rate

Rate is a control on modulation effects that sets the speed at which the effect's cycle repeats, such as the speed of volume changes in a tremolo or the sweep speed of a phaser or chorus¹²³. In tremolo, the volume of the guitar is moved up or down at the rate of speed the player chooses¹². On phasers, rate settings shape the character of the sweep, from sluggish phasing to distorted modulation, with faster rates producing a more psychedelic sound⁴⁵³. On chorus pedals, higher rate settings produce an obvious warble, while a very slow rate gives a gentle wobble⁶⁷⁸. The term also appears as sample rate in digital effects, where lowering it creates bit crushing-style artifacts and pitch-bending effects⁹¹⁰¹¹.