How To Stack Modulation Pedals

Here are some of my favourite combinations for stacking modulation pedals. Let me know some of your favourites down in the comments. I'm sure I missed some!
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro to Stacked Modulation
00:45 - 1. Basic Stacked Chorus
02:18 - 2. Stacked Phaser (Mu-Tron Bi-Phase Style)
03:38 - 3. Phaser & Flanger with Matched Settings
05:10 - 4. Chorus & Flanger with Contrasting Settings
06:50 - 5. Wow and Flutter 'Tape Machine' Chorus & Vibrato
08:55 - 6. Ultimate Funk! Envelope Filter & Phaser
10:07 - 7. Flanger & Tremolo Synth
11:10 - 8. Glitchy Stacked Tremolo

[@robbievalentine8239]

15 years of guitar playing and I never thought to stack chorus pedals. Brilliant

[@bass3966]

I'm in the same boat,, tremendous 🤟

[@fuckcensorship69]

what could sound worse?

[@keithclark486]

We were stacking pedals back in the early 60's. I thought everybody got high and started kicking pedals on at the same time. You missed out on both ends. Lol

[@MarsCapone]

Similar story here. Josh from JHS mentioned it on a video that’s why I am here too, and not letting go of that extra chorus pedal after all!

[@Dilla4life]

30 years of playing and I never thought of owning 2 chorus pedals

[@nicktshredz]

As a working/gigging musician, I can't thank you enough for helping me not buy more stuff, use what i have, and use my ear more. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@andymellor9056]

That phase drive flange combo is stellar! This is a masterclass in effect creation. Thanks....🧡🧡🧡

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

Glad you like it, thanks for commenting!

[@fuckcensorship69]

everythings a friggin "masterclass" these days

[@slobodanarodu2005]

I insist, this is one of the best guitar-related channels in KZbin and it deserves a few more thousands of subscribers at least

[@ptrgreeny]

Great video! It took me awhile to realize the reason I couldn't quite get the "fuller" Leslie sound I was after out of the pedals I have....beyond the fundamental limitations of it being a pedal effect... ADT. A lot of those late 60's/70's Leslie tones I love frequently had ADT added. I ran the Vent into a Strymon Deco with a mild double tracking effect...big difference. Helped make the mids and highs more up front while still keeping a feeling of depth. A mild flanger effect after Leslie pedal after produces some really nice effects too.

[@lucasgoncalvesdefaria7121]

YOUR CHANNEL CAN'T BE BEAT! Best pedal and guitar content, so creative and inventive and still relatable to the stone age mindset of us guitar players. Top tier

[@Shadoweclipse1386]

My favorite thing to do at home is to stack a slow phaser with a tremolo. It's gets VERY close to a Univibe sound. Great video!

[@blortslompson2388]

Even better with a small bias trem amp like a Princeton, the wobble is unreal

[@nigellangridge1975]

Another spot on video from Michael Banfield! Subtlety is key, and these videos are both instructional AND inspiring. Time to dig out the modulation pedals and dust them off!

[@desmondmyers]

Of all the hundreds of demos I’ve seen over the years of gain pedals I’ve always felt modulation was underrepresented. I much prefer modulations pedals and stack modulation a lot but I always assumed I was doing it “wrong” and/or didn’t know any theories behind it like with gain staging. Thank you so much for laying this out in the way you have it’s truly inspiring and informative!

[@downhomekitty]

Flanger was always my least favourite modulation, but now I love it. Combining subtle effects gives such rich sounds.

[@BobEllis79]

If you have a favorite modulation putting it in front a tremolo can be even better. I discovered that one of my favorite tones was sending my signal through a slower Phase 45 (2 phase) through a tremolo set up with good speed but minimal chop. It gives me a two-level swirling sound I was hunting for through a multitude of Uni Vibe and Leslie type pedals. Plus both pedals are quite useful in their own right.

[@STRATMAN1969]

I do the same ,basically a harmonic trem .I like versatile pedals when space is limited ,but on my big board builds I generally go for strait forward really solid representations of what the effect is .Then I have the ability to stack ,and combo them how I want .

