Phase Fiasco Kazu is a new, powerful, sequenceable multi-FX plugin for macOS and Windows, from the creator of the Tape Fiasco 2 plugin.
Sequenceable multi-FX plugins are part of every music producer’s arsenal today. Kieran Foster—aka illformed—who recently passed away, popularized them with his Glitch plugin. Many similar plugins followed, such as Sugar Bytes Effectrix, Infiltrator, and others
Jonas Eriksson (the UI designer behind apps from Moog, Fingerlab, etc.) recently shook up this plugin space with his Tape Fiasco 2 app—a multi-FX monster. With Kazu, Phase Fiasco has now released the answer to Effectrix, Infiltrator, and the like.
Phase Fiasco Kazu
Phase Fiasco has been teasing the new plugin for over a month, and now “Kazu” is available. It is another multi-FX plugin, but it follows a different concept than Tape Fiasco 2.
While the latter is based on time-based effects, this one focuses on moving effects you can animate via modulation and sequencers -in the vein of Effectrix, Infiltrator, and similar tools.
Tape Fisaco 2 features a very distinctive UI. Kazu also stands out from the crowd with an original design.
At the core of Kazu is a multi-FX layer into which you can load various effects. You can choose from 50 FX processors in eight different categories, where you can find bread-and-butter delay and reverbs to granular glitches, spectral destruction, and wavetable filters:
- circuit bend (clocked stutter and bend), pitch shifter with granular, plasma (hysteresis arc-discharge distortion), west-coast folder, spectral sieve, three comb resonator, wavefolder with a spectral trail, granular reverb, spectral delay, and more.
Each effect features a wide range of parameters you can edit manually or automate. For example, the spectral delay includes controls for time, tilt, feedback, blur, shift, spread, gate, dampening, locut, shape, size, and freeze. Automate is the key feature here.
Make Them Dance
50 effects is a huge number—enough to keep you experimenting through long nights until your creative brain starts steaming. Phase Fiasco Kazu’s strength lies not only in its wide selection of algorithms but also in its multi-layer modulation.
If you want it simple without diving into the mod engine, just press Animate to bring your effects to life with coordinated movement. You can choose the pro direction and craft your own modulation.
To live up to the name “sequencable multi-FX,” you need a sequencer—and it’s included here. However, it’s a traditional note sequencer, but a color-coded gate sequencer that lets you sequence the ON/OFF states of the independent effects.
Each FX has its own sequencer lane where you can draw ON/OFF patterns manually or simply roll the dice to discover new grooves. It gives your effects rhythmic qualities.
Motion A Gogo
Alongside these, a mighty modulation engine lets you animate each effect independently in different, fascinating ways. These range from generative sequencers, custom curves, multi-wave LFOs, pitch follower, and audio-reactive modulation.
A modulation matrix manages the modulators. Introduce subtle movement into the effects to make them feel more organic and eliminate any stiffness—or go all-in with creative chaos and discover the world of Richard Devine.
The modulators cover a wide range of applications, and of course, they can be free or are synceable to your DAW tempo.
For those who want to manually adjust the sound in addition to the modulators, four assignable macros and an X/Y pad are also included. It’s perfect for bringing every moment under your control.
According to Jonas Erikisson, this is unlikely to be the end of it. Phase Fiasco says on its website that Kazu is getting frequent updates with new effects and features, improved functionality, and bug fixes.
Anyone who has Tape Fiasco 2 knows what that means. The plugin has received a wide range of FXs and the like as a free update over the last few months.
First Impression
Many sequenceable multi-FX processors are on the market. Each has its strengths and weaknesses.
Kazu isn’t a revolutionary plugin; it’s another powerful multi-FX with a sequencer and modulation. With its effects and advanced modulation options, Kazu is one of the most powerful and experimental plugins on the market.
Musicians get a tool here that can completely shape, transform, or even sonically destroy sounds. For $29, it offers a lot of fun and depth to explore. A no-brainer for anyone who likes rhythmic and animated effects. I hope Kazu comes to iOS soon.
Phase Fiasco Kazu is available now for $29. It runs as a VST3 and AU plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows. Linux version is coming soon.
More information here: Phase Fiasco
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