Empress Effects Phaser User Manual

phaser

user manual

Introduction

The Empress Phaser was designed to give you maximum control in a

small, manageable package. We’ve combined features that will

enable you to realize all your phasing dreams.

You’ll recognize the tap feature from our other pedals. And, with
the Empress Phaser, we’ve also introduced the universal control

port. Now you can control your phaser from a control voltage (CV),
an expression pedal, an external audio input, external tap switch, or
via MIDI.

Under the hood we’ve included a couple switches which allow you
to change the pedal’s configuration. There’s a switch to enable a

vibrato mode and a switch that adds some pleasing harmonics to
the signal if clean and pristine isn’t your thing.

To help you get the most out of this product, we’ve put up some
brief instructional videos on our website:

www.empresseffects.com

Quick Start

Set the knobs and switches to match the picture above. If the blue
bypass LED is not already lit, press the bypass switch to engage the
phaser.

Operating Modes

The phaser has three modes: knob mode, tap mode and auto mode.

Knob mode: The speed of the phaser is set with the speed knob and
the speed range switch. The fastest speed range will give you ring
modulator type sounds.

Tap mode: The speed is set by tapping in a tempo with the tap
stomp switch. The speed of the effect will be the tapped tempo,
multiplied by the ratio set using the ratio knob. For example, if you
set the ratio knob at 1:2, the speed of the phaser will be twice as
fast as the tempo tapped.

Auto mode: In auto mode, the effect parameters are changed based

on how you are playing. We’ve set out an entire section in this

manual to explain this very cool and deep mode. You will also find a
handy reference chart printed on the front of the pedal.

Auto Mode

In auto mode, the effect parameters are changed based on how you
are playing. The changes follow the envelope of the input signal, or
are triggered by sudden changes in the signal volume.

Effects parameters are changed in one of two ways when you use
auto mode:

1. Envelope Follower

When following an envelope in auto mode, the pedal tracks
the input volume and changes a parameter to follow the
changes in the volume level. The envelope follow approach
is used in submodes 1 through 4.

2. Trigger Detection

When detecting a trigger in auto mode, the pedal tracks the
signal and when a sudden, rapid increase in volume occurs,
it changes the parameter from a low to high value. The kind
of actions that would set off a trigger might be an
aggressive strum on a guitar or a chord hit on a Rhodes. The
trigger detection approach is used in submodes 5 and 6.

The Attack and Release Controls

In submodes 1 through 4, the attack switch determines how quickly
the pedal reacts to an increase in input signal volume.

For example, with submode 2 selected and the attack set to fast, a
sudden increase in volume will increase the phaser rate almost
instantly. With the attack set to slow, it takes much longer for the
speed of the effect to increase.

The release knob controls how quickly the pedal reacts to a
decrease in input signal volume. Set fully counter-clockwise the
release time is the fastest. Set fully clockwise the release time is the
slowest.

A slower release time generally sounds a bit smoother and a faster
release time, more abrupt and jarring.

In submodes 5 and 6, the attack switch sets the speed at which the
parameter moves from its minimum to maximum value. The release
knob sets the speed at which the parameter returns back to its
starting value.

Sensitivity

The sensitivity knob controls how the pedal listens to your input
signal when in auto mode. For softer input signals you should set
the sensitivity to a higher value. For louder input signals it should be
turned down.

In an auto mode that uses trigger detection, the red LED above the
tap switch indicates that a trigger has been detected. If you find the
auto mode is missing some of the triggers, increase the sensitivity. If
you find the auto mode is triggering when it shouldn’t be, decrease
the sensitivity.

When the pedal is in a submode that uses envelope detection the
red LED above the tap switch will light up when it is detecting
maximum volume. Ideally, in envelope based submodes, the LED

will only light up when you’re playing your absolute loudest. This

will ensure you are experiencing the full range of parameter sweep.

Setting the expression switch to ‘speed’ will allow you to control the
sensitivity with an expression pedal.

The Submodes

There are eight submodes available in auto mode.

Submode 1: Phase Shift Follows Envelope
The center of the phase shift changes according to how loud
you play. Hitting the tap switch inverts the phasing motion
for a different tone.

Submode 2: LFO On Envelope
The speed and the center of the phasing effect are both
increased as the input signal grows louder. The tap switch
reverses the changes as the signal grow louder.

Submode 3: Speed Follows Envelope (Sine Waveform)
As the instrument signal gets louder the speed of the
phasing effect increases. The waveform selected for this
mode is a sine wave with a width of 50%. Press the tap
switch to have the speed slow down as the instrument
volume increases.

Try the attack and release set fast so that the envelope
tracking is very tight. The sensitivity controls the fastest
speed that will be reached when the signal is loudest.