[@pyratoothNL]

Just got a Zoom MS-50G which allows stacking up to 6 effects in any order of the same or different types. So I was planing on looking at what kinds of combination so of modulation, reverb and delays. This video came right on time and will give me some help stacking effects - thank you!

[@delefo]

Honestly, I never thought of putting my compressor behind some modulation. It worked a charm ! Little nuances that got lost were brought right up to the same level. Brilliant.

[@kyzor-sosay6087]

I also stack compression pedals,sounds fantastic.Thanks for your video,man.

[@michaelfowler3187]

I'm a big fan of the envelope filter pretty much anywhere next to modulations, a short delay or especially a reverb before the envelope can keep it open longer... and actually a slower phaser before an envelope is nice because you get varied levels of opportunity to open the envelope depending where the phase cycle is and the note being played, but rather than a fast phaser like you've shown here it's really best to blur the line of "is that my envelope closing or the phase sweeping? Yes!" It also works great to have a Phaser after the envelope and then some harsher edges are rounded off in the phaser or the peaks that do occur or pretty brief and interesting. It's a bit easier to predict it like a surfer watching an incoming wave, if the envelope is before the phaser.

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

That sounds great. I'll have to try it. Thanks for sharing!

[@douchecraft3113]

I appreciate your sincere delivery - super educational

[@probindemufhoes42069]

I swear this is like the fourth video in a row I’ve seen from this guy where my mind is just blown away. He genuinely surprises me with his concepts I learn so much

[@curtisburns]

Cool sounds. I also love the Boss VB-2W into the DC-2W.

[@timmungenast]

This is a wonderfully useful video! Even though I've stacked mod pedals in the past, you've show me some great combinations that I'd never though of before!

[@zombiemosher1139]

Great video man, I was thinking about stacking two phasers this morning which is how I found this video. Had great results tonight with a mid speed Small Stone into a slow Super Phaser. I've done some of the others before like Flanger & Tremelo. The Flanger Chorus one interested me greatly.

[@pclindholm]

Brilliant tones.

[@etienneesp2860]

Excellent video, and something that isn't seen enough on YT.

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

Thank you!

[@iosifkalpaktsoglou2045]

Very good. To spice things up try putting one of the 2 modulation pedals in the fx loop of a delay or reverb. Enjoy.

[@bumrecordingstudios]

Great examples in there! You help us all with these tricks to push us into new territory. The chorus vibrato was cool and your playing was great. Kind thanks

[@jonkerrmusic]

The Flanger-Tremolo combo is 100% the tone on Big Wreck's "The Oaf" - incredible sound.

[@user-rs8rt5ke3k]

Such and inspirational and great video! I just simplified my board based on your video - covering most modulation sounds with my trusty Boss Flanger... seems that now I need to rebuild it again and add 5 mode modulation pedals, including 2 chorus boxes ;D

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

Just get five more BF-2s and you'll be all set!

[@STRATMAN1969]

@@MichaelBanfieldGuitar Funny ,and smart .look out pedal people there's a new playa in town .

[@sparkyguitar0058]

Don't forget the C Copy is analog delay w/ a mod button. On mine, I glued a Lego piece to it so can use with my foot off/on. Adds more chorus to my Boss CH-1. A lot of time I use the C Copy as reverb as my practice amps don't have reverb. Can always add a touch of chorus to reverb depending on song need.

[@haiderman1610]

Such a refreshing page! I admire the simplicity and creativity of what you’re doing

[@tipston3366]

Give me your sweet wisdom Mr. Banfield! One of if not the best guitar channel for actually practical advice 👍🏻

[@scottlovette5207]

Wealth of information on this channel!!

[@lawrenrich6419]

Creatively and nicely done

[@grrnoise]

I highly approve of this technique. A couple of my favorites include chorusy flanger + dimension-style chorus; and tremolo into phaser

[@elimacias2664]

One of the best videos I've seen in a while 🤯, thank you so much for sharing!

[@flosse1993]

Great video, these types of sounds is what I'm after at the moment.

[@stevendavidson391]

Loved this. Always liked the idea of running multiple modulation pedals into one another. Some great fresh ideas here to try

[@TimMilliken]

The subtle settings on phase and flange were awesome. Great tone!

