What Are These Effects?

Chorus, flanger, and phaser all work by mixing a signal with a delayed or phase-shifted version of itself. The delay or phase shift is usually modulated over time (by an LFO), which creates movement, depth, and color.

They’re subtle or extreme — good for thickening sounds, adding stereo width, or diving into psychedelic textures.

Chorus

• What it does: Simulates multiple versions of the same sound playing at slightly different times and pitches. Think of how a choir sounds with multiple singers.
• How it sounds: Thick, shimmery, often stereo-widening. Adds warmth and depth.
• Use it for: Pads, basslines, vocals, or anything that needs richness.

Flanger

• What it does: Mixes a delayed version of the signal back with the original, with very short delay times (sub-millisecond).
• How it sounds: Swirly, jet-like sweeping effects. More intense and metallic than chorus.
• Use it for: Sci-fi textures, metallic drums, dubby delays, or subtle movement.

Phaser

• What it does: Uses all-pass filters to shift the phase of parts of the signal. These phase-shifted frequencies cancel and reinforce each other when mixed with the dry signal.
• How it sounds: Wobbly, swooshy, more “hollow” sounding than flangers.
• Use it for: Vintage vibes, synth leads, or eerie modulation.

Common Parameters

• Rate: Speed of the LFO (or other modulation) that shapes delay/phase.
• Depth: How much this modulation effects the effect param.
• Feedback: Recycles part of the output back into the input for more intensity.
• Mix: Wet/dry balance — especially important with flangers and phasers.

These effects are similar, but very unique Chorus is smooth and dreamy, flangers are sharp and jet-like, phasers are ghostly and hollow. Each has its own flavor — and they all play nice with synths.