Mixing....the light bulb moment - In The Studio

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

Moonrider — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:10:36 +0000

I've got it figured out, it was mic placement for sure.

Here is a file I did where I just increased the audio, and EQ'd it, no reverb or anything like that. I think it's the best one so far, but the mids are crushing me

http://www.box.net/shared/aolkctyak0 As a friend of mine is so fond of explaining . . . "Mic placement IS EQ. With a frequency chart, a tape measure, and little arithmetic, you can create any EQ curve you want."

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

JoeHempel — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 07:38:10 +0000

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

cnev — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:13:22 +0000

Joe, here's another article that might give you some ideas.

http://progressivevideo.blogspot.com/2009/05/using-zoom-h2-digital-audio-recorder.html

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

JoeHempel — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:24:24 +0000

I think that helped alot, I was hearing it more in one speaker than the other.

I just changed the phase a bit, and it's sounding quite full.....that's a huge help in what I need to listen for...I'll put up another file in just a minute, so you can hear the difference, it sounds so much better...thanks!

Here's the new file:
http://www.box.net/shared/aolkctyak0

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

cnev — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:14:57 +0000

Well I did find this:
What happens, sonically speaking, when our system is out of phase? Most listeners experience a constricted soundstage with a pinched center-image and reduced lateral spread. In phase, the soundstage will open-up, giving a more rounded feel to the center image, and offer a more correct presentation of depth.

To test for proper phase, choose a recording with which you are quite familiar. I prefer those with simple instrumentation rather than more complex instrumentation, thus allowing the listener to concentrate on just a few instruments or voices. Listen for the characteristics outlined above as you make the switch between connections. Choose the one that sounds more correct, to your ear.

Unfortunately, every recording is different. It is possible that the first selection you play will sound best one way, while the next piece sounds better reversed. All I can say here is that you should set the phase for a few of your favorite recordings and hope that setting will be right for most your recordings.

A "trick" devised by David Fletcher of Sumiko may help you in determining whether a particular recording is out of phase. Sit a few feet in front of one of your speakers. Listen to see if you can readily hear the other speaker. If you can, the system is in-phase with the recording. If you cannot, it is out of phase. This test relies upon a phenomenon known as the Haas Effect, and seems to be somewhat dependent on the room an type of loudspeakers employed.

I have had varying results with the "Fletcher Test." Apparently, it depends rather heavily upon the recording used. The recording must be phase coherent to begin with (which usually suggests a minimalist recording technique using only a pair of microphones). Complex multi-miked affairs are likely to give ambiguous results.

Returning a system to a properly phased orientation can result in significant improvements. Experiment with the process a bit to familiarize yourself with the effects, and you will readily be able to recognize and correct an out of phase condition.

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

JoeHempel — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:08:53 +0000

No, it's a pretty large room.....this is my phase image, and this doesn't look like an x/y pattern to me, but I'm pretty ignorant about all this too.

http://www.dougyoungguitar.com/images/outofphase.png <---he's been trying to help alot but hasn't been able to duplicate my problem

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

cnev — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:03:22 +0000

I guess I don't understand much of this so excuse the ignorance but it's just you and your acoustic correct? I'm having a hard time trying to understand how that signal can get out-of-phase. It seems pretty straight forward and simple.

Does the room you record in have hard walls that are reflecting the sound somehow and making it out of phase?

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

JoeHempel — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:58:21 +0000

No, I looked at that, I can't run just one mic. I've turned the mic a little bit and that's helped some, plus I've pushed it back some.

The phase shifter is good because I can tweak until I hear it sounding better, and see it getting narrower in the phase monitor in Sony Soundforge...but I only have a VERY rudimentary knowledge of it, so basically nothing LOL.

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

cnev — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:51:01 +0000

Joe I have an H2 also but haven't used it much but if I understand out-of-phase the audio waves from your acoustic are hitting the two built in mics at slightly different times can't you just run one mic in the H2 instead?

Wouldn't that eliminate the out-of-phase? Why does the stereo recording do for you anyway?

Re: Mixing....the light bulb moment

JoeHempel — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:13:59 +0000

Okay so here's a link using a phase shifter and some reverb/delay.

Hopefully it dosn't sound off or airy, or give you a headache if you listen. Please let me know if you get the chance! I'm so sick of this song LOL.

http://www.box.net/shared/euuqu5iajj