phasing

[Scrubucket7]

so...ive been reading alot in preperation of finnaly being able to start settin up my project studio soon. Just tryin to refresh my memory on this stuff after a long break of just writing music...anyways, phasing, it seems pretty hard to get around. I know the 3:1 rule, dont completely understand how to apply it to more complicated applications (like, 7 mics on a drum set, or a condensor and a dynamic on a guitar amp at two different distances from the amp). But anyways, could tell me, what are the best ways of making sure your mixes dont suffer from the evils of phasing problems? Also, am i going to have an issue with getting the mics for different drums (high tom, low tom) in phase, or just two mics recording the same source (overheads)?...assuming there wont be too much bleeding.

 

[ecktronic]

Phasing from drum kits is complicated but simple!! If you rcord in a really small room the reflections off the walls can cause phasing. But apart from that phasing problems are easy to overcome usually. Once tracks are recorded, for example a guitar amp recorded with 2 or three mics, all you have to do is match up the waves in your editor so they are in phase. Leave one of the waves as it is and nudge the other two or three so that the peaks and troughs match up as closely as you can. Zoom right in on the waves to do this. You should only be moving each track a very small amount to get the tracks to be in phase.

 

[Farview]

If there isn't too much bleed, the phase won't matter. Use an xy araingment for the over heads and just mic up the drums. If you have a problem after you recorded it, it is easily fixed.

 

[Scrubucket7]

one slight problem...

im gunna be recording into my mixer, then out to my 8 track stereo or mono, depending on the song. Im not using a computer, and if i do (i use acid pro usually) i wont be able to do that because itll be on one track. So is there any techniques other than, move mics around until it sounds good, that i can use to speed up the process?

 

[bennychico11]

easiest way is to record a practice take and then zoom in on the wave form and physically look to see if the waves are out of phase.
second easiest way is to just flip the polarity on that track and listen to which one sounds better
third easiest and probably the more correct way...is to move the mic around until you get the sound that you want.

start learning what phase sounds like and then you'll be able to hear all the time it happens.

 

[Scrubucket7]

Use an xy araingment for the over heads and just mic up the drums.

could someone please send me a diagram of this?

 

[Farview]

use the least amount of mics on the drums as you can. Less mics, less chances of phasing. If you have a 4 piece kit, overheads in xy - mic inside the kick - mic on snare, close with the back pointing at the hi hat - mic on the high tom about an inch off the head - mic on the low tom about an inch off the head. That should do it. The less bleed you have the less phasing problems. Always do the drums in stereo, that will help as well.