Chorus/Flanger

Chorus and flanger are both tone- and time-based effects and yet another type of modulation. They are sometimes used during the writing process but can be used in the sweetening stage of a mix to create interesting effects on certain tracks.

Like other modulation effects, chorus and flanger are often built into guitar amplifiers and other electric instruments, so many musicians will already be familiar with it.

Both effects operate by the same mechanism. They copy the signal of a track, leave the original intact, and alter the copy by delaying it slightly and modulating the delay time.

The effect that the modulated delay has on the tone of the copy is similar to that of vibrato; it causes the pitch to bend up and down in a rhythmic cycle. Layered with the original track, this creates a “thickening” effect.

The differences between the two effects are that most choruses will have a longer delay time, and most flangers will have the option for additional feedback, sending the output back to the input to be processed again.

Both chorus and flanger plug-ins will have at least the following two parameters: “rate” and "depth" or “intensity.”

Rate determines the time it takes for the plug-in to complete one modulation cycle, from the lowest delay time to the highest, and back.

Depth or intensity determines how far apart the highest and lowest delay times will be. A higher “depth” will cause the pitch to fluctuate more.

Chorus and flanger plug-ins are yet two more tools that should be used sparingly, but they can come in handy when your mixes need a little something extra.