Eventide Instant Phaser mkII

The Story of Pioneering a Household Modulation Effect

Historically, the terms “phasing” and “flanging” were used interchangeably and described an arduous process whereby the output of two slightly offset tape recorders was mixed together. Eventide’s debut effect, the Instant Phaser, was the first studio rackmount effect box to accomplish a similar sound. Because of this, the original manual spent a decent amount of words introducing the idea of the phaser effect and its purpose, explaining, “The Eventide Clockworks Instant Phaser was designed specifically to eliminate the costly and tedious job of setting up and implementing the special effect known as ‘phasing’ or ‘flanging.’ In addition, one can electronically control it to produce new and desirable effects.”

At the heart of what made the original tape flanging sound was a dry signal combined with a slightly delayed signal. When the Instant Phaser was designed, there was no such technology to achieve delay artificially. This being the case, the effect was only able to approximate the sonic quality of tape flanging by using all-pass networks. The sound is similar but is created by using a method that is fundamentally different. A few years after the Instant Phaser hit the market, the Instant Flanger made its debut. The Instant Flanger manual delved into the differences between the electronic processes of phasing and flanging, and said about phasing, “Since its invention or discovery in the mid-1960s, the special effect known as ‘phasing’ or ‘flanging’ has been one of the most popular additions to the mixer’s repertoire. Phasing was introduced to the mass audience in the song “Itchycoo Park” by Small Faces and has been used (yes, and overused) to some extent by virtually every artist since that time.”

Todd Rundgren with a Heap of Eventide Instant Phasers