What do phasing problems sound like?

[VTgreen81]

We're having problems with my drum tracks. I'm hearing a cyclical pattern where the sound fades in and out as if an oscillator had been applied. Could this be phasing? If so I should be able to correct it by moving the mics around, right?

 

[darnold]

Yah it would sound something like that if its extreme. Normally if it is that extreme its from wall reflections. Im guessing its in the cymbals. All the movement in them would cause the stereo spread to get a little confused. Also if things disappear in and out of the mix.

danny

 

[Han]

What are you recording to? Like you describe the problem is doesn't seem like a phase problem caused by mic placement to me.

 

[DJ_Mixhousedude]

They're called beats. It happens when two almost identical frequencies ring together. The oscillations will slow down as they become more alike and stop when they're identical. I use it to tune my guitar. As to where its coming from, I have no idea about drums, so maybe someone else could answer that...

 

[lumbago]

Flanging is typically a *delay* under 4ms, and would cause this periodic cancellation effect you describe.

Sounds like you're double tracking something, and that the second track is experiencing latency with respect to the first, either from hardware (sound card drivers) or software (plugin).