6 Must Know Phaser Settings
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- Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
- Six phaser pedal sounds that I think are essential to know if you own a phaser. Which is your favourite?
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:25 - 1. Understanding Stages with the Standard Swirl Setting
02:00 - 2. Sci-Fi Filter Sweep
04:10 - 3. Vowel Emphasis
06:41 - 4. Reggae Phaser
08:28 - 5. Hammond Organ Rotary Speaker
10:28 - 6. An Alternative to Cheesy Chorus
For this I’m using the MXR Phase 90 which is a vintage style 4 stage phaser pedal, the Boss PH-2 which is a 10 stage phaser in mode 1 and extends to 12 stages in mode 2 and there’s the TC Electronic Helix which is a modern, ultra versatile digital phaser pedal.
What I call the standard swirl setting is probably the easiest and one of the most common ways of using a phaser pedal, you can take almost any guitar part clean, distorted, chords or lead playing and it just adds this very nice swirling type movement to the sound. Works great for guitar parts that otherwise might just be in danger of sounding a bit boring and forgettable, this setting injects a bit of character.
Overall I don’t prefer any particular amount of stages to a phaser, it all comes down to the sound you’re trying to get. With this standard swirl sound I think you can use any amount of stages really but with the other examples I'll reference the amount of stages I’ve chosen and why, so having a good understanding of it will help you find your favourite settings more easily.
You can set a phaser to perform a nice filter sweep type effect, it can sound a bit cliche sometimes but it can also sound innovative and modern too. It all depends on the type of guitar part you’re using it with. For this sound I generally prefer using a phaser with a lot of stages like the PH-2, setting the resonance or feedback control quite high is good, that feeds the out of phase signals through the pedal again and gives a more intense liquid type sound to everything and set the depth quite high so there’s a good amount of depth to the sweep. You can add distortion and delay to move into more synth type sounds. I prefer this setting with the phaser after drive because it sounds smoother and has a more extreme phasing sound.
This next setting is all about getting a more vowel like tone from the guitar. Great if there’s a guitar part that might otherwise be a bit dull and boring and it helps bring the guitar right to the forefront of the mix with it’s unusual tone. I had better results with using slightly more stages, I’ll use mode 1 on the PH-2 for this but the main trick is to turn up the resonance and turn down the depth.
Phaser is used on a lot of reggae records. Lee Scratch Perry who produced a lot of the Bob Marley and The Wailers records is known for having a Mu-Tron Bi-Phase which is a monster phaser with two separate 6 stage phasers that can be set to interact with each other.
Now the key for getting this sound is to make sure you have a mix control so that you can just inject a subtle amount of phasing so that it doesn’t dominate the overall tone. If you don’t have a mix control you could use something like the Boss LS-2 Line Selector to put it in a loop with a mix control. This way you’re using it like I think Lee Scratch Perry was doing in the studio, you’re using it as an auxiliary effect and mixing it in with the dry signal.
There’s nothing saying you can’t use a more dominating phaser sound in reggae and it does happen but when I hear phaser being used on reggae tunes, this is normally how I hear it being used, just giving a subtle movement to the sound. It's a little similar to gently rocking a wah pedal back and forth but it’s more subtle than that.
Phaser is very good at emulating the rotary speaker effect used with hammond organs and whether it’s classic rock sounds like Deep Purple or more modern indie and alternative music like The Charlatan’s or The Dead Weather, a phaser pedal can give you that swirling rotary speaker effect.
I like to set the speed relatively fast. I don’t really mind how many stages the phaser has, more stages tends to add a bit more drip and click to the sound while a lower amount of stages sounds a bit fuller. I prefer this with phaser before the overdrive because if the phaser is after, it can suck up a lot of the lower frequencies and thin the sound a bit too much, especially when using an octave pedal.
If you’re getting a bit sick of the cliche mild chorus effect that we all hear so much, try this setting on a phaser pedal instead, it gets a similar result but hasn’t been as overused. It’s nothing dramatic it just adds a little bit of movement to your tone, but if you're playing chords or a riff and you just want a little bit of movement this is great.
