Asheville Music Tools AFG-1 Dynamic Analogue Flanger Pedal

The Analoger™ Series AFG-1 is a 100% analogue dynamic flanger with some unique differentiating features. Its lush swirls, vocal comb filter sweeps, and metallic flourishes can be controlled with the onboard LFO, or articulated by your playing dynamics with our bi-directional, multi-response envelope follower. By drawing from synthesiser-style architectures and elements of beloved vintage rack effects, Hawker has designed this modulator from the ground up to go where no classic flanger has gone before.

The AFG-1 flanger architecture uses a 256-stage MN3009 high-voltage BBD chip powered by an internal 15V power supply to create an extremely short delay in the audio range of time. Adding this delayed signal back into the original signal forms a series of peaks and notches as harmonically related frequencies that constructively and destructively interfere. This is known as a comb filter. By moving this comb filter up and down over time, the AFG-1 creates the sound we know and love as flanging.

The AFG-1 includes all the features one expects from a flanger. Use the onboard LFO for impossibly slow whooshes or fast warbles. Our LFO has a true sine wave shape and a synthesizer-style exponential converter for a smooth, musical sweep over several octaves of delay time. This ensures the modulation is pitch symmetrical rather than Hz symmetrical. The Freq control behaves similarly to the Manual control on a typical flanger and sets the center point of the LFO to dial in the perfect sweep range. The VCA controlled Feedback routes the delayed signal back upon itself to enhance the intensity of the comb filter or create oscillating tuned pitches at maximum settings. And finally, the Drive control adds rich saturation with increasingly sculpted tone and harmonics to add to the flanger sound.

What truly sets the AFG-1 apart is the Envelope control. This is very rarely found in pedal format flangers and hearkens back to classic “whooshless” rackmount flangers of the 70s. Featuring both positive and negative control and three different attack/release settings, the envelope detector allows you to animate the peaks of the comb filter entirely with your playing dynamics. From a practical standpoint this means the flanger modulation stays out of the way and does not make the sometimes undesired background whoosh during quiet passages or when not playing. Moderate settings add mild tonal emphasis or harmonic-enhancing shimmers. At higher settings you can dial in gorgeous sweeps, surprisingly funky vocal filter throbs, lo-fi aliasing, or robotic chaos — all controlled by your playing.

In addition, we have included a unique three-position phase toggle switch to set the relative phase of the delay and feedback signals, which changes the texture of the comb filter. Airplane mode produces classic flanger sounds while Swirl mode is warm, subtle, and textural. Lastly, the Phase setting produces deep bass or hollow, vocal sounds reminiscent of a talk box. Combine this toggle with different Feedback settings to unlock all sorts of new textures that you’d never expect from a traditional flanger.

And to truly go to new bounds, and give you more control of your playing, the AFG-1 Expression jack enables expression pedal or control voltage functionality. Not only can you control 4 of the knob parameters, but it also expands the range of each knob above and below their maximum limits. Want to push the Freq control to the shortest time possible or drive the AFG-1 deep into self-oscillation? With an expression pedal, that’s no problem.

Using its expansive array of controls, the AFG-1 goes where few flangers dare to tread. The AFG-1 will completely change your perspective on what a flanger can do to your sound.

• Type: 100% Analogue signal and control path
• Delay Time: 0.52ms – 13.5ms typical. 0.33ms - 85ms with use of LFO, Envelope and/or external Control Voltages
• Feedback: Off to self-oscillation and beyond using EXP input coupled with knob position.
• Rate: LFO RATE, Sine Wave from <0.01hz to="" 8="" 3hz="" 16hz="" with="" cv="" control="" li="">
• Amount: LFO depth control from OFF to ~85% of TIME sweep
• Drive: Up to 36dB of boost with increasing saturation and band pass characteristic as gain is increased.
• ENV control: Positive and Negative FREQ control modulation attenuator, center off. Greater than 100% modulation possible.
• Envelope: Attack and Release selectable Fast/Fast (~40ms / ~60ms), Slow / Slow (600ms / 800ms), Medium / Slow (60ms / 700ms).
• Phase Switch: 3 Position; Positive Wet and Feedback, Out of phase Feedback, or Out of phase feedback and wet signal. 4th “secret” mode, in phase feedback, out of phase wet on PCB with modification.
• Expression Switch: 4 position rotary selects Freq, Feedback, Rate or Amount external control. All controls are additive to the front panel knob adding extended range. TRS jack usable with CV or Expression pedal, (CV range is 0-5V). Ring supplied current limited ~5V output. Control input on Tip.
• Bypass Footswitch: effect on/off. User selectable True Bypass or JFET Buffered (Accessible by removing AFG-1 Cover)
• Power: 9VDC @ <150ma. internal="" 15v="" 75ma-120ma="" typical="" up="" to="" 300ma="" start="" standard="" pedal="" centre="" negative="" 2="" 1mm="" x="" 5="" 5mm="" barrel="" li="">
• Input impedance: >1MΩ
• Output impedance: 1KΩ Max (5k max when in buffered bypass)
• Noise Reduction: 2:1 broadband with 10dB HF emphasis

• Genuine Hammond™ die-cast aluminium enclosure.
• Dimensions: D=4.95” (12.5 cm), W=3.75” (9.4 cm), H=2.25” (5.8 cm)
• Weight: 14oz (425g)