DRUM MIXING pt 1: PHASE CANCELLATION Fix Tutorial

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TravSonic Tutorial

Recording live drums can lead to issues with phase cancellation causing the final mixed drums to sound hollow with lack of definition. In this tutorial, we will explain what phase cancellation is and how to fix it in your DAW.

NOTES:

1. It was brought to my attention I forgot to show how to invert/reverse the phase via plugins. I will show this in the next tutorial.
2. At 2:27 this is called “polarity cancellation” to visually show how phase works. In a real world situation during recording, phase cancellation would happen with 2 or more microphones recording the same source at different distances.

22 replies
  1. MrVectrex
    MrVectrex says:

    My opinion is that isolation betwen the soundsorces in a drumkit is all
    about miking! If you learn to handle that you may not need all your
    plugins!

  2. Lucas Vincent
    Lucas Vincent says:

    2:27 That is a polarity cancellation, not phase. Phase cancellation is
    caused by time difference between multiple sound sources and is never true
    “cancellation.”

  3. 1982LHERNANDEZ
    1982LHERNANDEZ says:

    Is it normal for the snare sound to pull to one side? Like in this video I
    can tell the snare is more present on the right side.

  4. ArcticBulletNation
    ArcticBulletNation says:

    So we want to move the wave forms of the delayed mics? And not the direct
    ones like snares, toms and kicks? Is this so we dont ruin the rhythm?

  5. floofytown
    floofytown says:

    That was a really well done video. I’m impressed with how clear the
    explanation was, and also the visuals. The little zooms and the helpful
    text was very thoughtful and helpful. It’s all in the details! Also, I’ve
    had to do that very thing before, fixing drum phase alignment by hand. I
    never knew it was a thing, I just made it up one day thinking it was a
    genius idea. I’m glad you’re teaching it here! It really works if you do it
    right.

  6. Brendan Kurylo
    Brendan Kurylo says:

    I’m sorry but I can hear zero difference in your before/afters. I’m not
    really getting what phase actually is either and i wish this video helped
    at all for me. I feel more useless to phasing then i did before.

  7. Wong Music
    Wong Music says:

    Great video! I’m just getting into recording drums and this has really
    helped!

  8. Filip Dinev
    Filip Dinev says:

    Thank you very much! I remember learning about phase in physics, and I kind
    of got the idea with 2 sine waves and when they are out of phase (when
    Ø=180), but this is a practical example. Thanks.

  9. offthewallstudio
    offthewallstudio says:

    hey there nice vid, where is the next video for the processing part?

  10. TRAVSONIC
    TRAVSONIC says:

    Good point Justin. I do kind of try to pack everything into one video. But,
    in doing so leave small things out. Will try to work on that. I might make
    a link to a video showing how to invert phase. Thanks again

  11. Justin Green
    Justin Green says:

    and after all that you never simply said how to invert the phase. Thanks
    for the info on how to line them up but knowing how to invert the track in
    Pro tools would be helpful.

  12. Juan Ballester Rabasco
    Juan Ballester Rabasco says:

    Yes, definitively, our ears must know when to do it or when not. The
    processed drums sound much better in this case. I´ve tried this trick many
    times, but I always had the doubt if I was doing well in terms of space.
    Anyway, I´ve learnt some other things related to phase alignment ;) Thanks
    a lot for you work!

  13. TRAVSONIC
    TRAVSONIC says:

    Thanks Clayton. still learning and gathering techniques. But, these are a
    few I found work for live situations.

  14. TRAVSONIC
    TRAVSONIC says:

    It depends on how the drums were recorded. There are many ways to achieve a
    desired sound and fix phase issues. I wouldn’t say one method is better
    than the other.

  15. TRAVSONIC
    TRAVSONIC says:

    Indeed, totally agree. One method may work for one situation and not for
    another. I try to promote using your ears since music is about feeling and
    emotion. But, having many tools and methods can help mold your sound. Flip
    the phase, nudge things around until you get the desired sound.

  16. Juan Ballester Rabasco
    Juan Ballester Rabasco says:

    Well, it´s a nice trick, but I have a question. Distance and the different
    times when sound reaches the mics are important in how you feel the depth
    in the sound, feeling the space of the room where you record the drums, at
    least in overhead and room mics. I know how to get the overhead mics in
    phase, as you explain in your tutorial, but I´m not sure if moving the pair
    of overheads closer to the snare mic is a good thing in terms of space and
    depth. (sorry for my english)

  17. Jay Riley
    Jay Riley says:

    So moving them instead of just flipping the phase button is better
    right?good tutorial by the way.

Comments are closed.