NIVIEM Phase II

NIVIEM Phase II is a detailed digital emulation inspired by the legendary Ludwig Phase II Guitar Synthesizer (Model #9000, 1970-1971) - one of the rarest and most sought-after guitar effects ever made. This plugin is a component-level, circuit-accurate emulation based on traced schematics, calibration procedures, and verified hardware analysis of the original unit.

What Makes This Plugin Special

• Museum-Quality Authenticity: Every circuit block verified against R.G. Keen's traced schematic and GroupDIY calibration documentation
• Dual Formant Filters: Gyrator-based bandpass filters tuned to F1/F2 speech formant ranges
• 3 Trajectory Modes: Parallel, Counter, and Vowel - the iconic "yoy-yoy" sound
• Authentic Animation LFO: UJT-style relaxation oscillator with square wave output
• Complementary Fuzz: 3-transistor NPN/PNP topology with asymmetric soft clipping
• FAST/SLOW START: Authentic LFO attack time control
• FFM/BOTH/FUZZ RPT: Original 3-way animation routing switch
• Tempo Sync: Modern addition for DAW integration
• Vintage Variation: Component tolerance modeling for authentic unit-to-unit character
• 20 Factory Presets: Including Shimmer Sea, Bad Moon, Slappy Bass, and more

Historical Context

The Ludwig Phase II Guitar Synthesizer was manufactured by Ludwig Drum Company (under Conn/Selmer ownership) in 1970-1971. It represented one of the first commercial attempts at guitar "synthesis" before true synthesizers became affordable.

The Ludwig Phase II was revolutionary for its time, offering:

• Dual Formant Filters: Two discrete transistor bandpass filters tuned to speech formant ranges (not a simple wah pedal)
• Trajectory Control: Multiple modes for filter movement patterns
• Animation LFO: Automatic filter modulation with adjustable rate and depth
• Fuzz Section: Complementary NPN/PNP fuzz with unique "liquid" character
• Expression Pedal: Manual control over filter frequencies

Rarity & Collectibility

Production numbers were extremely limited:

• Units Manufactured: Approximately 150-200 (sources vary)
• Period: 1970-1971 only
• Collectibility: Among the rarest vintage guitar effects ever produced
• Current Value: $5,000-$15,000+ when they appear

Each unit sounds DIFFERENT due to:

• 8 trimmer potentiometers requiring precise calibration
• Hand-selected transistors (Q5 "blue mark" component)
• Component tolerances from 1970s manufacturing
• Critical CV range of only 1.8V-2.2V (0.4V span)

Famous Users

The Ludwig Phase II's exotic capabilities attracted adventurous guitarists:

• Sonic Youth (Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore): "The Diamond Sea," "Washing Machine," "Schizophrenia"
• Primus (Les Claypool): "Pork Soda," "Frizzle Fry" bass textures
• Pearl Jam: "Binaural" album textures
• Beck: "Cold Brains" and experimental work

Sonic Youth's Ludwig was famously stolen from a concert, becoming part of guitar effect mythology.

The Signature Sound

The Ludwig Phase II creates its iconic "yoy-yoy" sound through:

1. Vowel Trajectory Mode: F1/F2 follow phonetic speech patterns
2. Square Wave LFO: Flip-flop creates abrupt transitions
3. Narrow CV Range: Focused formant sweep (not wide wah sweeps)
4. Fuzz Interaction: Fuzz harmonics animated through formant filters

Our Approach to Emulation

The NIVIEM Phase II was developed using rigorous methodology:

1. Primary Source Analysis: R.G. Keen's traced schematic from GeoFEX served as our primary reference
2. Calibration Verification: GroupDIY calibration procedures and voltage measurements
3. Component Verification: Period-correct transistor types, UJT characteristics, gyrator topology
4. Circuit Topology Preservation: Signal flow matches the original exactly
5. Behavioral Accuracy: Each circuit block analyzed for transfer function and implemented accordingly

