Put simply, when using two microphones to record a source, try placing the second mic three times the distance from the first mic, as the first mic is from the source. When attempting to capture ambience, there's also a quick cheat: the 3:1 Rule of Mic Placement. In fact, this is how many of those old вЂњremove the lead vocalвЂќ karaoke boxes work - they flip the phase of one side of the stereo mix, relying on the assumption that in most commercially recorded tracks, the lead vocal is panned deadВ center.ДЄs with most things, the answer is вЂњit depends.вЂќ Assuming you identify a phase problem during the recording process, a fix is as easy as moving a mic or flipping the phase on a mic or its inputВ channel. Often this will be the case with a lead vocal or instrument solo - the main part will vanish, leaving only the reverb. Another possible result is that the kick drum or bass guitar will move around the mix, rather than coming from a singleВ spot.ДЄnother common artifact of out-of-phase stereo mixes is where signals panned to the center disappear, while sounds panned hard to one side remain.

What does a phase problem sound like? Since phase cancellation is most apparent in low frequency sounds, the audible result of out of phase monitors is typically a thin-sounding signal with little or no bass sound. Many stereos and most mixing consoles allow you to do this, but even in stereo, there are some telltale signs of phaseВ problems. The easiest way to check your speakers is to sum your mix to mono (more on this later). That said, the audible effect of this polarity reversal is the same as you get with phaseВ cancellation. Though this is commonly referred to as вЂњout of phase wiring,вЂќ technically-speaking itвЂ™s an issue of polarity. In some circumstances, it may not even be apparent without careful listening. ItвЂ™s surprising how many home stereos - and even project studios - have their monitors wired out of phase. Phase cancellation can also occur by simply wiring speakers incorrectly, inadvertently reversing the polarity of one channel. For example, a bass track recorded direct (DI) can be too clean sounding, so putting a mic on the bass amp cabinet and mixing the two sounds can give the extra вЂњoomphвЂќ it needs - but it can also introduceВ phaseВ problems.Д®ven certain delay settings, including pre-delays within a reverb patch, can create a delay of your original signal that ends up being outВ ofВ phase There are plenty of other вЂњgotchasвЂќ that can introduce phase problems into your recordings. It's also why a lot of вЂњold schoolвЂќ recording engineers wax nostalgic about the days when they recorded a kit with only two orВ threeВ mics! ThatвЂ™s why many microphones, as well as mic preamps and consoles, offer a phase flip switch. Now factor in the hi-hat mic, a pair of overheads, at least one kick drum mic and one on every tom, not to mention the relationship to ambient mics, and youвЂ™ve got a sonic soup thatвЂ™s ripe for phase problems.

Since the top and bottom heads of the drum are usually moving in directly opposing motion (when the top drum head is hit, it moves inward, causing the bottom head to move outward), the two mics will record signals that are directly outВ ofВ phase. Consider even a single snare drum, miked from above and beneath. In modern music recording, that usually points to the drum kit. Starlight Echo Station Starlight Echo StationДЄstra Modulation Machine Astra Modulation MachineД¤-710d Four-Channel Tone-Blending Mic Preamp w/ Dynamics 4-710d Four-Channel Tone-Blending Mic Preamp w/ DynamicsДЄbout Find a Dealer Downloads Blog Support Log InДЄgain, the more microphones used in a recording, the more potential for phase problems. Thunderbolt 2 Option Card Thunderbolt 2 Option Card

Reverse left and right headphones