Checking the phase is essential, not only on the drums, but any instrument being miked with more than a single microphone. This is important because not only will an out of phase channel suck the low end out of a mix, but it will be more difficult to fix later when it's time to mix. Here is a very simple and quick way to check your phase even after something has been recorded. Checking the phase is essential whenever you'll be using multiple microphones like in the case of miking the drums. The chances for a phase problem are far greater on the drum kit, since it usually has more mics on it than any other instrument.
The mics will never be completely in phase, but some problems will be diminished by reversing polarity in some of the channels. The only way to determine this is through experimentation and listening. Here is the way to check the phase after the drums have been recorded. (music playing) Listen to the overheads in your monitors with them panned hard left and right, and listen to them panned to the center. Did they sound thin or swishy when they are panned to the center? Is there more low end when you flip the phase switch on one of them? Choose the position of the phase switch that sounds the best, pan them back into stereo, then go onto the next step. Add the kick drum channel to the mix.
Switch the polarity on the kick channel of the console or DAW. (music playing) Is there more low end when you flip the Phase Switch? Stay with the position that has the fullest sound. Add the snare drum channel to the mix. Switch the Polarity on the snare channel of the console or DAW. Is there more low end when you flip the Phase Switch? Stay with the position that has the fullest sound. Do this for each channel that's been recorded, always stay with the position of the Phase switch that has the most bottom.
(music playing) Ultimately, you can't totally avoid phase cancellation, but you can make sure that it sounds as good as possible. Remember one position of the phase switch will always sound fuller then the other. (music playing) To sum things up, a mic can be out of phase due to a mis-wired cable or poor mic placement. That's important because an out of phase channel will suck the low end out of the mix, and be very difficult to fix later.
To determine the phase of your tracks select both positions of the Phase Switch on each channel and choose the one with the most low end. (music playing)
Author
Released
10/24/2012- Optimizing your listening environment
- Listening to how different microphone types affect recording
- Choosing the right microphone for the right recording application
- Positioning microphones for a wide variety of recording scenarios
- Utilizing proper gain staging, preamps, and direct boxes
- Avoiding phase cancellation
- Using a compressor, equalizer, and high-pass filter during recording
- Setting up a headphone mix
- Adding the right amount of compression or equalization
- Capturing great sounds from drums, guitars, basses, keyboards, pianos, strings, and vocals
- Creating a great drum set sound
- Getting the best out of any singer
- Dealing with microphone leakage
- Utilizing a variety of stereo miking techniques
- Setting up and producing a recording session
- Creating a rough mix in any digital audio workstation (DAW)
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
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Introduction
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Welcome2m 7s
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Using the exercise files1m 29s
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1. Monitoring
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Setting up your monitors4m 17s
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2. Microphone Basics
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Exploring direct boxes1m 9s
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3. Recording Basics
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Choosing a preamp1m 35s
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Setting up the mic preamp1m 39s
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Setting the record level2m 29s
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Using proper gain staging1m 46s
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Avoiding latency3m 51s
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4. Microphone Placement Basics
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Choosing the right mic2m 24s
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The secret to mic placement2m 12s
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Checking polarity3m 9s
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5. Recording the Drums
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Tuning the drums2m 19s
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Tuning tips and tricks2m 26s
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Using a subkick microphone1m 31s
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Adding a bottom snare mic1m 45s
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Miking the hi-hat2m 14s
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Miking the toms2m 24s
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Miking the cymbals3m 14s
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Miking the overall kit1m 25s
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Using room mics2m 2s
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Getting the drum sound2m 47s
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Checking the drum phase2m 18s
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Panning the drums2m 25s
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Tracking a solo drum part1m 10s
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6. Recording the Guitar
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Tracking the guitar part1m 11s
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7. Recording the Bass
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Miking the bass amplifier2m 13s
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Tracking the bass part1m 11s
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8. Recording Vocals
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Recording a scratch vocal1m 24s
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Doubling the vocal2m 52s
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9. Recording the Acoustic Piano
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Recording the piano part1m 13s
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10. Recording Horns
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11. Recording Acoustic String Instruments
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Recording a dobro1m 36s
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Recording the dobro part1m 13s
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Recording the string section1m 13s
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12. Recording Percussion
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Recording drum percussion1m 19s
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Recording hand percussion1m 17s
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13. Recording Electric Instruments
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Recording electric keyboards1m 58s
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Recording the synth part1m 14s
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14. Recording in Stereo
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Using the X/Y configuration3m 21s
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Using the ORTF configuration2m 27s
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Using a stereo mic1m 46s
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15. The Recording Session
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Setting up a talkback mic1m 27s
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Setting up the headphone mix2m 31s
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Setting up a click track2m 11s
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Setting up for overdubs2m 17s
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16. Setting Up a Rough Mix
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Setting up the effects3m 47s
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The rough mix of Simply Falling35m 35s
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Conclusion
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Goodbye1m 2s
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Video: Checking the phase by listening