Soundtoys PhaseMistress - Manual (Page 26)

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This Tweak screen is separated into two sections: "Style Tweak" and "Modulation
Tweak".
Style Tweak
The Style Tweak parameters are used to create the basic character and "structure"
of the virtual phasing circuit. These are also the parameters used to create the Style
settings. Once you open the Tweak menu you can actually see how each of the Style
settings were created by selecting one of the Style settings in the menu and looking
at the settings of the knobs and switches in the Style Tweak section.
You can create your own "Styles" just by tweaking any or all of these parameters.
Once you change any of the parameters in the Style Tweak section the Style menu
will read "Custom", indicating (duh) that you have changed one or more of the Style
Tweak parameters.
Please Note #1: Our original intention was to NOT expose these "secret ingredients"
at the user level and to only have the Style settings that we deemed useful and use-
able etc. However, once all the infighting, screaming and bloodshed subsided inside
the SoundToys lab (it was not a pretty sight!) the powers of good prevailed over the
powers of evil and it was decided by the wise SoundToys Elder Council to provide
you, our esteemed user, with the power to control the phasing galaxy by exposing
these parameters to you.
Please Note #2: Only the parameters under the Style Tweak area of the menu were
used to create the Style settings. The Modulation Tweak parameters are separate
and are saved when saving a standard PhaseMistress preset.
Stages
The "Stage" knob is one of the most important parameters in PhaseMistress. As we
discussed earlier, the number of stages determines the number of phase shift stages
used in the virtual phasing circuit, with the available values in PhaseMistress ranging
from 2 through 24. In general, the most significant changes in the sound occur
between Stage settings 2 and 12 with 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 being the most commonly
used. (Note: A 2 stage phaser is the least pronounced and "transparent" sounding
and as a general rule sounds best with minimal resonance. This does not mean that
you can’t add resonance with a 2 Stage phaser but you will most likely find that it
does not add that much. Once you get above a 2 Stage setting you’ll find that reso-
nance will become more useful and pronounced)