Question for TexroadKill

[Wireneck]

Tex I have a few questions about something you said in another thread. I didn't want to post in that thread since it seems to have taken a different direction. If anyone else knows the answers feel free to answer.
" One thing is to make sure you switch the Phase on the kick mic. Many preamps also have a switch for that or you can make a special cable to do it. The kick mic will be out of phase in relation to the overheads and until you fix that it will be hard to get a decent sound."
Ok my first question is, what does a kick thats out of phase sound like? I've never reversed the phase on my kick mic. What i gather from your post is that I should be reversing the phase. Ive had a few times where the kick mic sounded like someone bouncing a basketball and i couldnt figure out for the life of me what was causing it to sound that way but im not so sure this was caused by a phase problem. Anyhow i believe ive gotten decent results at other times.
I don't have a phase button on my mixer. If i want to make a cable to flip the phase how do i go about this? I know it has something to do with swapping the pins on the cable. Any help/ further explanation will be greatly appreciated.

[grinder]

To switch the phase, switch the two hot wires on one end of the cable.Mark the cable so you don't forget that it's out of phase.

[TexRoadkill]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but as I recall you reverse pins 2 and 3 on one end of a cable like Grinder pointed out. You can make a few 12" jumpers and keep them handy for phase reversal. A common way of marking them is to wrap some red tape around one of the ends.

If the kick is out of phase it just sounds crappy. You lose a lot of the body and low end. When you invert it suddenly all the low end comes back into the kit mix.

If you record on a DAW you can select the kick track and INVERT it. That way you can mess around with stuff you've already recorded and see if it makes a difference.

[chessrock]

Originally posted by TexRoadkill
If you record on a DAW you can select the kick track and INVERT it. That way you can mess around with stuff you've already recorded and see if it makes a difference.

I like DAWs.

[grinder]

Originally posted by TexRoadkill
You can make a few 12" jumpers and keep them handy for phase reversal. A common way of marking them is to wrap some red tape around one of the ends.

Damn, Why didn't I think of that?Tex, you've been watching Martha Stewart again.

[Wireneck]

I don't think i have any of the out of phase kick symptoms (no low end and weakness) but it always good to know how to solve it if I ever do. Thanks again guys