Tape flanging routes audio through analog tape machines or tape delay units while physically altering the motor speed or varispeed of one deck relative to another. The slight time offset between the duplicate signals creates moving comb-filter notches that sweep through the frequency spectrum. The resulting effect produces swirling stereo sweeps, delayed echoes, and fluid psychedelic textures.
How the songs in the archive use it
Hawkwind uses tape echo units and varispeed tape flanging to transform synthesizer sweeps in Assault and Battery and gong strikes in Warrior on the edge of time, while Space Oddity uses tape delay and flanging on Mick Wayne's electric guitar to emulate rocket engines and transmission artifacts.
How to do it in Logic Pro
Generates sweeping comb-filter notches by subtly modulating the time offset between duplicate signals. Use it to impart psychedelic swoosh, movement, and metallic texture to drums, guitars, or full mix passages.
Insert Flanger on your audio track.
Set the modulation Rate to define how quickly the comb-filter notches sweep across the frequency spectrum.
Adjust Intensity to govern the sweep width of the notches.
Increase Feedback to intensify the characteristic hollow, metallic edge.
Set Mix to equal parts dry and wet to achieve maximum comb-filter cancellation.
Plug-in
Control
Value
Listen for
Flanger
Rate
0.25
slow, gradual resonant sweep
Flanger
Intensity
70
wide frequency sweep depth
Flanger
Feedback
60
pronounced metallic resonance
A general method with Logic Pro's own plug-ins. Control names are checked against Apple's manual; the values are starting points, so adjust them by ear.
Songs that use it (2)
What each track sheet's analysis found, with the sheet's own score. Analysis, not verified credits.
Warrior on the edge of time by HawkwindTape Flanged Gong Resonances: Orchestral gong struck softly and sent through dual reel-to-reel tape varispeed machine offsets to generate slow psychedelic comb-filtering sweepsSheet score 7/10 · Source given: Historical audio engineering analysis · Open the full track sheet
Space Oddity by David BowieTape Delay & Flanging: Used extensively on Mick Wayne's electric guitar during the liftoff and outro to simulate rocket engines and deep-space transmission artifacts.Sheet score 8/10 · Source given: Trident Studio historical techniques · Open the full track sheet
Want these sounds in your own mixes? Every song above has a full track sheet with its signal chains and a step-by-step recreation for your DAW. Open Track DiveAll techniques