The envelope filter has been an essential effect in funk and soul, creating vocal-like sounds that drip with attitude. The first version of the Tsakalis AudioWorks Phonkify took it to a new extreme by adding an octave up and/or down feature that could be placed before or after the Filter. The Phonkify X, presented at NAMM 2025, makes it even more extreme.
It allows the player a choice between 3 filters (Low Pass, Band Pass, and Combo-Blend) and 3 Wah Wah modes (Low Pass, Band Pass, and High Pass). The latter mode can be activated by turning the Q knob (frequency selector) all the way down and plugging in an Expression pedal.
It is also possible to get the circuit to deliver 3 types of octave voicing: Octave up, Octave down or a blend of both.
In this new version, each effect gets a dedicated footswitch (while in the previous you couldn’t have the octave on without the filter). They can operate in latching or momentary mode.
Tsakalis AudioWorks Phonkify Old Version
Tsakalis AudioWorks’ Phonkify features controls for Volume, Octave selection, Frequency, Sensitivity and In(put) Gain. There’s also a Post/Pre switch to select the effect order and another to choose between Nasty and Smooth response.
There are two modes of juicy envelope filter (Smooth & Nasty), which turn into wah at the minimum “sensitivity” setting, combined with a unique octave up and/or down effect. You can also choose the order of the effects in your signal chain, creating a totally different vibe!
Phonkify features an expression jack, letting you control the frequency range of the envelope and wah effects, and a dedicated footswitch for the octave effect.
Phonkify is available for €175. Visit here for more information, and check out the video below for a demonstration, featuring Phonkify on all the guitar and bass parts.
All Tsakalis Audioworks pedals are handmade in Greece, individually tested and sold with a limited lifetime warranty.
Here’s a hilarious video shot by EytschPi42 shot at the Tsakalis booth at NAMM 2018.
