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Boss effects pedal guide: Modulation effects
What exactly is a modulation effect?
With a modulation effect you can shape your guitar signal to your liking and give your guitar tone a distinctive character. Depending on the effect type, your sound becomes more spacious and atmospheric. Most modulation effects copy the incoming signal from your guitar and create a time or phase shift of that signal, which is then mixed back with the original, "dry" signal from your guitar.
Modulation and pitch shifter in Olli's test
There are countless modulation effects; we've summarised the most important ones for you below and, of course, put them through extensive tests. Olli once again went all out, grabbed as many Boss effects as he could carry and presents the best-known pedals in this video. Alternatively, you'll find an overview of the key Boss modulation effects further down the page.
Which modulation effects are there?
The most widespread modulation effects are phaser, flanger, chorus, tremolo and vibrato. Of course Boss also offers many other modulation effects, but these five effect types are the favourites among guitarists. Below we explain what each effect can do and what kinds of sounds you can create with them.
Chorus
The chorus is probably the best-known modulation effect. It adds several significantly altered partial signals to the guitar signal. This creates the impression that several guitars are playing the same note at the same time. The chorus effect is excellent for giving your signal a fuller, more spacious tone.
Phaser
The phaser is an effect based on time delays. The distinctive sound is produced by a filter with multiple cancellations and boosts in the frequency spectrum. Because the signal is output with a slight time offset, an effect called phase cancellation occurs. Part of the signal is reduced and replaced by the following signal. The resulting sound evolves continuously and changes periodically.
Flanger
A flanger works similarly to a phaser, but the phase cancellation and the resulting effect are much more extreme here. Because the signal is also modulated, you get a sound reminiscent of a constantly moving wah-wah. The resulting tone is very striking and cutting, and is usually used sparingly as a stylistic device.
Tremolo
Tremolo belongs to the dynamic effects. That means it manipulates the volume of your signal. This effect causes the volume to swell up and down continuously, creating the sensation of a wave motion in the sound. Tremolo is particularly popular in (alternative) rock music.
Vibrato
The vibrato effect produces a sound similar to a vibrato you create with your fretting hand and modulates the pitch of your signal before matching it back to the original signal. A vibrato effect can create very organic, floating sounds.
Wide selection
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The essential Boss modulation effects
Here we present the best-known and most popular modulation effects from Boss. Clicking the product image takes you to the product detail page with even more images and all the info about the respective pedal.
Boss BF-3
Effect type: Flanger
As the heir to the legendary Boss BF-2, the BF-3 pedal offers a flanger version with some of the fattest flanging sounds ever. Two new modes produce flanging with incredible depth—even slicer-like effects are possible—and sounds that seem to swirl around the listener.
For fans of Green Day, Steve Vai, Tool, blink-182
Boss CE-2w
Effect type: Chorus
The CE-2W's standard mode produces the authentic chorus sound of the CE-2, while expanding it with stereo output. The CE-1 mode, on the other hand, delivers the stereo chorus and vibrato sound of the legendary CE-1, whose intensity can for the first time be dialled in to taste.
For fans of John Mayer, Led Zeppelin, Dream Theater
Boss CE-5
Effect type: Chorus
The CE-5 is Boss's first compact chorus pedal equipped with both high‑pass and low‑pass filters, allowing for a wide range of top-quality chorus effects. The sound is lush, warm and brilliant. The CE-5 is Boss's luxury chorus.
For fans of Tool, Van Halen, Steve Vai, Alice In Chains
Boss CH-1
Effect type: Chorus
This pedal delivers the classic chorus sound for which Roland has been known since the introduction of the famous Roland Jazz Chorus amplifier. The CH-1 is the worldwide standard and the ideal pedal for the typical warm chorus sound that creates a wide stereo image.
For fans of Joe Satriani, Megadeth, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam
Boss DC-2w
Effect type: Chorus
The DC-2W was developed in the proven Waza Craft analogue tradition and not only offers a perfect sonic reproduction of the original DC-2 Dimension C, but also includes the legendary SDD-320 Dimension D 19" effect unit that served as the model for the DC-2.
For fans of Dream Theater, Noel Gallagher, The Smashing Pumpkins, Paramore
Boss PH-3
Effect type: Phaser
The PH-3 phaser, like the Boss AW-3 Dynamic Wah, doesn't use an analogue circuit but operates digitally: this enables an enormous range of classic and modern phaser sounds in superb studio quality. It also features a Tap Tempo function.
For fans of The Black Keys, Steve Vai, blink-182, The Cult
Boss PS-6
Effect type: Pitch Shifter
The Boss PS-5 sold in impressive numbers worldwide. Here comes its successor, the PS-6: the main difference to the PS-5 is the ability to generate two additional tones, for three‑voice solos, fat chords or for extreme detuning effects even stronger than any chorus.
For fans of Royal Blood, Megadeth, Green Day
Boss SY-1
Effect type: Synthesizer
The SY-1 is an exceptionally expressive tool with 121 highly responsive sounds packed into the chassis of a BOSS compact pedal, which integrates effortlessly into any setup. And the best part: it's as easy to use as a conventional stompbox, so you don't need to be an experienced synth programmer.
For fans of Marilyn Manson, Meshuggah
Boss TR-2
Effect type: Tremolo
A perfect recreation of the tremolo effect from a classic and popular vintage amplifier of the 1960s. By continuously varying the shape from triangle to square, it's easy to dial in tremolo sounds from subtle to extremely choppy, inviting you to experiment.
For fans of Eric Clapton, Rage Against the Machine, Oasis, Foo Fighters, Coldplay
Still haven't found the right sound?
The effects we've introduced here don't yet deliver the sound you're looking for, or would you like to discover even more? Here you'll find an overview of all Boss modulation pedals:
