years.. it just works for me...

Phaser i do not normally have much use for at all... Unless a song i want to play has a Phaser in it.. Like Van Halen's Atomic Punk, Zep's Achilles Last Stand and Ten Years Gone, Or even the Stones Shattered

 

[Mincer]

Re: How do you use delay, flanger, and phaser?

i use really long delays...20 secs, 30 secs...feedback about 90%, delayed sound about 95% of the direct sound for live looping improvisations.