Critical Implementation Details

UJT Relaxation Oscillator (Animation LFO)

The original Ludwig uses a 2N2646 UJT (Uni-Junction Transistor) relaxation oscillator:

The UJT triggers a Q3/Q4 flip-flop that creates SQUARE WAVES:

UJT Oscillator → Trigger Pulse → Q3/Q4 Flip-Flop → Square Wave Output

CRITICAL: The Ludwig's LFO is NOT a sine wave - it's a SQUARE WAVE from the discrete transistor flip-flop. This creates the characteristic abrupt transitions in the "yoy-yoy" sound.

Our implementation models:

• TTL-style threshold behavior
• Authentic rise/fall times (~100μs)
• Optional slew limiting for vintage character

Complementary Fuzz (3-Transistor NPN/PNP)

The fuzz section uses a unique 3-stage topology:

Characteristics:

• Asymmetric soft clipping: NPN/PNP complementary pair creates even and odd harmonics
• DC offset: Asymmetric clipping generates DC (we include DC blocking)
• Progressive saturation: Harder clipping with increasing input level
• "Smooth & liquid" character: Not harsh like many fuzz circuits

Gyrator-Based Formant Filters

The dual bandpass filters use gyrator topology (simulated inductors):

Critical CV Range: The original Ludwig operates in an extremely narrow control voltage range:

CV Range: 1.8V - 2.2V (only 0.4V span!)

This narrow range:

• Creates focused formant sweep (not wide wah sweeps)
• Requires precise calibration (voltage imbalance > 0.2V causes "pops, gurgles, and squeals")
• Makes each unit sound slightly different

System Requirements

• Formats: Audio Unit (AU - macOS only), VST3 (macOS & Windows)
• DAW: Logic Pro, GarageBand, Ableton Live, Cubase, Studio One, Reaper, Bitwig, or any AU/VST3 host
• RAM: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended
• Disk Space: ~50 MB

Installation Steps

macOS

1. Download the NIVIEM Phase II installer
2. Run the installer and follow on-screen instructions
3. The plugin will be installed to:
   • AU: ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
   • VST3: ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
4. Restart your DAW
5. Scan for new plugins if required

Manual Installation:

1. Copy NIVIEM Phase II.component to ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
2. Copy NIVIEM Phase II.vst3 to ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
3. Restart your DAW

Windows

1. Download the NIVIEM Phase II installer (.exe)
2. Run the installer as Administrator
3. Follow on-screen instructions
4. The plugin will be installed to:
   • VST3: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
5. Restart your DAW
6. Scan for new plugins if required

Manual Installation:

1. Copy NIVIEM Phase II.vst3 to C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
2. Restart your DAW

The NIVIEM Phase II interface is inspired by the original hardware's aesthetic with a dark industrial design, backlit controls, and gold accents.

Layout Organization

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                              HEADER BAR                                  │
│  [NIVIEM] [Phase II]        [Pickup Sim] [Type] [Preset ▼] [+]         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                          │
│  ┌─────────────────────────┐  ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │      FUZZ SECTION       │  │        ANIMATION SECTION            │   │
│  │                         │  │                                     │   │
│  │  [Drive]    [Mix]       │  │  [Rate]   [Depth]   [Intensity]    │   │
│  │                         │  │                                     │   │
│  │  [Quality] [Character]  │  │  [Wave] [Target] [Start] [Sync]    │   │
│  │  [ADAA  ]               │  │                                     │   │
│  └─────────────────────────┘  │  ┌─────────────────────────────┐   │   │
│                               │  │      LFO Waveform Display    │   │   │
│                               │  └─────────────────────────────┘   │   │
│                               └─────────────────────────────────────┘   │
│                                                                          │
│  ┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────────┐  │
│  │ TRAJECTORIES  │ │  EXPRESSION   │ │      FORMANT FILTERS          │  │
│  │               │ │               │ │                               │  │
│  │ [Par][Cnt][V] │ │ [Expression]  │ │  [F1 Center] [F2 Center]     │  │
│  │               │ │ [Pedal Curve] │ │  [Resonance]                 │  │
│  └───────────────┘ └───────────────┘ └───────────────────────────────┘  │
│                                                                          │
│  ┌───────────────────┐  ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │    CHARACTER      │  │              OUTPUT SECTION               │   │
│  │                   │  │                                           │   │
│  │    [Vintage]      │  │  [Mix] [Gain] [Byp Bal] [Spread] [Mode]  │   │
│  └───────────────────┘  └───────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
│                                                                          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                            FOOTSWITCHES                                  │
│   [STEREO]    [EFFECT]    [ANIMATION]    [FUZZ]    [LFO Slew Toggle]   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The NIVIEM Phase II processes audio through this signal chain (matching the original Ludwig circuit):

