The Mr. Black Twin Lazers Dual Phase Modulator is a dual phaser pedal from Mr. Black. Instead of one phaser engine, it carries two fully independent phase-shifters that can run in true stereo, one per channel, or be chained in series-mono with a patch cable. Delicious Audio's reviewer summed it up as "an experimenter's dream effect," writing, "In short, the Twin Lazers Dual Phase Modulator has a LOT going on, and it sounds absolutely fantastic"1.
Two phaser engines in one pedal
Each of the Twin Lazers' two engines is a complete phaser on its own. Green mode gives 4 stages per phaser, Red mode gives 6, and when the two engines are chained in series-mono the stages stack for an 8-stage or 12-stage shift2. That range covers a lot of ground: Pedal of the Day's review described the pedal as "Ranging from subtle to extreme, slight modulation to all-out psychedelica and much, much more"1.
RockBoard's PedalPedia entry sums up the design the same way, describing "two independent phaser engines that can run in stereo or series mono to create rich, swirling modulation"3. For players comparing it with single-engine phasers, the difference is that both engines keep their own settings, so the two sides of a stereo rig can move independently rather than tracking each other.
The Shift control: phase offset between the oscillators
The Shift control is what sets the Twin Lazers apart from a straightforward stereo phaser. It affords a phase shift or lag of between 0 and 180 degrees between the dual phaser-shifter oscillators2. Pedal of the Day's reviewer noted what that means in practice: at 90 degrees in a stereo rig, the swirl seems to rotate around the listener, and in series mode the offset opens up new phase sounds that a single oscillator cannot reach1.
Controls, presets, tap tempo and expression
The Rate control sets the oscillator cycle times from a crawling 0.2Hz (5 second cycle) to 5Hz (200mS cycle) on the dial, with a pulsing LED indicator next to it showing the rate24.
- Presets: a preset is saved by pressing the Save button and recalled using the Preset footswitch21
- Tap tempo: a standard external tap-tempo footswitch connects to the Tap/Exp. jack and extends the oscillator range out to a 12.5 second maximum cycle; a second tap resets the oscillator to the beginning of its cycle, and holding the switch freezes the phase shift21
- Expression: an expression pedal can be assigned to any or all controls on the fly by connecting a standard expression pedal and rotating the desired control to the maximum EXP. marker setting21
The Twin Lazers K1 version works differently in two places: its tap-tempo extends the oscillator speed to a 30-second maximum cycle, and its preset is recalled by holding the Tap-Tempo/Preset footswitch for 1.5 seconds rather than by a separate Preset footswitch4.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review, published on 6 May 2023, was enthusiastic about the pedal's range and depth. The reviewer wrote, "In short, the Twin Lazers Dual Phase Modulator has a LOT going on, and it sounds absolutely fantastic," and called it an experimenter's dream effect that is hard to get tired of1.
For players new to the effect type, a phaser sweeps a notch-heavy filter response across the signal, and the Twin Lazers doubles that idea. Mr. Black's own phaser line also includes the GilaMondo Electric Lizard and the Black LTD. Phaser Vibe, and the Twin Lazers sits alongside them as the maker's true-stereo dual-engine take on phaser pedals2.
Videos
Chicago Music Exchange
JayLeonardJ
Jack Deville
Questions
Can the Twin Lazers run in stereo?
Yes. The Twin Lazers is a true-stereo pedal built around two fully independent phase-shifters, each with 4 stages in Green mode or 6 stages in Red mode. You can run the two engines in stereo, one per channel, or chain them in series-mono using a patch cable, which stacks the stages for an 8-stage or 12-stage phase shift.
How do you save a preset on the Mr. Black Twin Lazers?
Press the Save button to store a preset, then recall it with the Preset footswitch. On the Twin Lazers K1 version, the recall works slightly differently: you hold the Tap-Tempo/Preset footswitch for 1.5 seconds to bring the saved preset back.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Twin Lazers?
Yes. A standard expression pedal connects to the Tap/Exp. jack and can be assigned to any or all of the controls on the fly. To assign it, you connect the pedal and rotate the control you want to its maximum setting, marked EXP. on the dial.
How does tap tempo work on the Twin Lazers?
A standard external tap-tempo footswitch plugs into the Tap/Exp. jack and extends the oscillator range out to a 12.5 second maximum cycle. A second tap resets the oscillator to the beginning of its cycle, and holding the switch freezes the phase shift in place.
What is a dual phaser?
A dual phaser puts two phaser engines in one pedal. The Twin Lazers runs its two engines in stereo, one per channel, or chains them in series for a deeper shift. Its Shift control sets a phase lag of 0 to 180 degrees between the two oscillators, which in stereo makes the swirl seem to rotate around the listener.
Sources (4)
- Mr. Black Twin Lazers Dual Phase Modulator, Pedal of the Day, 2023-05-06
- Twin Lazers B-stock, Mr. Black
- Twin Lazers by Mr. Black, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Twin Lazers K1, Mr. Black