It’s all about keeping the phasing sound subtle so I’d say definitely use a more vintage style phaser with not too many stages to the phasing so the sound stays nice and full, and put the phaser before any drive pedals so the phaser doesn’t dominate the sound too much.
Great tutorial. I find myself getting sick of phaser tones quickly, but you've demonstrated that I've just been inappropriately using the high-stage setting for the wrong type of material
Thanks. Yeah it took me a while to get into phasers as well, especially the ones with lots of stages can be tricky to incorporate into everyday playing. Good to see you in the comments section again!
@@MichaelBanfieldGuitar Thanks man, gotta represent the Northwest!. I meant to comment on your Compressor video but i'm still working my way through it. My favourite compressor is actually a drive pedal, the Henretta H-Bomb Drive. It's a distortion, until you turn down the volume of the guitar when it's the same volume but clean, on account of it being a Orange Squeezer-style circuit into a 'dirty boost'.
I'm addicted to the sound of the Phase 90.
Excellent choice of songs - some quality classics.
Bought a Boss PH-2 after watching this. The second pedal I've bought as a consequence of watching your channel. I realised that the 'wretching' sound was the sound I've sound I've been searching for. Thanks.
Wow man you explained everything so well, better than anyone I've ever heard. Fantastic mate, keep bringing us more please. 👍
I love the PH-2 and the PH-1r, probably my favourite phasers I've tried.
Michael your videos are absolutely awesome. Your video about the flanger becoming different effects really occupied my pedal-brain space for a long time; I ended up buying a flanger after that. Since then, all of your other videos have sent me on a tone quest. And they’re all so well produced! Thanks
That's brilliant to hear! Glad you're finding them useful. More to come!
Thanks Michael, only a couple hours after your video my Helix phaser finally sold.
I really like my Boss PH-3... Thank you for the excellent videos!
Great video. Really love these tutorials/explorations/explanations of how to use effects in a multitude of ways and to get the most from them. I really loved the video on the flanger particularly; made me think of it in an entirely different way.
I think these videos are a good antidote to GAS, thinking how to use the same effect in a variety of ways for many different applications.
Thanks
Thanks! That's great feedback, I'm thinking that seems like the direction the channel should go in; exploring the actual application of effects and equipment, rather than just the effects themselves... Your comments are valued, thanks!
Great video, and superb playing as always! You deserve many more followers
Really well done video - great way to make phaser approachable, and great playing on the examples as well. Just really good content!
Thank you, glad you liked it!
Thanks for the recommendation on this video ! I bought my ph-2 up the street at guitar center on sunset back in 98. I have other phaser from EHX small stone to catalinbread phaser and I love the PH2 the most.
I just started to dabble with the Phase effect. I really love it subtly as you use it at @12:18 for a lush effect. Yes, Steve Jones used a Phase 90
Wow, what a great video! Ive recent been thinkinb of selling my grand orbiter, but im gonna try some new stuff with it and placd it before my drive pedals! Thanks for the inspiration.
Im nee to your vhannel, but have really been enjoying your work. The stacking modulation video was awesome and has me trying nee things with some pedals that have been collecting dust!
Very informative. Great video, thank you!
The Uni-Vibe was also made to emulate a rotary speaker. But it's more difficult as an effect to me than phaser.
Regarding the organ sound, I use an octave up and octave down mixed 50/50 with the dry signal and then I put a tremolo on. Just a hair of overdrive gives it more spice.
My understanding is that this is a common misconception. It was actually made to emulate some sound on Soviet radio.
@@nicktaber2969 Interesting! I think I've heard that after my original comment.
Great video, of a great effect, personally a phase 90 type. I did pick up a ph2 about 20 years ago for next to nothing in a pawn shop. But it was too wild for my playing style. Gave it away to a friend 😉
Like the previous videos on chorus pedals or the tele, you did that pretty cool😃
I just bought a PH-2 today. So now after hearing this, I need to get a Phase-90 and a Ds-2 as well
Best pedal videos ever... Crazy show off guitar skills; secret music theory master.
Very informative! Good!
Awesome video! ☆
Love phasers ♡
I have got an OC-5 as well 👌✨️
You can play. Bravo.