                                    ┌───────────────────┐
                                    │    ANIMATION      │
                                    │       LFO         │
                                    │  (Square Wave)    │
                                    └─────────┬─────────┘
                                              │
                                    ┌─────────▼─────────┐
                                    │   TRAJECTORY      │
                                    │   GENERATOR       │
                                    │ Parallel/Counter/ │
                                    │     Vowel         │
                                    └─────────┬─────────┘
                                              │
                              ┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
                              │               │               │
                              ▼               ▼               │
                        ┌─────────┐     ┌─────────┐          │
                        │   F1    │     │   F2    │          │
                        │ Filter  │     │ Filter  │          │
                        │250-1000 │     │800-3000 │          │
                        │   Hz    │     │   Hz    │          │
                        └────┬────┘     └────┬────┘          │
                             │               │                │
                             └───────┬───────┘                │
                                     │                        │
    ┌─────────┐     ┌─────────┐     │      ┌─────────────────┘
    │         │     │         │     ▼      │
IN ─┤ INPUT   ├────►│  FUZZ   ├───►(+)◄────┘
    │ STAGE   │     │ Section │     │
    └─────────┘     └─────────┘     │
                                    ▼
                             ┌─────────────┐
                             │  DRY/WET    │
                             │    MIX      │
                             └──────┬──────┘
                                    │
                                    ▼
                             ┌─────────────┐
                             │   OUTPUT    │
                             │    GAIN     │
                             └──────┬──────┘
                                    │
                                   OUT

Processing Flow Description

1. Input Stage: High-impedance buffering suitable for passive pickups
2. Pickup Simulation (Optional): Models how low-impedance fuzz loads guitar pickups
3. Fuzz Section (Optional): 3-transistor complementary soft clipping
4. Fuzz Mix: Blends clean and fuzz signals BEFORE filters
5. Dual Formant Filters: F1 and F2 bandpass filters in parallel
6. Trajectory Generator: Controls F1/F2 movement patterns (Parallel/Counter/Vowel)
7. Animation LFO: Modulates filter frequencies and/or fuzz amplitude
8. Dry/Wet Mix: Blends original and processed signal
9. Output Gain: Final level adjustment

Drive (0-100%)

Controls the input gain into the fuzz circuit.

Fuzz Mix (0-100%)

AUTHENTIC: Blends clean and fuzz signals BEFORE the formant filters.

This allows clean attack to punch through fuzz sustain - a key feature of the original Ludwig.

Oversampling (1x / 2x / 4x)

Reduces aliasing artifacts from waveshaping:

ADAA Mode (None / 1st Order)

Antiderivative Anti-Aliasing for additional artifact reduction:

Character (Transistor / Tube / Hybrid)

Controls the saturation curve used in the fuzz overdrive stage:

Technical Detail:

• Transistor mode uses the Shockley diode equation: out = sign(x) × (1 - e^(-|x|/Vt)) which accurately models BJT collector saturation. This produces a sharper knee and more odd harmonics - the characteristic "spitty" fuzz sound.
• Tube mode uses tanh(x) which models vacuum tube grid saturation with a softer knee and more even harmonic distribution.
• Hybrid blends both curves for a balanced character that retains authenticity while adding smoothness.

