TOMAHAWK is an intricately designed, voltage-controlled, four-stage phase shifter tailored for rich, evolving modulation.

It offers dedicated controls for Sweep Rate, Waveshaper, Phasing Amplitude, Notch Shift, Frequency Modulation, and Peak Emphasis—providing deep sculpting of your signal’s movement and character.

At the heart of the module flows a distinctive internal oscillator, generating a morphing contour of Sine and Hyper-Triangular waveforms—malleable in real time via the Waveshaper control.

The Sweep Rate control sets the oscillator’s frequency, spanning a vast temporal range—from glacially slow cycles at 0.008 Hz (one cycle completing every 125 seconds), ideal for deep, evolving phase drifts, to audio-rate motion at 40 Hz, where modulation blurs into rapid flicker and vibrato-like shimmer.  This expansive range makes the EM-406 equally suited for slow, atmospheric undulations as well as fast, percussive modulation effects. LED indicators track the oscillator’s rate and polarity in real time, offering instant visual feedback for nuanced control.

The oscillator’s frequency and polarity are conveyed through onboard LEDs, providing intuitive visual feedback for both live performance and precise patching.

The Waveshaper control dynamically adjusts the symmetry by modulating the current distribution within this core, allowing the waveform to evolve continuously across a spectrum of expressive shapes.

Dialing fully counter-clockwise, the waveform develops a sharp peak and rounded trough, driving modulation with a sense of lift and directional motion.  Turned fully clockwise, the contour reverses: smooth on the rise, sharply tapering on the fall—imparting a reactive, expressive edge.

At the midpoint, the waveform resolves into a pure sine—centered, symmetrical, and ideal for lush, traditional phaser sweeps. This design enables not just variation of harmonic content, it tansforms the feel of the modulation and the musical intent—from subtle and fluid to bold and expressive, driven by real-time analog symmetry shifting.

The waveshaper parameter can also be animated externally via the dedicated CV input. 

The Phasing Amplitude control acts as a depth attenuator, adjusting the extent to which the LFO affects the phaser's filter stages, allowing for anything from subtle shimmer to deep, sweeping motion.

The Exponential Notch Shift control adjusts the center frequency of the phasing notches, dramatically reshaping the harmonic focus of the effect. For even greater control, the phaser’s frequency can be externally modulated via the Freq. CV In, with fine-tuning available through the Frequency Modulation attenuverter.

Peak Emphasis heightens the phaser’s resonance with exquisite sensitivity—capable of coaxing subtle tonal shimmer or pushing the circuit to the edge of instability.  As the control increases, the notches begin to ring, forming harmonic halos that intensify with each sweep. At its highest setting, the phaser breaks free into self-oscillation, transforming from a spatial effect into a tone generator—feedback-rich, alive, and unpredictable.

For extended modulation possibilities, an external LFO can be patched into the Ext. LFO In—allowing the phaser to respond to complex waveforms, envelopes, or sequencer patterns from other modules.

Specifications:

Model: EM-406

Dimensions: 12 HP | 28 mm

Material: 2.00 mm Anodized Aluminum

Power: +/- 12 V | 70 mA