Alesis Fazer

Pretty easy to use but some of the mod types require more thoughtful usage, especially the one that uses velocity as a trigger. Otherwise about as simple as a modulation effect could be.

I give it a 7 as even though it was easy to use, I couldn't get a quality sound of it.

I bought this unit for use with synths and electric pianos and to be honest I wasn't impressed with it.

No problems for me with noise but the thing just took the top end out of the stuff I put through it. This didn't seem to matter too much when I used it on a guitar once or twice but for sweet sawtooth synth sounds the bright fizz just wasn't there. Same thing for Rhodes patches, keine top end.

I tried using it as an aux send instead of in-line and due to the a/d d/a stages I got that out of phase blurred sound so it ruled it out for me.

As someone else wrote the best thing you could use it for would be water drip noises and thips but in this role it isn't very practical and imho still not worth it.

I used two different Fazes with a Ampliton (which I've kept) and kept on getting digital glitches.

Some good ideas with the contrary motion stereo phaser and triggered mode but at the end of the day the phaser sound just wasn't outstanding or even that good quality. Seemed to pass audio cleanly when effect was bypassed though.

Not really applicable as I only ever used it in my studio for a couple of months.

N/A

Unless you get it offered for dirt cheap and you really need an average hardware phaser I wouldn't bother.

very easy

yes it is noisy like my boss odb3 but hey get a nr unit. using it and other modfx units on my drum machines and synths.

its plastic do not drop it or get mad and smash it with your fist .

who cares.

overall the modfx line was a good idea,they should have put some "dang" numbers on it so you could at least write that down instead of trying to remember how you set it up all the dang time...but hey for the price you can mark it yourself. i like em great for noise and just off the wall soundscapes....overall not bad.

Very straightforward to use. The manual is great at explaining the unit.

These units are noisy. There's a small amount of "computer" noise (beeps, blips, whatever) coming out of the unit. I also have the Philtre, Phlanger, and Amplitron. All the ModFX units have this "computer" noise. This particular FAZE unit (at least I one I got) also puts out a really loud snowy static and pretty much makes the unit unusable. I got it on ebay, and I hope I can send it back. Wasn't worth the money - couldn't give these away - which is probably why their discontinued.

Not reliable.

I have owned a number of multifx units, so it was not incredibly difficult for me to grasp the interaction of the knobs and buttons ... but prolonged tweaking was still necessary. The jacks are backassward compared to pedals, but it is possible to sometimes compensate with longer patch cords.

The only mode that I have really found inspiring is the "liquid metal" preset ... the others seem kind of blah and standard for my tastes ... but keep in mind that I am more drawn by noisy and unconventional textures as of late ... and I only use the Faze in mono. Also, there is fairly audible hiss when the effect is engaged and there is no signal passing through it.

It is almost entirely plastic and would probably be best operated via a remote momentary control switch if you intend to gig.

Discontinued, so ... ?

The Faze is not a bad buy for its current clearance sale price. It can provide a couple of different useable phasing tones, but really excels for hand drum, bubbling, and dripping water type textures, IMHO.

This is a modfx fazer. There's 4 knobs and two well marked rocker switches. Just turn knobs until you like what you hear. The manual is clear and provides examples. There is no way to save presets. No on off button.

I have a Yamaha AN1X (analog clone) which I run through the fazer into an old silver face Fender Bassman amp with a 15" speaker. The fazer really boosts the signal. Unless I keep the synth volume way down I get distortion. Tube distortion is nice though. Warms up the sound. There's a warm organic sound that really enhances the AN1X. Very good approximation of the old classic analog phase shifters with lots of cool 21st Century options.

You can sync the phase modulation to tempo. Dial up an analog pad, tap the tempo button, hold down a chord. Instant Nirvana.

No noise. I like the washing machine sound of the old phase shifters-none at all in this unit.

It would work fine in the studio. Wall wart. I'd put the fazer in a sturdy padded box if I was going to gig with it.

No idea.

You're not going to get a better phase shifter new for $50.00. The unit gives a nice sound that fits in well with classic rock and psychedelia. It would be nice if the unit has an on off button, a MIDI input, and patch storage but what do you want for $50.00?