Flipping the phase

[Nu-tra]

Is there a difference in flipping the phase on a preamp versus in a computer with a plugin? I know when you flip the phase the sound pulls instead of pushes due to reverse polarity. Does this still happen with a plugin that flips the phase?

I'm drunk but a valid question.

[Jaques Beraques]

Yes, the plug-in does the same. It reverses the polarity.

[Nu-tra]

Thanks I though it just nudged it over and still pushed the sound versus pulled.

[Kiwiburger]

Nope - it flips negative for positive. Basically, makes it a mirror image in the horizontal direction. It really should be called polarity inversion - the semantics of the word "phase" in this context have been discussed many times before.

When it comes to balanced cables, there are two 'phases' - negative & positive. There used to be two different wiring standards (UK & USA), so the 'phase' switch just flipped the polarity to match up gear.

Phase is a relative timing issue, and they only way to change the phase relationship between two signals is to delay one of them. But the catch is that the time delay (wavelength) needed to achieve a 180 degree shift varies depending on the frequency ... so a "phase inversion" affecting all frequencies is an extremely difficult thing to do. Trust me - your average 'Phase' button simply swaps Polarity, which is a trivial thing to do.

[Nu-tra]

Thanks for the info guys!


I hear ya. I was just thinking a plugin couldn't actually flip the polarity since the signal has already been recorded. I meant post tracking you decide to use a plugin to flip polarity? It just nudges it over I presume and can't actually change the + and - right?

I know how to check phase with my preamps and all I am just curios if a plugin affects the audio the same way especially after you have tracked everything.