Phasing Issue?

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Member Since: May 23, 2010

Are phasing problems limited to musicians that are recording things like drumkits and guitars live; with more than one mic? or is it bigger than that?

I think I understand about Phasing but I am not totally sure.

Would I be affected if I am programming drums and other sounds and putting the odd bassline into the mix?

thanks

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Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


May 23, 2010 09:30 am

Phase can also affect things of a similar timbre and character as far as i know, so if ur new song has a bassline and ur also throwing in an old bassline, phasing can also occur.

If there r no overlapping instruments there probably wont be any noticeable phasing issues.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


May 23, 2010 10:59 am

When ever you are recoding in a live situation, you could have a phasing issue.

With the mic's being in different spots around the stage, and being nearly impossible to isolate them from each other. Your always going to have some phasing.

A wave is frequency vs time. And recording live, time is one of the biggest factors.

I'll give you the biggest problem that you will face in recoding live. You have a mic on the snare drum, and one on a guitar that is only 6' away. The snare mic picks up the signal right away, and the guitar mic is picking up the same signal, but, at a small time difference.

That small difference in time will create a phasing issue. It won't be a huge problem, but it will be there.

If you have the ability to delay all of your mic's to a single point on stage. Then you can minimize the amount of phasing you are getting. Other wise, you need to isolate as much as you can all of the mic's on stage.

Meaning if you have plexi to put around the drummer. And some sort of shields around your guitar and bass mic's. Try to not let the mic's on stage hear any other piece other then the instrument that they are in front of.

Here are a few articles that may help you understand the relationship between the two.

www.libinst.com/tpfd.htm

This is the Wiki and is full of the math. Don't worry about the math, just read the finer points.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_%28waves%29


edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


May 24, 2010 08:12 pm

Two or more open mics on a single sound source for phase to be an issue...

Drum programming or DI bass won't be a problem.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 26, 2010 01:09 am

don't forget your monitoring! monitors that are at unequal distance from the listening position will cause your mono signals to be out of phase (comb filtered).

Live Sound Audio
Member
Since: Apr 21, 2010


May 27, 2010 10:18 pm

Phase impacts everything to some extent. The tweaky mixers measure distance from a central point on a drum kit and align every mic. If you get the wave forms big enough you can see the differences on the screen.
www.livesoundaudio.com

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