Phase shift measurement after multiband compression.

[demirateser]

My understanding is that when you apply compression on the lower freqs to make the stereo mix more punchy can cause phase shifting in the compressed freq range.

My thinking would be that one would need to adjust the phase back then add it back into the stereo mix. This is sometimes necessary - correct?

If so, what tool do you use to determine just how much out of phase the compressed freq range has become? A PC VST works for me.

Thanks in advance.

[oretez]

What audio editor are you using?

don't mean to sound snide but first suggestion would be: ears.

There is a lot of software that will represent phase relationships fairly accurately (and even with entry level stuff a few tricks will let you play with frequency dependent phase relations . . . this kind of manipulation is one of the benefits of digital) . . . but until you reach extremes phase relationships are only significant when audio is returned to ambient environment at which point it's also dependent on that environment (this is not say adjusting initial phase criteria is not important)

no matter what software graphs show the functional arbiter is how the D/A'd pressure waves interact in 3D space . . . and these interactions are system dependent

if you use a full featured editor (Audition for example, though phase representation is not Audition's strong suit) you can use the graphs to train ears as to relationship between graphs and how things sound on your system but I have yet to find any magic potion software that shortens the learning curve . . .

ultimately I've never witnessed a process where ears where not the best (and cheapest) arbiter. To edit and mix audio you have to be able to hear this stuff. Use the gear as adjunct assistance

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by demirateser

My understanding is that when you apply compression on the lower freqs to make the stereo mix more punchy can cause phase shifting in the compressed freq range.

Could be, but it doesn't matter because phase shift is benign and inaudible.

--Ethan