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I think what I am experiencing is called clock noise but maybe I'm wrong. I hear a small "tapping" sound coming through my analog flanger whenever it is on. The speed of this sound corresponds directly to the rate control. It's not as loud as the guitar signal but it is definitely audible if I am not playing or playing quietly. The gain of the signal entering the pedal does not have any effect on the volume of this noise. I just started noticing this a month or so ago and I've had this pedal about 3 years. I use it in the effects loop but I've tried it in other configurations and the sound is still there. Any ideas for a solution besides sending the pedal out to get repaired?

Have you tried with other cables and power supplies? The most common cause is leaky ground so I'd try those things first. May also be an old cap maybe since its popping, I usually get squealy or swooshing sounds but it doesnt bother me very much

is it a mistress flanger? I heard some of these don't bother filtering out the noise:

https://riffcityguitar.com/dans-flange-quest-fresh-takes-on-the-electric-mistress/
One of the quirks of Dan’s original Electric Mistress is clock noise. It’s that whir and whizz of the frequency range that can be heard particularly when the guitar is plugged in but not played. As Dan described, “other flangers don’t have that clock noise. The reason they don’t have it is because they filter it out. But what happens when you filter that clock noise out is that you inevitably get rid of some high end.” While the noise can be a bit distracting, this high-end character is largely what made the Electric Mistress sound like the Electric Mistress. So, while imperfect, it was, in a way, essential.

qersty wrote:Have you tried with other cables and power supplies? The most common cause is leaky ground so I'd try those things first. May also be an old cap maybe since its popping, I usually get squealy or swooshing sounds but it doesnt bother me very much

Thanks for the suggestions. I just tried different cables, different power, and even different amp. Unfortunately the noise is still there.

chromandre wrote:is it a mistress flanger? I heard some of these don't bother filtering out the noise:

It's an A/DA Flanger, the newer pedal board friendly version. As far as I know this sound is new, but it could be something that I just never noticed until now...kinda doubt it though since it is so obvious.

Here is the sound

https://soundcloud.com/argiope-1/flanger-noise

Sounds like VCO thump as opposed to LFO tick, which probably will require it to be repaired.

If I'm wrong and it is LFO tick though, while I don't know what the construction is like, if there's any free wires or the jacks are not board mounted you could try moving them around in case they've shifted and gotten close to a bit of circuit they shouldn't have.

Thanks for the insight, I emailed A/DA about it.