One for the old pros: Tips on getting phase right (full band, live-in-the studio)?

AjD · 10th October 2005

Just thought I'd ask the team - love to hear any and all tips on creative ways to deal with mic phase issues when doing live all-in-one room recording (with multiple mics). 'During recording' tips are welcome, as well as mixing fixes.

I'm doing a lot of live-in-the-studio stuff lately (everything from live solo folksinger stuff with an acoustic guitar, to full bands playing all in one big room), and I always feel like my chops could be better when it comes to dealing with phase. Weird thing is, I can really hear phase problems now - in a way that I really couldn't a couple years ago. At some point, the light just came on with it. Guess that's progress.

Maybe it has something to do with finally having a decent, well-treated acoustic space. (And better gear.) But these days, for example, when I bring up the acoustic guitar mic in the mix, I can definitely hear it also picking up the same performer's vocal part and consequently adding that phasey boxiness. Subtle, but it bothers me.

Adam (who still loves live, all-in-one-room recording & wants to get better at it)

joaquin · 11th October 2005

Hi there. I usually use the null side of the mics to my advantage, close mic independent sources, use sheets or whatever is at hand to separate signals, triple check in mono for the best posible phase coherence, and ultimately embrace spill as part of the sound. At Mix time, if you have room mics, or the OH...listen carefully for stereo position before bringing up the accent mics so they don't fight...good luck...............Joaquin.

Drumsound · 11th October 2005

During set-up/getting sounds use one speaker mono. I just pan all the returns to the left and sit right in front of the left speaker. Its eaiser to hear coming from one source instead of two, even if mono.

AjD · 11th October 2005

Good stuff, keep it comin' (especially like that mono tip, drumssound. I do the mono check at mix down, but rarely during set-up for tracking... will try it tommorow.)

Adam

10th October 2005	#1
AjD Gear addict Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Dexter/Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 312 Thread Starter	One for the old pros: Tips on getting phase right (full band, live-in-the studio)? Just thought I'd ask the team - love to hear any and all tips on creative ways to deal with mic phase issues when doing live all-in-one room recording (with multiple mics). 'During recording' tips are welcome, as well as mixing fixes. I'm doing a lot of live-in-the-studio stuff lately (everything from live solo folksinger stuff with an acoustic guitar, to full bands playing all in one big room), and I always feel like my chops could be better when it comes to dealing with phase. Weird thing is, I can really hear phase problems now - in a way that I really couldn't a couple years ago. At some point, the light just came on with it. Guess that's progress. Maybe it has something to do with finally having a decent, well-treated acoustic space. (And better gear.) But these days, for example, when I bring up the acoustic guitar mic in the mix, I can definitely hear it also picking up the same performer's vocal part and consequently adding that phasey boxiness. Subtle, but it bothers me. Adam (who still loves live, all-in-one-room recording & wants to get better at it) __________________ "(People) believe that solutions emerge from judicious study of discernible reality. That's not the way the world works anymore. We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality - judiciously, as you will - we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, & that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors... and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.'' - Senior Bush advisor, NY Times, 10/17/04

11th October 2005	#3
Drumsound Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Bloomington Il Posts: 5,188	During set-up/getting sounds use one speaker mono. I just pan all the returns to the left and sit right in front of the left speaker. Its eaiser to hear coming from one source instead of two, even if mono. __________________ Tony Oxide Lounge Recording See the Oxide Lounge! Follow me on TWITTER! WWJMD? Come see me on the Tape Op boards! It's only inches on the reel to reel

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11th October 2005	#2
joaquin Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Location: CHILE-Miami Posts: 1,199	Hi there. I usually use the null side of the mics to my advantage, close mic independent sources, use sheets or whatever is at hand to separate signals, triple check in mono for the best posible phase coherence, and ultimately embrace spill as part of the sound. At Mix time, if you have room mics, or the OH...listen carefully for stereo position before bringing up the accent mics so they don't fight...good luck...............Joaquin.