Eventide Instant Phaser MkII

Launched in 1971 as the world’s irst
rackmount phaser, Eventide’s Instant Phaser
presented a much more practical and (relatively)
afordable alternative to tape-based langing.
While langing involves simply mixing the
outputs of two tape decks rolling identical tape,
with the speed of one deck manually adjusted to
generate phase cancellation between them,
phasing is an entirely electronic process,
producing a more complex and sonically
nuanced sound. It’s become an audio
engineering staple in the half century since its
invention, and is now ably delivered by
countless plugins, so can Eventide’s emulation
of their own historic original ind a place in a
very crowded marketplace?
Just a phaser
Instant Phaser Mk II (VST/AU/AAX) looks and
acts just like its real-world predecessor, but with
the addition of a few new features and
conveniences. The input is processed by a bank
of eight or six (or both – see below) modulated
all-pass ilters, the output of which is mixed back
in with the dry signal via the Depth knob to
create the deining phase-shifting efect. One of
four onboard ilter frequency modulation
sources can be applied at a time. The Remote
source ties MIDI CC1 (Mod Wheel) to the ilters,
for easy hands-on movement and MIDI
automation; while the Manual source knob
enables direct control from the GUI, and plugin
automation. The Oscillator source is an LFO,
ranging from 0.0120Hz unsynced or 1/64 to 16
bars synced (with triplet and dotted values), and
restarted by clicking or automating the
momentary Retrig switch. Lastly, the Envelope
Follower tracks the input amplitude to generate
a control signal. The Threshold knob sets the
level that needs to be exceeded for (maximum)
phasing to kick in, and Release adjusts the time
it takes for that phasing to drop back to zero
when the input drops back below the Threshold.
Instant Phaser’s Main and Aux outputs – with
eight and six phase shifters, respectively, and,
consequently, two subtly varied sounds – were
often used in conjunction for a gorgeous
widening efect, by routing one to the left mixer
channel of a stereo pair and the other to the
right. All three possible output conigurations
are available in Mk II: Shallow Mode emulates
the Aux outs, Deep Mode is the Main outs, and
Wide Mode is left/right-to-Main/Aux.
As mentioned, Eventide have added a raft of
new controls, too, the most welcome of which is
the Feedback knob. This routes an increasing
amount of output back to the input as it’s raised,
emphasising the resonant peaks for deeper,
sharper, ‘bubblier’ phasing. The newly added
sidechain input, meanwhile, lets you trigger the
envelope follower with an external signal from
elsewhere in the host DAW. And the Age knob
magically deteriorates the electronic
components, from brand new at 0%, through
‘1971’ at 25%, and increasingly crunchy up to
about 90%, then bizarrely over-modulated and
quite unpleasant above that.
Life and soul
While there are certainly more feature-packed
and versatile phaser plugins out there, Instant
Phaser Mk II’s wonderful musicality and
authentic ‘analogue’ character really set it apart.
With its rich, organic-sounding phasing and
perfectly tasteful stereo spatialising, the tonal
movement and warmly iltered vibes it brings to
guitars, keys, synths, drums and vocals are
nothing short of sublime.
Web eventideaudio.com
E v e n t i d e
Instant Phaser
Mk II
$129
The latest from the revered New Jersey-based outit is another like-for-
like emulation of one of their own vintage hardware efects
Verdict
For Sounds absolutely beautiful
All three original output setups
Feedback control is transformative
Sidechain is a great creative addition
Against ‘Age’ sounds nuts above 90%
Retrig switch should really be a button
Whether you’re producing classic rock or
cutting-edge electronica, Instant Phaser
Mk II is as relevant and stunning as ever
9 / 1 0
Alternatively
D16 Group Fazortan 2
264 » 9/10 » €49
This dual-LFO phaser features
stereo ofset, and sounds awesome
AudioThing Phase Motion
216 » 8/10 » €29
Cheap and cheerful phaser with up
to 16 stages and a lovely sound
Eventide Clockworks’ Instant Phaser PS 101
rackmount box aimed to emulate the iddly
and decidedly specialist process of tape-
based langing for anyone with $600 to
spare. Flanging and phasing were popular
efects with guitarists and producers at the
time, so the Instant Phaser quickly became a
ixture in studios around the world. Perhaps
the most famous example of its usage is to be
found in Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir, where it’s
liberally applied to John Bonham’s drums.
At the time, electronic delay circuits had
yet to arrive in any practical form, so the
Instant Phaser cleverly emulated the phase
cancellation of tape-based langing using
eight all-pass ilters. Each ilter governed the
phase of the input signal over a particular
frequency range, and their movement was
controlled by an envelope follower, an LFO, a
knob, or CV remote control. The resulting
sound – phasing – was softer and often more
musically useful than straight-up langing.
Turning back the Clockworks
May 2019 / COMPUTER MUSIC / 97
eventide instant phaser mk ii / reviews <
CMU268.rev_instantphasermkii.indd 97 26/02/2019 12:36