PHASE SHIFTER
16 Stage Analog Phase Shifter
Suggested Retail Price - $369
The Pittsburgh Modular Phase Shifter is a complex, 16 stage, analog effect module designed to expand on the classic swirls, rich swooshes, and doppler effects associated with the phaser.
The Phase Shifter has a single 16 stage audio signal path to create a very rich, full sound. Phased audio outputs are tapped from stages 7, 8, 15, and 16. Stages 8 and 16 each have a mix output that allow the phased signal to be mixed with an attenuvertable dry signal.
HISTORY AND THEORY BEHIND THE PHASE SHIFTER
The origin of the phase shifter as an electronic effect starts with the studio tape technique of flanging. The technique involved playing identical copies of audio through two different tape machines simultaneously and pressing on the flange of one machine to slow down the tape. This action shifted the sound slightly out of sync to the first tape machine and created a moving notch filter effect.
Electronically, the effect is created using a series of all-pass filters. Each all-pass filter stage shifts the phase of the audio signal by 90°. Chaining a series of all-pass filters together creates a larger amount of shift and a richer sounding effect. Mixing the dry, unshifted signal with the wet, shifted signal produces a notch filter effect. The notch filter effect is caused by the interaction of the 2 waves. Some frequencies are canceled out and some are reinforced creating peaks and troughs in the frequency spectrum. For every 2 stages (180° of shift) another peak and trough is created. More notches in a notch filter the deeper the effect. The real magic of the phase shifter becomes apparent when the center frequency of each stage is modulated using an triangle wave or other modulation source to produce the signature sweeping sound.
PHASE SHIFTER CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS
Frequency Control Knob: Adjusts the center frequency.
Resonance Control knob: Adjusts the amount of resonance.
LFO Frequency Control Knob: Adjusts the rate of the LFO.
LFO Send Level: Adjusts the amount of LFO used to modulate the frequency. Full left is off.
LFO Triangle Wave Out and Square Wave Out: Individual LFO waveform outputs.
LFO Range Switch: Adjust the frequency range of the LFO.
CV Inputs Uni-Polar CV In Control Knob, CV Input, and Invert Switch: Main uni-polar CV input for all 16 stages. Control knob adjusts the incoming CV level. Invert switch inverts the incoming CV signal.
CV Inputs Bi-Polar CV In Control Knob and CV Input: Main bi-polar CV input for all 16 stages. Control knob adjusts the incoming CV level.
Enable CV Inputs 9-16 Switch: Enables or disables CV Inputs 9-16 section. When enabled, external modulation for stages 9-16 uses the CV Inputs 9-16 section instead of the CV Inputs section.
Invert CV Stages 9-16 Switch: Invert switch inverts the modulation source for stages 9-16.
CV Inputs 9-16 Uni-Polar CV In Control Knob, CV Input, and Invert Switch: Alternative uni-polar CV input for stages 9-16. Control knob adjusts the incoming CV level. Invert switch inverts the incoming CV signal.
CV Inputs 9-16 Bi-Polar CV In Control Knob and CV Input: Alternative bi-polar CV input for stages 9-16. Control knob adjusts the incoming CV level.
8 Stage Out Static Wave Blender Control Knob and Mix Output: Mix of the unphased dry signal and the output of the 8th stage of the Phase Shifter. The Static Wave Blender is an attenuverter for the dry signal.
Stage 7 Output: Output of the 7th stage of the Phase Shifter.
Stage 8 Output: Output of the 8th stage of the Phase Shifter.
16 Stage Out Static Wave Blender Control Knob and Mix Output: This is the main mix out. Mix of the unphased dry signal and the output of the 16th stage of the Phase Shifter. The Static Wave Blender is an attenuverter for the dry signal.
Stage 15 Output: Output of the 15th stage of the Phase Shifter.
Stage 16 Output: Output of the 16th stage of the Phase Shifter.
Input Drive Knob: Audio signal input level contol.
Input Jack: Audio Signal Input
Size: 26hp
Depth: 35mm
Power Usage: 165mA