OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Phaser Effect
Add a Guitar Phaser to Audio With 2 to 12 Stages and Adjustable Depth
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How the Phaser Effect works
Add a phaser effect to guitar, keys, synths or vocals for the soft, swirling sweep heard on countless funk and rock records. Pick the number of stages, sweep rate and depth, where the sweep is centred and how resonant it is, then blend it in and export the processed file.
How the phaser effect works
A phaser passes the signal through a chain of allpass filters. Each one leaves the volume alone but shifts the phase of some frequencies. Mixed back with the dry signal, those shifted frequencies cancel and leave notches. An oscillator moves the filters up and down so the notches sweep, giving the characteristic swirl.
Phaser effect stages and resonance
Every two stages add one notch. Four stages gives the gentle classic sound of pedals such as the MXR Phase 90; eight or twelve stages gives a deeper, more complex sweep. Resonance sharpens each filter so the notches become narrower and the peaks between them more vocal.
Rate, depth and centre
Rate is sweeps per second, slow for pads and faster for a pulsing rhythm effect. Depth is how far the filters travel from the centre frequency; centre picks the region of the spectrum the sweep lives in. Around 1000 Hz suits guitar, lower values suit bass and pads.
FAQ
How many stages should I use?
Four stages is the familiar subtle sound. Two stages is barely there, while eight and twelve add more notches for a thicker, more dramatic swirl. Try four first and increase only if you want more.
Why can I barely hear the effect?
The notches depend on the dry and wet signals mixing, so check the mix is near fifty percent and depth is above half. Material with little high-mid content also hides the sweep; raise the centre.
Can I sync the sweep to a song tempo?
Work out the rate from the tempo: beats per minute divided by sixty gives sweeps per beat at one per beat. At 120 bpm, 2 Hz sweeps once per beat and 0.5 Hz once per bar of four.
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