The Supro Flanger is an all-analog, full-stereo flanger pedal from Supro, described by the maker as a sibling to the Supro Chorus. Its circuit is built around a quartet of genuine MN3009 bucket brigade IC chips, the vintage delay chips that give analog flangers their character, and Supro says it delivers "the absolute richest Flanger effect possible" while striking a tonal balance between vintage flanger units and more modern modulation effects1.
A flanger works on time delay: it takes two signals, mixes them together, and plays one back at a slightly slower speed, with an LFO (low-frequency oscillator) modulating the timing of the delay to produce the sweeping, whooshing effect players know2. The Supro Flanger runs two of these delay lines in stereo, and its Dimension switch crossfeeds them into each other for a double-flanger sound.
How it sounds and how it is built
Supro describes the Flanger as offering "rich, analog tone that strikes the tonal balance between vintage flanger units and more modern modulation effects"1. Pedal of the Day's review, presented with Sweetwater, echoed that description and noted that the pedal "maintains an impressive amount of headroom for reduced contingent distortion, perfect for playing nice"4.
The four MN3009 chips are the heart of the design. Bucket brigade chips are the classic analog delay devices used in vintage flangers and choruses, and the MN3009 is one of the rarer parts in that family. Pedal of the Day highlighted the "quartet of genuine MN3009 Bucket Brigade IC chips" as a distinguishing feature of the pedal4. Running four of them lets the pedal drive two modulated delay lines for its full-stereo operation.
The controls
The pedal has four knobs and a dual footswitch setup1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sets the rate of modulation of the flanger effect1 |
| Sweep | Sets the delay time. Turning clockwise increases the delay time on channel 1 while decreasing it on channel 21 |
| Width | Sets the overall intensity of the flanger effect1 |
| Feedback | Sets the amount of resonance in the circuit. Center position is no resonance; clockwise from center adds positive feedback, counter-clockwise adds negative feedback1 |
The Feedback control is bi-directional, as Pedal of the Day pointed out: rather than only adding resonance in one direction, it moves from negative feedback on one side of center to positive feedback on the other4. The Sweep control is also stereo-aware, increasing the delay time on one side of the stereo field while shortening it on the other4.
The Dimension switch
The Dimension switch is the feature that sets this pedal apart from a standard two-knob flanger. Supro describes what it does plainly14:
"Dimension: Enables a crossfeed between the two channels, creating a unique, double-flanger effect in mono or stereo."1
With Dimension engaged, the two channels feed into one another, producing the effect of two delay lines being modulated in opposite directions. Supro calls this "the entrancing double-flanger effect of two delay lines being modulated in opposite directions, even when used in mono"1. Pedal of the Day described the Dimension switch as a first-of-its-kind feature among flangers4.
For a player, this means the pedal's most distinctive sound does not require a stereo rig. Plugged into a single amp, the crossfeed still produces the double-flanger interaction between the two delay lines145.
Power and connections
The Supro Flanger runs on 9VDC power and draws 250mA1. That current draw is on the high side for an analog pedal, comparable to what digital modulation pedals draw, so it is worth planning for on a powered pedalboard. Supro lists the pedal's function as "Analog Flanger with Dimension" with a dual footswitch arrangement1.
Input impedance is 2.2M and output impedance is 150 ohms1. The bypass is buffered rather than true bypass1, so the signal path runs through the pedal's buffering even when the effect is off. The enclosure is a flat-finish box measuring 4.9 inches long by 3.2 inches wide, weighing 1 lb, made in China1.
History and versions
Supro announced the Flanger on October 27, 2021, as part of an expansion of its stompbox lineup, with the pedal available for preorder at $289 and shipping in November of that year3. Coverage at the time noted the four MN3009 bucket brigade chips, the Dimension crossfeed mode, and the $289 list price41. Supro's product page continues to list the pedal at $2891.
The Flanger sits in Supro's modulation lineup alongside the Supro Chorus, which Supro names as its sibling: both are all-analog, full-stereo modulation pedals1. Compared with other analog flangers on the market, the Supro's distinguishing features are its full-stereo, two-delay-line design and the Dimension crossfeed, where most analog flangers, like the Maxon FL-9 or the MXR Flanger, run a single delay line in mono.
News
Questions
Is the Supro Flanger true bypass?
No. Supro lists the Flanger's bypass as buffered, not true bypass. That means the signal runs through the pedal's circuitry when the effect is off, which keeps the switching quiet but colors the bypassed path slightly compared with a true bypass pedal.
Does the Supro Flanger work in mono?
Yes. Although it is a full-stereo pedal with two channels, it can be run in mono. The Dimension switch crossfeeds the two channels into one another, so the double-flanger effect of two delay lines being modulated in opposite directions is available even when used in mono.
What is the difference between the Supro Flanger and the Supro Chorus?
Supro describes the Flanger as a sibling to the Supro Chorus: both are all-analog, full-stereo modulation pedals in the same family. The Flanger is a flanger, using four MN3009 bucket brigade chips to deliver its effect, while the Chorus covers chorus sounds. Supro positions the Flanger's tone between vintage flanger units and more modern modulation effects.
How much did the Supro Flanger cost at launch?
The Supro Flanger carried a list price of $289 USD when Supro announced it in October 2021, and Supro's product page still lists it at $289. It was announced on October 27, 2021, with shipping in November of that year.
Sources (5)
- Flanger - Supro USA, Supro USA, 2024-10-14
- The Great Modulator: A Guide to EarthQuaker Devices Modulation Pedals, EarthQuaker Devices, 2022-05-16
- Supro expands its stompbox lineup with an all-analog, full-stereo Flanger pedal, Guitar World, 2021-10-27
- Supro Analog Stereo Flanger, Pedal of the Day, 2023-12-05
- Supro’s new Flanger pedal offers up double analogue modulation | Guitar.com, Guitar.com