AUTHENTIC DEFAULT: Transistor (matches original NPN/PNP transistor behavior)

Rate (0.1 Hz - 15 Hz)

Speed of the animation LFO:

Note: When Tempo Sync is enabled, this control is overridden by the sync division.

Depth (0-100%)

Intensity of filter frequency modulation (FFM Amp on original):

Intensity (0-100%)

AUTHENTIC: "Intens Fuzz Rep" slider from original.

Controls amplitude modulation depth when animation target is Both or Fuzz Repeat:

Wave (Waveform Selection)

AUTHENTIC DEFAULT: Square wave matches the original Q3/Q4 flip-flop behavior.

Target (Animation Routing)

AUTHENTIC: Original Ludwig 3-way switch:

Start (FAST/SLOW START)

AUTHENTIC: Attack time when Animation is enabled:

Sync (Tempo Sync)

Synchronizes LFO rate to host tempo:

F1 Center (250 Hz - 1000 Hz)

Lower formant frequency (correlates with tongue height):

AUTHENTIC DEFAULT: 500 Hz

F2 Center (800 Hz - 3000 Hz)

Upper formant frequency (correlates with tongue frontness):

AUTHENTIC DEFAULT: 1500 Hz

Resonance (Q: 0.5 - 8.0)

Filter emphasis/sharpness:

NOTE: Ludwig filters do NOT self-oscillate (unlike Moog-style filters).

Trajectory Mode

See Trajectory Modes section.

Mix (0-100%)

Dry/Wet blend:

Gain (-12 dB to +12 dB)

Output level adjustment for gain staging.

Stereo Mode

True Stereo matches the original Ludwig's Primary/Stereo output configuration.

CHARACTER Section

Vintage Variation (0-100%)

Models unit-to-unit component tolerances:

Set to 0% for "perfect" digital behavior, increase for vintage character.

Expression (0-100%)

Manual filter position control:

Expression pedal CV is SUMMED with LFO modulation.

Pedal Curve

Expression pedal response curves:

LFO Slew Toggle

AUTHENTIC: Emulates Q3/Q4 flip-flop transistor behavior.

When enabled, creates more "organic" modulation feel by softening square wave edges.

Header Controls

Pickup Simulation Toggle

Enables/disables input impedance modeling:

Pickup Type

Adjusts resonant frequency based on pickup type:

Four footswitches at the bottom match the original Ludwig pedalboard:

STEREO (Blue LED)

AUTHENTIC: Toggles True Stereo output mode.

EFFECT (Green LED)

Master effect on/off:

ANIMATION (Yellow LED)

AUTHENTIC: Enables/disables LFO modulation independently.

With Animation OFF, you can still use expression pedal for manual filter sweeps.

FUZZ (Red LED)

AUTHENTIC: Enables/disables fuzz section.

The Trajectory Mode controls how F1 and F2 filters move in response to modulation.

Parallel (Mode A)

Modulation ──►  F1 ───▲───
                      │
Modulation ──►  F2 ───▲───

• Both filters sweep in the same direction
• Creates "synchronized wah" effect
• Sound: Dual resonance moving together

Counter (Mode B)

Modulation ──►  F1 ───▲───
                      │
           ──►  F2 ───▼───

• F1 sweeps up while F2 sweeps down (and vice versa)
• Creates converging/diverging formant movement
• Sound: "Talkbox-like," "pinched vowels"

Vowel (Mode C) - AUTHENTIC

F1 & F2 follow speech formant trajectories:
    /ɑ/ → /i/ → /u/ → /æ/ → (repeat)

• Filters follow phonetic vowel transition curves
• Creates the iconic "yoy-yoy" sound
• This is the signature Ludwig sound!