[@monkeyrebirth]

What a brilliant, refreshing topic for a guitar pedal video. Great stuff.

[@DanialAbrar]

Envelop filter and super phaser is Mike Einziger’s Redefine verse tone! Beautiful stuff

[@thedeadxtras9927]

Nice one Mike! Excellent video creative, insightful advice. Glad to see your growing channel mate covering different topics than the majority of guitar/pedal channels. Always stacked and loved my modulation FX and use them sparingly definitely for me gives a better, natural, realistic effected tone. Keep the great vids coming many players definitely appreciate your different content. All the best mate, Steve (Old Greenhouse studios, Stockport).

[@ThebigLeBosty]

Really appreciate this video, very much simplified to understand… I’m fairly new to collecting pedals I have about 15 or so already I’m good at playing the bass but I’ve always wanted more sounds and I’ve been having trouble figuring out how to get some of the pedals to work in unison this helped a lot I never understood what pedal stacking was, thanks!

[@craigwood8862]

I love this channel as I can go to my multi FX GX100 and dial in the combos. Stacked (in series) and in parallel. But the idea is the inspo!

[@matias871HF]

Excellent video. I think this is the future of electric guitar. Stacking modulations added to some very rich chords like the ones you play creates this fresh and interesting textures that could spice and add a lot of personality to some songs. I'm glad that someone is poiting this out and aiming into the same direction.

[@AnthonyEvans-wl5ts]

Yes Michael, you legend! 👏 Thanks mate. Such high quality image, the angle of your camera to guitar. The way you describe things is just amazing. How can you get the word out? Pedal companies need to pay real close attention to you, cause your the best on youtube and I watch alot of channels. Wish you great success! Keep the videos coming! Don't stop. Share this dude around everyone ❤🎉 Just superb work 😮❤😊

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

Wow thanks for the strong support! Great to hear such encouragement. I'll certainly try to keep getting content out. Great to hear you're enjoying it!

[@AnthonyEvans-wl5ts]

@@MichaelBanfieldGuitar the q tron plus is interesting. Is there something this vintage version has over the newer models. Why do you have the vintage version?

[@STRATMAN1969]

Couldn't agree more .This is the new channel to watch (out for ; )

[@jaymax3201]

I love stacking modulation algorithms in HX Stomp. Thanks for the soundmaking inspiration.

[@jamesbaynton1881]

You have just changed my life forever.

[@tr3ndkiller]

Thanks man, that was some very useful info. Subscribed 🎶🎸

[@Artec619]

As always great sounds and video quality, thank you!!

[@ashleyjohn5808]

This is a great channel really insightful. I like that fact that you use standard boss pedals and get great sounds, a lot of people put boss pedals down.

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

Glad you like it! Yep, I'm a little more interested in the application of the effects rather than just the effects themselves and the myriad of brand variations. In this video at least anyway...

[@Streetpartymarty]

Awesome stuff, you've given me all sorts of ideas for my own music!

[@Studebaker_Hoch]

Great video! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@andrewhertzberg6889]

Wow, this is a good video. So much cooler to show me something new I can do with the effects I have rather than trying sell me another thing I don’t really need.

[@bobsavage3317]

Great video. I really liked the methodical approach.

[@pclindholm]

Awesome lofi tone with vibrato and chorus.

[@stevedemetrious6454]

Great video! Love the choices made

[@slates1969]

Excellent video 👏

[@binface9]

Defo going to give some of these a go. Nice work as ever matey 👍

[@jonathanwapner6262]

I just tried stacking my Flanger with my Chorus or my Harmonic Trem with and without overdrive. They're all JHS 3 Series. It sounds great. I'm sure I've done it before but never really put much thought into making the modulations sound good together as if they were one effect.

[@andreschato]

Great video man!

[@al271987]

These are some super cool ideas. I gotta go get some modulation pedals now!

[@Jaredt771]

This is such an incredible video. Thank you!! I have some things to explore

[@turtletracks7657]

Nice Demo! Thanks!

[@BishopEddie5443]

A really great teacher and a pretty good Guitarist as well!

