Phase issue

[raz-nci]

Hello there,

Here's my issue I'm mixing my own bands new CD. I'm having an issue with the guitars. I like panning them hard left and right, but as soon as i do i see all these anti-phase errors on my analyzer.

The guitars where recorded direct through an pod xt.

If i don't pan them i don't get the problem, but i don't get the sound i want.

Is this normal, is there anything i can do to stop it, when i send it to be mastered will they yell at me?

I guess i can always put "not for mono devices"

Please any input can help

Thanks,
Raz

[Cellotron]

The one place I can see this as a problem in mastering is if the guitars are 7-string with lots of low end coming off of them and you're trying to master this to vinyl record to the highest possible cutting level. Most likely this is not the case!

Otherwise the only other problem will be in mono compatibility. The thing to do is just hit the mono button on your console's master output (or on your DAW's master bus) and listen as to whether these hard panned guitars really "disappear" or not. If it sounds ok - then it is ok!

Sometimes meters can be helpful - but ears should ALWAYS be the final say as to what is "good" as people will not be looking at meters to judge your music!

Honestly - people hard pan guitars in mixes all the time and it almost never poses any problems whatsoever in mastering.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[dcollins]

Originally Posted by raz-nci

Please any input can help

Listen in mono to check for compatibility, and stop looking at the analyzer.


DC

[raz-nci]

Thanks for the replies!

When I check in mono the guitars don't disappear but they also don't sound near as good. I am worried about club play though. I hear many systems are mono.

I'm thinking 99% of the time people will be hearing it on stereo systems so that's where I want it to sound best.

So are phase issues pretty normal for hard panned guitars??

Thanks,
Raz

[Cellotron]

Originally Posted by raz-nci

Thanks for the replies!

When I check in mono the guitars don't disappear but they also don't sound near as good. I am worried about club play though. I hear many systems are mono.

I'm thinking 99% of the time people will be hearing it on stereo systems so that's where I want it to sound best.

So are phase issues pretty normal for hard panned guitars??

Thanks,
Raz

Hard panning any elements at all will start getting your phase correlation scope to bug out. If the hard panned elements are simulatneously in the same freq regions then you do indeed risk them being attenuated when the mix is played back in mono. Again - the only time this truly problematic at the mastering stage is with panned bass frequencies when cutting vinyl masters to hot levels. Otherwise - how wide your mix is a matter of taste, and a matter of what you're willing to possibly put up with during mono playback (i.e. some clubs, AM radio, end user mistake).

Best regards,
Steve Berson