Chorus

A modulation effect that mixes a slightly delayed and pitch-shifted copy of the signal with the original, producing a shimmering, widened sound.

The shift happens because a short delay time is modulated up and down, which means the copied signal is continuously being detuned as it moves. Mixed against the dry signal, the two detune against each other and the ear hears a richer, larger version of one part. Rate controls how fast the detune cycles, depth how far it travels, and mix how much of the effect is heard. With more depth and a slower rate it becomes vibrato-like; with a longer delay it becomes flanging.

Example: a slow, subtle chorus on a clean arpeggio makes a single guitar sound like two, which is the effect's classic role on 1980s clean tones.

Chorus

See also