Phaser (effect) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 06/10/200810:21AM

Structure
Traditionalelectronicphasersusea seriesof variableall-passphase-shiftnetworkswhich alterthe phasesof
the differentfrequencycompononts in the signal.Thesenetworkspassall frequencies at equalvolume,
introducingonly phasechangeto the signal.Humanearsare not very responsiveto phasedifferences,but this
createsaudibleinterferenceswhenmixedback with the dry (unprocessed) signal,creatingnotches.The
simplifiedstructureof a monophaseris shownbelow:

Dopth

The number of all-pass filters (usually called stages) varies with different models, sorneanalog phasersoffer
4, 8 or 12 stages.Digital phasesmay offer up to 32 or even more. This determinesthe number of
notches/peaksin the sound, affecting the general sound character.A phaserwith a stagesof n generally has
n/2 notchesin the spectrum, so a 4-stage phaserwill have two notches.

Additionally, the output can be fed back to the input for a more intense effect, creating a resonant effect by
emphasizingfrequenciesbetweennotches.This involves feeding the output of the all-passfilter chain back to
the input, as shown here:

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The frequencyresponseof an 8-stagephaserwith or

without feedbackis shown. Note that the peaksbetweenthe
notchesare sharperwhen there'sfeedback,giving a distinct
l' " :
sound.
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A stereophaseris usually two identical phasersmodulated I
by a quadrature signal; the output of the oscillators for the '
1

left and right channelsare a quarter-wave out of phase.

Measuredfrequencyresponseof an 8-stagephaser
Most modern phasersare a part of a digital signal with no feedback,dry/wet nlio:5Ol5O7o

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