Phase Question...

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ez_willis

ez_willis

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Two different guitar tracks, recorded seperately and at different times can still be out of phase with each other, correct? Mic placement is still a consideration, right?
 
ez_willis said:
Two different guitar tracks, recorded seperately and at different times can still be out of phase with each other, correct? Mic placement is still a consideration, right?
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Technically, they will never be "in phase" regardless of the mic placement because the waveforms will be entirely different, no matter how precise the performer trys playing each part.

I'd worry more about getting the mic placements to get unique *sounds* from each guitar to that they'll sound complementary in the spectral mix instead of competing for the same sonic space, and let the "phase" fall where it may. You can always invert one track in post if necessary to reduce any chance cancellations that may get in the way.

G.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Technically, they will never be "in phase" regardless of the mic placement because the waveforms will be entirely different, no matter how precise the performer trys playing each part.
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exactly! phase exists all the time. no matter what you're recording and no matter how many microphones you use.
now, whether or not it's considered BAD phase is up to you.

Do like Glen said. record the instrument to the best of your ability and get it to sound the best you can....then worry about phase problems later when you're mixing the two together. Using a DAW makes this even easier.
 
ez_willis said:
Two different guitar tracks, recorded seperately and at different times can still be out of phase with each other, correct? Mic placement is still a consideration, right?
Click to expand...

and also, it's not the "whole" track which will be out of phase - just certain frequencies and certain points.
 
MessianicDreams said:
and also, it's not the "whole" track which will be out of phase - just certain frequencies and certain points.
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which is why it won't necessarily be a "bad" phasing problem.
Then it becomes just a kind of unique, blend of tone with the two guitars...which is what you're going for anyway. You don't want them to be exact, even if they could be. Because then all you get is just a 3dB increase in sound with no ability to discern between the two takes.
 
bennychico11 said:
Because then all you get is just a 3dB increase in sound with no ability to discern between the two takes.
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Not if one is a Strat running clean and the other an LP through a Marshall, which is irrelevant anyways because you're not going to get two exact tracks.
 
So continue the redundant thread topic, because I really don't want to browse through 500 search hits, why is it so much more of an issue while recording drums than guitars?
 
ez_willis said:
So continue the redundant thread topic, because I really don't want to browse through 500 search hits, why is it so much more of an issue while recording drums than guitars?
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I'm thinking that most guitar tracks stand up on their own when recorded with a single mic. Improperly placed overhead mics used on a drum kit can raise hell especially with cymbals making it difficult to distingush whether the tide is coming in or going out.

Does that make sense? :confused:

I've recorded a drummer friend of mine before and the result was decent using dynamic mics only as opposed to condensors.

Other than that.....I dunno.
 
ez_willis said:
Not if one is a Strat running clean and the other an LP through a Marshall, which is irrelevant anyways because you're not going to get two exact tracks.
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exactly what I meant. because if they were...you'd only get a 3dB increase (hypothetically)
 
So continue the redundant thread topic, because I really don't want to browse through 500 search hits, why is it so much more of an issue while recording drums than guitars?
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Phase is an issue to pay attention to when recording anything with two mics, but with drums there are even more mics to worry about than just two.
That, and when mic'ing the snare from top and bottom you're always going to have a phase issue because of the push/pull effect on the diaphrams. When you slap the snare, one diaphram is going to be the opposite of the other.

So yes, it's something to be concerned about with guitars, but you generally are not recording using 5 mics on one amp. If you were, and they were all spaced at different distances from the amp, then yes...phasing might be an issue. Same thing when recording an acoustic.

Basically it comes down to you just need to learn how to recognize phase problems (visual or aural), and correct as needed.
 
Bingo! I was just catching up reading through this thread and I was gonna say the same thing.

Nice.
 
This is why I don't worry about it. If it sounds right, then good.

If not, then I retrack it. I don't spend enough time worrying about things like this, when I am recording, I just go for it. Trial and error. I keep what works and discard the rest.

Am I being too simple?
 
Why yes... yes I have... I'll re-read this thread just in "phase".

*okay bad attempt at a joke.*
 
bigwillz24 said:
*okay bad attempt at a joke.*
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Don't let it phase you...

OK, I'll quit now, before I lose phase.

G.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Don't let it phase you...

OK, I'll quit now, before I lose phase.

G.
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Yea, it's probably better to just phase out of it.
 
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