- We review 5 of the best phaser and phase shifting VST plugins that are available on the market!
- Budget options, hidden FREE gems, premium picks, and everything in between.
- Covering both analog and digital phaser emulations.
What are the Best Phaser VST Plugins?
SoundToys PhaseMistress is our pick for the best overall phaser VST plugin because it’s been the go-to phaser for many professionals for good reason. It sounds good, is feature-rich and at a price that won’t break the bank (especially if you wait for a sale).
Chow Phaser is our best value pick — a powerful and minimalistic phaser that comes at the low, low price of… zero.
And finally, Eventide Instant Phaser Mk II is our premium pick. This is a digital version of the legendary
We’ve deemed these 5 to be the best phaser VST plugins available on the market today:
- SoundToys PhaseMistress (Our Pick)
- Chow Phaser (Best Value)
- Eventide Instant Phaser Mk II (Premium Option)
- Softube Fix Phaser
- D16 Fartozan 2
1. SoundToys PhaseMistress
SoundToys PhaseMistress is a phaser VST plugin that really just does it all. It’s a super versatile plugin that many consider to be the “industry standard” phaser VST.
With so much modulation and customization available, PhaseMistress is our pick for the best phaser VST plugin.
Overview
SoundToys is a company famed for its vintage-style plugins including EchoBoy, Little AlterBoy, Devil-Loc, Little Plate, and Tremolator.
PhaseMistress is another masterful plugin in this lineage. SoundToys have studied some of the best phasers like the Bi-Phase,
With all these types available in just one plugin, the SoundToys PhaseMistress might just be the only phaser plugin you ever use.
Features
PhaseMistress comes with a staggering 69 presets, and every single preset can be tweaked to your liking. You can choose from 2 to 24 stages, and this essentially changes how many notches you hear in the effect.
Alongside a traditional LFO, you also get Random, Step, and Rhythm modulation shapes. With a fairly simple layout, despite its depth, tweaking this plugin won’t give you too many headaches!
Also, PhaseMistress has a tap-tempo feature, and you can even shape the rhythm of the phasing effect from shuffle to swing.
It’s a truly modern phaser masterpiece for different styles of music from pop, disco, jazz-fusion, rock to funk!
Verdict
SoundToys PhaseMistress is a super versatile and modern phaser VST plugin that has amazing emulations of some of the most famous vintage phasers in history.
The entire Soundtoys bundle is a worthy pick up, especially during a sale. If you’re thinking about getting the Phase Mistress, I highly recommend waiting for a bundle sale to get max bang for your buck.
2. Chow Phaser
Chow Phaser is a free plugin that offers a great vintage phaser sound. This plugin was modeled after the Schulte Compact Phasing A, which was a legendary analog phaser back in the 1970s.
Overview
Chow Phaser is from Chow DSP, which is run by musician Justin Chowdhury. Their goal is to provide excellent plugins for free and inspire musicians to create.
Along with some of their other plugins like the Chow Kick and Chow Tape Model, the Chow Phaser is simple, effective, and straight-to-the-point.
Features
Chow Phaser can be broken up into feedback and modulation, and the amount of processing can be controlled by these two knobs.
The LFO levels are controllable by Depth, Frequency, and Skew knobs. There’s also a Stages knob, which can control filter stages, and additional parameters like Drive, Dirt, and Thrash for more creative phaser effects.
These additional controls set Chow Phaser apart from other phaser plugins on the market (yes, even paid ones).
Verdict
Chow Phaser might not look as fancy as some of the other plugins on this list, but if you’re after a minimalistic yet feature-packed phaser plugin, Chow Phaser is for you.
3. Eventide Instant Phaser Mk II
Eventide Instant Phaser Mk II is our premium pick, and it’s based on the legendary phaser by the same name.
The original
The VST Plugin version captures the classic analog sound and the smooth modulation of the original
Overview
The
Eventide Instant Phaser has been reborn into a modern version while still keeping its analog sound, and if you want the highest quality phaser available on the market,
Features
Visually,
While keeping all the original parameters and knobs,
The basic three mods of this plugin are Shallow, Deep, and Wide, and each has its characteristic color.
The Wide mode predictably will allow you to get a wider sound by adding fading effects in the left and right channels.
Another revolutionary tool is the Age knob, which you can use to go from an older vintage sound to a fresher, modern sound. It also comes with a side chain function, allowing you to implement inter-track mingling with this feature.
Verdict
This revival of the classic Instant Phaser offers both high-quality vintage phaser sounds as well as more modern effects.
The
4. Softube Fix Phaser
Not many talk about this one, but I assure you, it’s a hidden gem of a phaser unit. Softube Fix Phaser is a monstrous phaser that is capable of a slew of phaser modulation effects from various stages of the cycle.
Overview
It’s extremely simple in its design and with straightforward knobs and parameters, it’s a great phaser plugin to explore different sounds.
If you’re more of an experimental nut, and not afraid to crank knobs to eleven to make phasers become an integral element of a song, then check this one out.
Features
Softube Fix Phaser comes with three modes – Normal, Effect, and Wide.
Normal mode is the most subtle mode, and the wide mode allows you to turn lifeless mono tracks into intergalactic stereo soundscapes. This feature is also super useful for giving mono tracks a breath of fresh air.
We also love the Fix Phaser because it’s the most easy-to-use phaser plugin on this list, and each knob is easily understandable, so you know what you get.
The clear Mix knob on the far left controls the overall levels. You can choose from 5 different stages and use the Sweep knob if you want to take your track to space.
Verdict
For space-like whooshing effects and versatility packed into 6 knobs, you can’t go wrong with this one.
5. D16 Fazortan 2
D16 Fazortan 2 is a hugely popular phaser plugin for electronic musicians and it’s best known for emulating the sound of Jean-Michel Jarre.
Overview
D16 Group is a Polish company known for their beautiful synthesizers, drum machines, and various effects.
Part of their SilverLine Collection, the Fazortan 2 plugin replicates an analog phaser, and it also comes with modern features to help turn a phaser from a background effect into a full-blown pulsating, rhythmic powerhouse.
Features
Fazortan 2 is great for electronic musicians, and honestly, you can almost treat this thing like a synthesizer (which I think is why it feels right at home in electronic music).
You can select between multiple waveshapes like random, hyper-triangle, triangle, and sinusoidal to really dial in the rhythmic pulsation to your heart’s content.
On top of that, you get an option to control two LFOs at the same time, and there are a variety of stretch contours to further tweak the sound and groove to your taste.
There is also a Rotating Speaker effect available on this plugin, and while it’s another asset for electronic music, I reckon this is also a great tool for keyboardists and guitarists to explore.
Verdict
All in all, D16 Fazortan 2 is a versatile and analog-sounding phaser plugin that is great for all genres, but especially well-suited for electronic musicians due to its creative capabilities and groove-centric functionality.