I have the same Phase 90 script. I can't imagine any other phaser coming close....🌴
Thank you for the suggestions regarding phaser pedal settings. I have a PH3 from Boss that I bought last year. However, I just like the alternative chorus sound at the end of your video best. Hopefully I can figure that out for the pedal I have. Not a fan of odd voicing stuff but more like mild modulation.
Hum... never thought about this type of pedal but will now keep an open mind.
Thanks
DOD’s Phasor 201 only has 2 stages which is cool.
The Boss Ph3 has multiple stages which I like.
That's a nice telecaster you got ther. 😁
I have a Phase 45, 2 stage phaser, love it!
Yeah I've not tried the Phase 45. Must get hold of one.
Seconded, really versatile because it's subtle, but still does the big woosh after drive/fuzz etc!
I have the Mini Phase 95, not as rich tone as the 45/90, but straightforward and versatile (45/Script/90).
Selling my Boss PH2 was one of the very pedal regrets. The Ibanez Tone-Lok does a pretty good job though.
MIKE, SRV used a univibe pedal to get those albert king phaser squeal notes. Try to listen to a lot of albert king to use a univibe pedal to get those albert king squeal bent notes to make a video lesson about it. Its a different way of using a univibe pedal but SRV used it 1986 live concerts and some recordings
Overall, I prefer the sound of the MXR on most of the examples you played... and in general I don't like the Phase 90, I prefer the old PH-1r. You're absolutely right about using the MuTron subtly, though; that thing stomps all over everything, given half a chance. ISTR it was used - subtly - on a lot of the Young Americans album guitar parts.
I have the PH 3 boss phaser. Im able to get that Robin Trower univibe sound which feels identical to his. I use it a lot.
Interesting vid! Phaser is a quite underrated effect. Sometimes I use just a pinch of it to have a slightly different color in sound. I like the Marshall RG-1 which provides a decent phaser (dunno how many stages) a step phaser (which is more of a gimmick) and a very nice sounding univibe. The Peavey Classic VTX has an onboard effect which is quite unique, something between phaser and flanger i would say. You should check these out if you like phaser sounds..
Thanks for the tip. Yeah I haven't tried a step phaser yet, I'd really like to get the Boss PH-3 for that reason. I imagine it's good for synth type modulation.
@@MichaelBanfieldGuitar It is, maybe you check out the RG-1 as well, it's out of production by now, but you can grab one for under 100€ on the used market. I really like it because it spares me a lot of board space and its different effects sound very well, too.
I love my DOD Phasor 201 2-stage phaser
Yeah that looks like a good one. Any idea how it compares to the Phase 45? Another 2-stage 1-knobber
@@MichaelBanfieldGuitar I think it's pretty close but the DOD may be a bit darker
I use my DOD 747 Supersonic Flange to get chorus adjacent sounds.
I love my Phase 90 on single note lines! I always put it before overdrive and distortion pedals. I actually prefer the Phase 90 in Paranoid Android in the high note part too. I'm not that much into Super Phaser, it's a bit too over the top for me.
Yeah, it's hard to get a bad sound out of the phase 90. I think the PH-2 is great but yes, for a lot of things it can be a bit over the top, I find it often doesn't sound as good before overdrives and distortions as well whereas the Phase 90 always seems to function well before or after. Thanks for commenting!
I've had my PH-2 since the early '90s when I played a lot of out there stuff and just recently realized I have a hard time taming it. That's what brought me here.
There's a great song with a sort of phaser effect right from the start: "XO Skeleton" by La Force. But now I'm not sure anymore. Could it be the other "siblings" Univibe or Flanger?
I heard that Steve Jones used a Phase 45 pedal.
Hi. What its your favorite Phaser pedal among these 3 pedals ? Thanks
I love the Radiohead reference
Ever mess with any two stage phasers? I like to use the 2 stage setting on my Whetstone with a very slow, throaty sweep and the asymmetrical setting for a wave crashing ebb and flow sound. It can almost be used as an always on effect to add very subtle movement.
MXR Phase 45.
@@sparkyguitar0058 I just actually traded for a Custom Shop Variphase this week. Looking forward to getting to know its possibilities.
