The Rainger FX Flanger X is the third pedal in a series of creative mini digital pedals released by London’s eccentric builder David Rainger. The previous two were the Echo X and the Reverb X.
As with its predecessors, the Flanger X was designed with the goal of expanding the sonic range of that effect in new directions, yet still be able to deliver the spacey subtle modulation tones it’s mostly used for, including stationary flange tones.
The unusual take here is the introduction of a Rocket Launch Sound, which has its own volume knob and can be triggered to intergrate with the flanger to create some truly out there swelling effects. This sound is envelope-controlled if you choose to have it on all the time, or can be triggered in bursts via the Igor pressure pad.
Igor can also be used to trigger a ramp-up of the LFO speed by pressing the botton left switch, while the adjacent ‘Env’ switch changes the rocket sound from envelope-controlled to always-on, tones down its low end, and just adds a subtle texture to the flanging without interfering with your tone.
For those interested in knowing where the rocket sound comes from, here’s what David has to say about it:
This is a full-frequency, three-dimensional analogue rocket sound simulation, with the muffled pops and low roar of a heavy-lift vehicle launching. The sound is partly achieved – at full ‘rocket’ setting – by overloading the input to the digital flanger circuit, adding an extra layer of bubbling distortion.
Check out the videos!
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Rainger FX Flanger X, Builder’s Notes
The Flanger-X is a digital flanger, the latest in our ‘X’ series of mini-pedals. It does anything from a slight chorus through to a massive modulation, from ‘stationary’ flange tones to ultra-fast wobbles. And it also has a built-in huge rocket launch sound reproduction – to mix in to exaggerate the flanger into a colossal sweep – at some settings overwhelming the actual instrument sound itself!
The Flanger-X is the flangiest flanger that ever flanged!!!
It’s true-bypass, and digital – and features an analogue sound reproduction of a space rocket launch, as it burns through the atmosphere heading to space! This sound is envelope-controlled, or on all the time, or just in specific bursts whenever you press Igor. Add in the amount needed – maybe have it completely silent, or up full to really blast away the cobwebs…
Controls
The main controls are ‘Flange’ – for amount of the effect, ‘Rate’ – from stationary to weirdly fast, ‘Rocket’ – from nothing to full blast, ‘Vol’, and ‘FBK’ – for those twangy fast-repeat echo trails….
There’s an ‘Igor’ switch, changing it from speed ramp-up to momentary noise burst. The ‘Env’ switch changes the rocket sound from envelope-controlled to always-on.
There’s a ‘Peak’ LED – to show that the digital input is overloading; this does no damage at all, but happens when ‘rocket’ is on full – adding the final distorted intensity to the sound.
About the rocket noise
This is a full-frequency, three-dimensional analogue rocket sound simulation, with the muffled pops and low roar of a heavy-lift vehicle launching. The sound is partly achieved – at full ‘rocket’ setting – by overloading the input to the digital flanger circuit, adding an extra layer of bubbling distortion.
Turn down this knob and the rocket seems to move away (through a cloud layer….?!)
On the ‘ENV’ setting however, the rocket sound follows the envelope of the signal, and has most of its low-end rolled off – just adding texture and keeping it out of the way of the main tone of the notes you’re playing.
Play the Flanger-X into some sort of drive pedal after it, and it adds a really exciting fizz, with dramatic silence in the quiet bits.
About Igor
Igor is a pressure-sensitive controller, designed to get real-time expression easily. At one setting, lean on it and it speeds up the modulation to its fastest rate. At the other setting, it adds a rocket noise burst… like interference breaking through…
It’s dual sensitivity; flip it over for a hard or soft press.
The Flanger-X is a unique flanger; designed to create the real extremes of modulation settings – and everything in between.
The innovative rocket sound adds amazing textural effects and can sound fascinatingly hypnotic, but at the same type incredibly powerful.
Features
- Massive flanging – from a mini-pedal
- Mix in a huge rocket launch simulation – for next-level intensity!
- Can do clean chorus-y shimmer
- Includes Igor pressure-sensitive controller pad
- Modulation speed adjustable in real-time
- A digital flanger with analogue rocket sound – internally created
- A custom Rainger FX enclosure
