The Just a Phase is a phaser pedal from Mattoverse Electronics, announced in October 2021. It pairs an all analog signal path with eight digitally controlled waveforms and on-board tap tempo, a combination that puts both classic phaser sounds and more experimental modulation shapes in one phaser pedal123. Mattoverse describes the control layout as simple and intuitive: three knobs and two footswitches1.
Controls and footswitches
The pedal uses a three knob layout: character/depth, rate, and waveform1. The character/depth knob shapes how pronounced the phasing effect is, the rate knob sets the speed, and the waveform knob selects among the eight LFO shapes21.
Two footswitches sit below the knobs. BYPASS handles the on and off, and TEMPO lets you tap in the rate of the phasing effect, which is unusual on a phaser at this price2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Character/depth | Sets the depth and character of the phasing effect2 |
| Rate | Sets the speed of the phasing, or is overridden by tapped tempo2 |
| Waveform | Selects among the eight digitally controlled waveforms1 |
| BYPASS footswitch | Engages and bypasses the effect2 |
| TEMPO footswitch | Taps in the rate of the phasing effect2 |
The eight waveforms
The waveform knob is the heart of the pedal. The eight digitally controlled waveforms include sine, sweep, square, ramp, random square and slopes4. Mattoverse sorts them into three families:
- Sine and sweep: the smooth, traditional phaser-style waveforms that, in the maker's words, cover all of your favorite classic phaser sounds4
- Square and ramp: harder edged waveforms that the maker says delve into harmonic tremolo territory32
- Random square and slopes: waveform options the maker describes as offering unique phaser tones32
Gearnews's writer put it this way when the pedal was announced:
"You can choose between traditional phaser-style smooth sine and sweep waveforms, or you can opt for more aggressive square and ramp waveforms."
What reviewers said
Coverage at launch was positive on the design. Gearnews called the pedal "an analogue phaser with 8 digitally controlled waveforms, plus tap tempo" and, after listening to the demo, the writer said, "Having listened a few times myself, I'm quite impressed by its chewy organic character."2 Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio noted that "Phaser is an effect that has experienced a creative resurgence as of late," placing the Just a Phase in that wave5.
Versions and availability
The pedal case came in two versions at launch: a white or silver finish at USD 189, or the same finish with an engraved clear acrylic faceplate at USD 2092. The Mattoverse product pages list the engraved clear acrylic faceplate variant (with red LEDs), a Sky Blue Matte variant and a Pink Matte variant, all shown as sold out or unavailable4.
The Just a Phase is listed as sold out on Mattoverse's own product pages as of October 20263.
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Questions
Is the Mattoverse Just a Phase analog or digital?
The Just a Phase has an all analog signal path. The digital side of the design controls the waveforms: the pedal offers eight digitally controlled waveforms, including sine, sweep, square, ramp, random square and slopes. So the audio stays analog while the LFO shapes are managed digitally, which is what lets the pedal include on-board tap tempo.
Does the Just a Phase have tap tempo?
Yes. The pedal has on-board tap tempo, and it is operated with a second footswitch labeled TEMPO, next to the BYPASS switch. The TEMPO switch lets you tap in the rate of the phasing effect rather than dialing it in by ear with the rate knob alone.
How many waveforms does the Just a Phase have?
Eight digitally controlled waveforms. The named options are sine, sweep, square, ramp, random square and slopes. According to Mattoverse, the smooth sine and sweep settings cover classic phaser sounds, the square and ramp settings lean toward harmonic tremolo territory, and the random square and slopes settings give more unusual phaser tones.
What is the difference between the white and silver versions of the Just a Phase?
The pedal case came in two versions, a white or silver finish. The more expensive option added an engraved clear acrylic faceplate with red LEDs. At launch the standard white or silver version was listed at USD 189, and the version with the engraved clear acrylic faceplate at USD 209.
Is the Mattoverse Just a Phase still available?
The Mattoverse product page for the Just a Phase with the engraved clear acrylic faceplate lists the pedal as sold out, and the other finish variants are shown as sold out or unavailable as well. If you are looking for one, the secondhand market is the likely route.
Sources (5)
- Mattoverse WarbleSwellBadPassengerFuzzPhaseEcho, Mattoverse Electronics
- Mattoverse Just a Phase: A new analogue phaser with digital control, gearnews.com, 2021-10-04
- Mattoverse Just A Phase, Mattoverse Electronics
- Mattoverse Just A Phase, Mattoverse Electronics
- Mattoverse Just A Phase, Delicious Audio, 2021-10-05
