Phaser

Name: Phaser
Author: Kilohearts

by Kilohearts · Modulation · Multi-order phaser

Not rated yet

A free phaser from Kilohearts that sweeps moving peaks and notches through the spectrum.

An Order control adds more stages for a stronger effect, and Spread offsets the channels for stereo width.

Best for: Guitars, Keys & Synths, Drums, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Rock & Indie, Pop, Lo-Fi.

Keywords: phaser, free, wide, drums, sound design, electric guitar, keys, CPU-light, lo-fi, mixing, samples & loops, spacious, pads, surgical, swirling.

What it does

Phaser is Kilohearts' "Sweeping effects" plugin, which filters the input to create moving peaks and troughs for "twirly frequency sweeps."

Cutoff: sets where the peaks and troughs sit in the spectrum.
Rate and Depth: set the speed and range of the cutoff modulation.
Order: raises the filter order for more peaks and troughs and a more pronounced effect.
Spread and Mix: Spread offsets the phase between channels for stereo width; Mix balances dry and wet.
Snapin use: loads in Phase Plant, Multipass or Snap Heap, where its knobs can be modulated and it can be combined with other Snapins.

It also loads as a Snapin inside Kilohearts' Phase Plant, Multipass and Snap Heap. It is free as part of Kilohearts Essentials.

Source: Kilohearts product page

When to use it

Kilohearts Phaser is the pick for a clean, free phaser with adjustable order, or one to modulate inside Phase Plant and Snap Heap. It has less vintage character and fewer settings than Soundtoys PhaseMistress and Eventide Instant Phaser Mk II, and like Blue Cat's Phaser, it is free.

Best for: phasing on guitars, keys, pads and drum loops, and stereo movement in sound design.
Genres: electronic, rock, pop and lo-fi.
Look elsewhere if: you want the sound of a specific vintage phaser pedal; PhaseMistress or Instant Phaser Mk II are closer.
Standout: the Order control, which sets how many peaks and troughs the sweep has.

What producers say

Reviews of this Snapin on its own are rare; opinion on the Kilohearts Essentials set it belongs to is positive, with the main criticism that the plugins are minimal on their own.

Bedroom Producers Blog (2024) grouped it with Kilohearts' Ladder Filter and Shaper as "top-shelf free effects."
KVR users rate the Kilohearts Essentials set 5/5 from two reviews: one (2022) called it a "Good, useful collection of professional, but compact plugins," and another (2025) praised "Superb lightweight plugins rivaling many commercial and on-hype products!"
Gripe: a 2026 review of Essentials found that "many of the Essentials plugins feel minimal" on their own, and that they are "designed for precision rather than coloration."

Where to buy

Kilohearts: Free

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All modulation & movement