UAD Powered Plug-Ins Manual
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Chapter 32: MXR Flanger/Doubler
CHAPTER 32
MXR Flanger/Doubler
Classic Electronic Flanging
For more than 30 years, musicians and engineers have relied upon the MXR
Flanger/Doubler as one of best-sounding bucket-brigade flanging effects ever
made. Through its signature flanging, doubling, and delay effects, the MXR
Flanger/Doubler imprints a unique stamp on guitars, bass, keys, drums, or
just about any source needing movement and depth. Developed in close col-
laboration with Dunlop Manufacturing, the MXR Flanger/Doubler plug-in for
the UAD-2 platform replicates the legendary sound of this classic studio and
stage effect with unparalleled accuracy.
The MXR Flanger/Doubler plug-in for UAD-2 is perfect for adding that “spe-
cial something” to your tracks, and getting the creative juices and sound-shap-
ing possibilities flowing. This plug-in models the original hardware unit in me-
ticulous detail, and makes all its chewy analog goodness available for the first
time in plug-in form. From guitars and basses to drum breaks, the MXR
Flanger/Doubler plug-in will get your tracks moving.
History
Flanging originated as a tape effect where two tape machines are playing
two identical and synchronized signals, and one is gradually delayed to cre-
ate unique comb filtering effects. In the late 70’s, MXR introduced the famed
Flanger/Doubler unit which, unlike tape flanging, recreated this effect elec-
tronically via “bucket brigade” design.
Bucket-Brigade
Technology
A bucket-brigade device (“BBD”) is an analog circuit that produces a delay
by storing the signal in a series of capacitors, passing the stored signal from
one capacitor to the next with each clock cycle. Because the signal is de-
graded with each pass, audio delay lines using BBDs tend to significantly
color the signal.
The name is derived from human bucket brigades, whereby a line of many
people remain stationary while passing many buckets from one person to the
next. Bucket brigades were commonly used by firefighters to deliver water to
a fire more efficiently than would be possible if each person were to carry a
single bucket from the water source to the destination.