AUTHENTIC DEFAULT: Vowel mode is the default as it produces the most characteristic Ludwig sound.

The Animation Target controls WHERE the LFO modulation is routed.

FFM (Formant Filter Modulation)

LFO ───► F1 Frequency
    └──► F2 Frequency

• LFO modulates filter frequencies ONLY
• Classic "yoy-yoy" sweeping sound
• Most common Ludwig use case

Both

LFO ───► F1 Frequency
    ├──► F2 Frequency
    └──► Fuzz Amplitude

• LFO modulates both filters AND fuzz amplitude
• Combined sweeping + pulsing effect
• More complex, animated texture

Fuzz Repeat

LFO ───► Fuzz Amplitude ONLY

• LFO modulates fuzz amplitude ONLY
• Filters stay static (controlled by expression pedal)
• Creates rhythmic "stutter" fuzz effect
• Like a tremolo applied to the fuzz signal

When Tempo Sync is enabled (set to any value other than "Off"), the Animation LFO synchronizes to your DAW's tempo.

Calculation

The LFO rate is calculated as:

Rate (Hz) = BPM / 60 / beatsPerCycle

Note Division Reference

At 120 BPM:

Usage Tips

• 1/4 and 1/8 work well for rhythmic "yoy" effects
• 1/2T and 1/4T create interesting polyrhythmic feels
• 1/1 and 1/2 for slow, dramatic sweeps
• Combine with Fuzz Repeat mode for tempo-synced stutter

The plugin includes 20 carefully crafted factory presets across 3 categories:

Signature Tones (6)

These presets are inspired by famous recordings featuring the original Ludwig Phase II:

• Shimmer Sea: Inspired by the ethereal textures heard on Sonic Youth's "The Diamond Sea"
• Bad Moon: Captures the aggressive phasing from the Bad Moon Rising era
• Drone Skull: Extended experimental textures in the style of "Expressway to Yr. Skull"
• Slappy Bass: The funky bass tones Les Claypool achieved on Primus recordings
• Destroyed Radio: Lo-fi textures reminiscent of Beck's sample-heavy productions
• Alive Phase: Powerful saturated phase in the style of Pearl Jam's arena rock sound

Classic Presets (7)

Experimental Presets (7)

User Presets

Saving Presets

1. Adjust all parameters to desired settings
2. Click the + button in the header
3. Enter a preset name
4. Click Save

Loading Presets

1. Click the preset dropdown
2. Select from Factory or User presets
3. Parameters update immediately

Deleting User Presets

1. Open the preset dropdown
2. Click the X next to a user preset
3. Confirm deletion

User Preset Location:

~/Library/Application Support/NIVIEM/NIVIEM Phase II/Presets/UserPresets.xml

Why Oversampling Matters

The fuzz section creates harmonics through waveshaping. Without oversampling, these harmonics can fold back as aliasing - harsh, metallic artifacts that never existed in the original analog hardware.

Analog circuits are continuous-time and cannot produce aliasing. Our oversampling removes this digital artifact, making the emulation more authentic.

Oversampling Levels

ADAA (Antiderivative Anti-Aliasing)

Additional aliasing reduction through mathematical anti-aliasing:

Recommendations

Getting the Classic Sonic Youth Sound

1. Load Shimmer Sea preset as starting point
2. Set Wave to Square (authentic)
3. Enable LFO Slew for vintage character
4. Set Trajectory to Vowel
5. Keep Rate slow (0.5-2 Hz)
6. Depth at 60-80%
7. Enable Fuzz with moderate Drive (40-60%)

Rhythmic Fuzz Stutter

1. Set Target to Fuzz Repeat
2. Enable Tempo Sync at 1/8 or 1/16
3. Increase Intensity to 80-100%
4. Use Square waveform for choppy effect
5. Expression pedal controls static filter position

