A phaser with feedback adds sweeping notches and a resonant peak that animate a static chord

A phaser splits the signal and shifts phase across frequency, then recombines it, producing a series of moving notches in the spectrum that sweep up and down at the phaser’s rate. This adds continuous spectral motion to an otherwise static sustained sound. Raising the phaser’s feedback (regeneration) sharpens the notches into a resonant peak, giving a more vocal, pronounced sweep. In dub techno chord design the phaser is a key source of the slow, hypnotic movement that keeps a held chord alive; the classic reference is the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone. Rate sets how fast the notches sweep, depth how far they travel, and wet/dry the intensity of the effect against the clean signal.

Examples

On a sustained synth chord, insert a phaser (e.g. Diva’s Phaser 1 ‘Stoned’ type). Set rate ~70, depth ~12 o’clock, wet ~1 o’clock, then raise feedback to ~1 o’clock: the flat notches sharpen into a resonant peak and the chord gains an audible sweeping character. Turn feedback to zero to hear the notches soften.

Assessment

Describe what feedback (regeneration) does to a phaser’s notches and how the audible result changes. Explain why a phaser suits a sustained dub techno chord better than a percussive stab.