@@wrm90 You can get this Mooer pedal used for $50 range and it's a mini. Real estate concerns.
@@sparkyguitar0058 is it noisy? Every mooer ive played had background noise to it
@@wrm90 Nothing unusual. By noisy I think a tube amp on but not being played. But I'm old enough that that's normal in rooms I've played in all my life. But my board 12 pedals in all is relatively quiet unless I have my Tube Driver on. But that's what my 1st pedal ,a tuner, is for. My QUIET right now switch. I designed my board this way. My last pedal is a silent modded 10 band EQ. Helps. Funny thing is and I didn't actually expect this to work but my power is a Caline P-1 power unit that's now 4 yrs old uninsulated power without noise complaint from F O H or anyone else in area of my playing. Just the regular "Don't you know how to play anything else". You know the family. L O L
Michael, I need your help
How do I set my phaser in multi to sound like the MXR 90?
The MXR has one speed knob, understand that it corresponds to rare. How about the rest of the settings?
Color Sets the tone of the effect type.
4 STGs,
8 STGs,
INV 4,
INV 8
Depth Sets the depth of the modulation. 0 - 100
Rate Sets the speed of the modulation. 1 - 50
RESO Sets effect resonance. 0 - 100
Set it to Stage 4. Try the reso almost off and depth around 12:00
Phase 90
Brings back memories of how bad that Boss PH2 was. Had it over 20 years ago and gives me a headache listening to that overwhelming sound of that pedal in your video. I remember it sounded better when a bass guitar was run through it, but pretty much a waste of time for guitar work unless you got the perfect setting for juicy, funky lead solo parts. The replacement PH3 from Boss wasn't as thick sounding but had problematic issues of its own by sounding very cheap and digital. Boss couldn't seem to do the perfect phaser pedal when other companies seemed to fare better with phasers, even bargain brand Rocktek.
Bought the Helix. Clearly the TOP Phaser, but not shown in this video. The video pushes the MONO ones: mxr or boss. The MXR and Boss are MONO. !!! Helix is STEREO good for various applications.
Ibanez PM7 is an incredible phaser, sometimes you still see one for a good price
Good shout! That looks like a good one. I like the wave form options. Thanks for sharing
To get a pedal that does all this and more check out the Mooer liquid phase. It's pretty cheap and has 5 different phase variations with each on a rotary that adjusts as you tweak. Careful small movements do so much. And to take it to more fun levels ,3 different waves ; triangle, slow curve, and square. Lots of variations. The 1st 2 settings ; 2 phase MXR 45 , 4 phase MXR 90. For script it's s curve , for modern it's square. There PHASE 95 and a whole lot of pedal left to explore. I got the Boss pedal and as a BIG Boss fan am bummed to say never liked this phaser.
Interesting stuff. I've had a few phasers. Couldn't get along with the Helix at all. Perhaps exploring the Toneprint would have revealed its strengths but there was something just not right. My duo partner, who plays electro-harp, likes it. I replaced it with a cheap Kokko unit and I'm happy. I also use a Digitech Hyper Phase on the Mel9 pedal. This has "up" and "down" settings. Imagine the phasing seeming to always be going in one direction. Cool.
Yeah, I have to say I only use the Helix occasionally, mainly just to model other phaser pedals that I don't own. The tone print software does open up a lot of options but it takes time to go through it all.
@@MichaelBanfieldGuitar Does it model them well? The Phase 45 for example?
No one beats the 90… More is not better!
Yeah, 1 knob pedals are so straight to the point. My other favourite is EHX Small Clone (although it does also have a switch).
@@MichaelBanfieldGuitar I purchase the vox 846hw by your video and it’s the best wah i’ve played! But I made a mod to his accept a power supply 😁
@@slucas380 good to hear! Yeah, a DC input is definitely handy
Спасибо за твой канал, очень интересно и информативно. Из России, с любовью.
That Boss pedal was horrible broke my ears. Space invaders 👽
Too much yapping play and put up some titles.
I gotta disagree. The explanations were very helpful. Without him "yapping", this video would just be some dude playing radiohead riffs. Who cares to watch that?
Go fund yourself!
what a mess. You do not even have a good phaser for your video,