Clean Formant Animation

1. Disable Fuzz (footswitch OFF)
2. Set Target to FFM
3. Use Vowel trajectory for "yoy-yoy"
4. Adjust F1/F2 Centers for different vowel character
5. Higher Resonance (4-6) for more vocal quality

Bass Guitar Setup

1. Load Low Formant or Slappy Bass preset
2. Lower F1 Center to 250-400 Hz
3. Lower F2 Center to 800-1200 Hz
4. Set Pickup Type to Humbucker or P90
5. Increase Drive for more saturation

Vintage Character

1. Enable LFO Slew for authentic transistor behavior
2. Increase Vintage Variation to 30-50%
3. Use Square waveform (authentic)
4. Enable Pickup Simulation
5. Use True Stereo mode for original output config

Auto-Wah Effect

1. Disable Animation (footswitch OFF)
2. Use Expression Pedal for manual control
3. Set Trajectory to Vowel or Counter
4. Higher Resonance for more "quack"
5. Enable Fuzz for more harmonic content

Creating Unique Unit Character

1. Increase Vintage Variation to 100%
2. Each time you change it, you get a different "unit"
3. Some variations:
   • "The Bright One" - higher F2, snappier fuzz
   • "The Dark One" - lower F2, rounder fuzz
   • "The Fast One" - faster LFO
   • "The Aggressive" - hotter fuzz stages

Audio

DSP Architecture

Performance Optimization

SIMD-Optimized Components:

• HalfBandFilter (oversampling) - 2-3x faster
• FormantFilter (F1/F2 parallel) - 1.5-2x faster
• StereoDCBlocker (L/R parallel) - 1.5x faster

This results in approximately 12% lower CPU usage compared to non-optimized processing, while maintaining bit-identical audio output.

Circuit Emulation

Authentic Specifications

No Sound Output

1. Check Effect footswitch is ON (green LED lit)
2. Check Mix is not at 0%
3. Verify input signal is present
4. Check Output Gain is not at minimum

Filter Not Sweeping

1. Check Animation footswitch is ON (yellow LED lit)
2. Increase Depth above 0%
3. Check Rate is not at minimum (if Tempo Sync is Off)
4. Verify Target is set to FFM or Both

Harsh/Metallic Sound

1. Increase Oversampling to 2x or 4x
2. Enable ADAA (1st Order)
3. Reduce Fuzz Drive
4. Reduce Resonance

Clicks or Pops

1. Enable LFO Slew for smoother transitions
2. Reduce Resonance (very high Q can cause instability)
3. Enable DC Blocking (should be on by default)

High CPU Usage

1. Reduce Oversampling to 1x or 2x
2. Disable ADAA
3. Freeze tracks when not actively editing
4. Increase DAW buffer size

Preset Not Loading Correctly

1. Ensure plugin is fully loaded before selecting preset
2. Try clicking the preset name again
3. Restart the plugin if issues persist

Development

Developed by Milan Vasiljev / NIVIEM

Primary Research Sources

1. R.G. Keen - GeoFEX

   • "Ludwig Phase II Clone Documentation"
   • Complete traced schematic, BOM, calibration notes
   • geofex.com

2. GroupDIY Forum

   • "Ludwig Phase II Guitar Synthesizer Calibration Procedure"
   • Hardware measurements, voltage specifications, trimmer procedures

3. Freestompboxes.org

   • "Ludwig Phase II Build Thread"
   • Community experiences, component substitutions

4. DIYStompboxes

   • Technical discussions, circuit analysis

5. Premier Guitar

   • "A Tale of Two Ludwigs"
   • Historical context, famous users

Technical References

• 2N2646 UJT Datasheet - Intrinsic standoff ratio, timing characteristics
• Zavalishin, V. (2018) - "The Art of VA Filter Design" (TPT SVF theory)
• CCRMA (Stanford) - Speech formant synthesis research, F1/F2 tables
• Analog Devices - ADAA (Antiderivative Anti-Aliasing) papers

Special Thanks

To the original Ludwig Drum Company engineering team for creating such an innovative and inspiring instrument. The Phase II represents a unique moment in music technology history - one of the first true "guitar synthesizers" that brought formant filtering to guitar.

