Phaser

Color category, instrument-level.

Runs the signal through a chain of all-pass filters and sweeps them, which cancels a moving set of frequencies. You hear it as a swoosh travelling through the sound.

Controls

Rate. How fast the sweep travels through its cycle. Turned down it takes its time, turned up it hurries.

Depth. How far the sweep travels. Turned down it barely moves, turned up it covers a wide range.

Slow and deep is the classic jet-plane swoosh. Fast and shallow is a shimmer that animates a static sound without announcing itself. Fast and deep sounds seasick on anything sustained, so use it deliberately or not at all.

Mix. How audible the cancellation is. Kept low you hear a slight thinning and some movement. Brought up, the peaks and dips become distinct and sweep through the sound. Halfway is a good place to start.

Presets

Slow Sweep, Fast Jet, Subtle, Deep.

When to use it

Electric piano, guitar and synth pads.