MetaFlanger flanger plugin interface by Waves

MetaFlanger: Tape-Style Flanger Plugin by Waves

MetaFlanger is a flanger effect plugin from Waves that recreates the sound of 1960s tape-reel flanging. It is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats for Windows and macOS.

VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

Download Now

Opens the store in a new tab

01Overview

MetaFlanger focuses on the specific character of classic tape flanging rather than a generic modulated delay. Waves built it to reproduce the null points of true thru-zero flanging, along with phase flipping for hollow and zinging tones. Delay times run from 0 to 50 ms, so the same tool covers phasing, flanging and chorusing. A set of 34 presets, including artist presets from Grammy winners, gives you starting points across psychedelic, vocal and effects-driven work.

Best for

Psychedelic guitar swirls
Vocal flanging effects
Full mix flanging
Rotating speaker vibes
Chorus and doubling

Developer: Waves
Category: Flangers
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Thru-zero flanging that recreates the null points of tape flanging
Hollow and zinging tones via phase flipping
Delay times from 0 to 50 ms for flanging, phasing and chorusing
Stereo spread control that collapses cleanly to mono
Highpass and lowpass filter modes to thin or warm the effect
Host sync or manual rate with a stop button to freeze the effect
Link option pairs depth and modulation
34 presets, including artist presets from Grammy winners

03In depth

Tape-Style Flanging and Sound Character

Thru-zero flanging is the key feature. It re-creates the null points that appear when two tape machines are mixed as the flange sweeps, which is where the swirling, jet-like quality of classic recordings comes from. Phase flipping gives you two more shapes: a hollow tone and a zinging, more metallic one.

A lowpass or highpass filter mode lets you warm the flanged signal or thin it out, which helps it sit in a dense mix. The stereo spread control collapses cleanly to mono, so you can check how the effect translates to a single speaker.

Controls, Sync and Typical Uses

MetaFlanger can sync its modulation to the host tempo or run freely at a manual rate. The stop button freezes the effect at its current position, which is useful for holding a specific flange sound on a sustained note or a single word.

The Link option ties depth and modulation together so they move as one. Waves positions the plugin for flanging applied to vocals, guitars and entire mixes, as well as chorusing, doubling and rotating speaker effects.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Waves
Type	Plugin
Category	Flanger
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does MetaFlanger support?

MetaFlanger is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on both Windows and macOS.

What do I need to run MetaFlanger?

On Mac, the listed requirements are macOS Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 or Sequoia 15, in VST, AU or AAX format. On PC, Windows 10 or later is required, in VST or AAX format.

What is thru-zero flanging?

Thru-zero flanging re-creates the null points that occur in true tape flanging, where the delayed and original signals pass through zero offset. Waves includes it to reproduce the classic tape sound.