[@otraperspectiva]

My favourite was the vibrato into the chorus ! Love that lo fi sound

[@ParaBellum2024]

Excellent! Something here for every guitar player.

[@shanerose5348]

Great video. That chorus and vibrato is dynamite. Subbed.

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

Thanks! One of my favourites too.

[@guitardweeb]

Excellent examples. I use chorus into tremolo a lot as well.

[@therewasascene]

I’ve been thinking about the new eqd chorus/vibrato/flanger/rotary pre-dirt and the Mr black chorus ensemble at the end and this validates my desire. Yeehaw. Subscribed btw. Cool stuff.

[@Jon_Music-uv4vb]

Great video. Thanks!

[@xxxdani310xxx]

The flanger and chorus sound gives me Sad Lovers & Giants vibes

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Great video, going to try myself. That OD-3 I see is a keeper, just watched your video on the TR-2 👍

[@jeremyforges]

Well this was a great video !! I just need to find the right words to annouce to my dozen of overdrive pedals that we are parting ways...

[@TimMilliken]

Really nice demo man!

[@danieljbdj]

Friend your tips are very important I always like these videos, they are quite good

[@howardmaryon]

Marvellous! Can’t wait to try it all out tomorrow

[@daveeastcott9323]

That's really helpful mate thanks

[@maartenstevens9848]

Best channel to understand how pedals work ! Love those video's. Do you have a video about stacking modulation into delay and reverb ?

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

hm... no just this one on modulation stacking really, I'll make a note of it as an idea for a video though. Thanks!

[@kyeperry5746]

the double chorus is lush! Time to start saving for another chorus pedal :)

[@BorisBidjanSaberi11]

Your videos are awesome mate

[@TheMountainDemon]

Nice idea for a video! I love putting my Boss CE-5 in front of the VB-2.

[@ivanm9186]

very cool thing to think about… for some reason damn lot of people never stack mod pedals… especially phaser and flanger

[@rodrigodelprat]

Really good tips!

[@marcosaganju6114]

Tremolo + Flanger is lovely

[@eoinjennings519]

Modulation stacking my favourite subject !

[@nathankellstadt412]

Great topic, great video!

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

Thank you!

[@FarmerSlideJoeBob]

Really impressive and I was never thinking of doin' that😃

[@jamesalfano5740]

Absolutely Marvelous ! Stacked Flangecakes with Buttered Chorus. I'm hungry

[@anwaypradhan6591]

Good modulation pedal✌️

[@Bobozzle]

These are all sick combos. I sometimes stack a reversed delay and a reversed reverb and that'll sound cool

[@TheUnknownReject]

Love this, I got a qtron as gift and was struggling to find a use for it

[@miqdadnaufalramadhan599]

Best video everrr!!!

[@user-nu7xx7pc1d]

great video!!!!

[@MichaelBanfieldGuitar]

Thank you!

[@_OopsieDaisies]

i love my boss slicer pedal! also highly recommend the ehx nano mistress. great flanger that i don't find too many super cheezy sounds on for a relatively cheap price. obviously stacking them yields great results :)

[@shantbajac]

Tremolo and flanger is awesome

[@nicktaber2969]

I love the bad stone phaser.

[@guiom77]

Many thanks

[@silvo305]

How have I never thought of this??

[@BorisBidjanSaberi11]

I love a tri chorus with de tune effect. Perfect 80s glassy landau tone

[@albertplaysguitar]

It's a shame the algorithm doesn't suggest you more often...😢

[@lalob.fuentes7089]

Que buen video! Muy interesante.

[@annikinstarkiller600]

Wondering why there are a million gain stacking videos on here but on the forums everyone shits on multiple modulation pedals on at the same time. I mix filter, phase, flange, chorus, and tremolo with different combinations and gain stages all the time and I love the results

[@davidhoffmann6040]

hello and thank you for these good advices. As a gothic/darkwave guitar player I usually stacked so much modulations 😅 I noticed that stacking modulations is often more complicated if the effect are very deep. I play with a Roland JC amp mainly with an American Strat and sometimes with a Gibson LP Studio or a Fernandes Retrorocket Elite.