To Sonic Youth, Primus, and all the artists who discovered and championed the Ludwig's unique sound, keeping it in the musical consciousness despite its extreme rarity.

Version 1.0 (December 2024)

• Initial release
• Cross-Platform Support: macOS (Universal Binary) and Windows
• SIMD Optimization: SSE2 (x86-64) and NEON (ARM64) acceleration with ~12% CPU reduction
• Complete circuit emulation:
  • UJT-style animation LFO with square wave output
  • 3-transistor complementary fuzz (Q21/Q5/Q6)
  • Dual gyrator-based formant filters (F1/F2)
  • Authentic trajectory modes (Parallel/Counter/Vowel)
• Authentic DSP implementations:
  • BJT Shockley saturation - Authentic transistor transfer function
  • Gyrator filter coloration - Subtle feedback path saturation for analog warmth
  • Normalized half-band filters - Unity gain oversampling filters
  • LFO slew limiting - ~100μs rise/fall time modeling transistor bandwidth
• Fuzz Character control - Choose between Transistor (BJT), Tube (tanh), or Hybrid saturation curves
• 4 Footswitches: Stereo, Effect, Animation, Fuzz
• Animation features:
  • FFM/Both/Fuzz Repeat target modes
  • FAST/SLOW START attack control
  • LFO Slew limiting for vintage character
  • Tempo sync (Off, 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, triplets)
• Premium features:
  • Oversampling (1x/2x/4x) with optimized half-band polyphase filters
  • ADAA anti-aliasing (1st order with Li2 dilogarithm)
  • Pickup type simulation (Single Coil, Humbucker, P90)
  • Vintage variation modeling with 8 named unit profiles
  • Expression pedal with 4 curve options
• 20 Factory presets across 3 categories:
  • Signature Tones (6): Shimmer Sea, Bad Moon, Drone Skull, Slappy Bass, Destroyed Radio, Alive Phase
  • Classic (7): Classic Phase, Formant Machine, Fuzz Repeater, Slow Sweep, Gentle Phase, Ambient Drift, Funk Machine
  • Experimental (7): Alien Voice, Wide Vowels, Vintage Worn, Low Formant, Synth Vowels, Industrial Grind, Octave Synth
• User preset save/load/delete
• World-class UI features:
  • Parameter value tooltips - Shows exact values during adjustment
  • LFO waveform display - Real-time animated waveform with moving position indicator
  • LFO phase indicator - Pulsing dot synchronized to waveform brightness
  • Preset modified indicator - Orange dot when parameters differ from saved preset
  • Keyboard navigation - Full Tab + Arrow key accessibility (WCAG compliant)
  • Micro-animations - Subtle glow and scale effects on control interaction
  • WCAG AA contrast compliance - All text meets accessibility standards
• WebView-based user interface with dark industrial aesthetic

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Trademark Notice

NIVIEM Phase II is an independent product developed by NIVIEM. This plugin is inspired by the vintage Ludwig Phase II Guitar Synthesizer (1970-71) and is designed to emulate its sound characteristics.

Ludwig is a registered trademark of Ludwig Drum Company. The original Phase II Guitar Synthesizer was a product of Ludwig Drum Company (under Conn/Selmer ownership) in 1970-71.

This product is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Ludwig Drum Company or any of their affiliates. All product names, trademarks, and registered trademarks mentioned in this documentation are the property of their respective owners.

The use of these names is solely for the purpose of describing the sound characteristics and historical context that inspired this emulation, which is standard practice in the audio software industry.

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Copyright 2024-2025 Milan Vasiljev. All Rights Reserved.

NIVIEM is a trademark of Milan Vasiljev.

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For support: milan.vasiljev.work@gmail.com