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OT: [all] stereo to mono phase problems




Hmmmm.

Source material:
   Multitrack channels:         mono
   CD player:                   stereo
   DJ-600 mixer:                stereo
      (mixing stereo sources?)
   Mic:                         mono

The above are not likely to come from the source out-of-phase.  Next step:
investigate individual mixer channels.

Alesis Studio 32: phase invert not available (at least I can't find it
listed in Alesis' on-line documentation).  So rule that out.

Next: cabling from mixer to amp.  Main outs are 1/4" TRS (balanced or
unbalanced).  If I remember right, the phase-inverted signal of a balanced
output is on the ring part of the TRS cable.  I doubt that your mixer's
wiring could be that screwed up to have the tip and ring switched on one
output.  However, there is the slightest possibility, so try avoiding the
main outs from your mixer--you've got control room outs as well as group
and aux outs; mix down to a pair of those and see if you still have the
"muddy" problem.  If so, then there's your problem--the main outs.  If not,
well...

I doubt the problem is in the cabling itself--if it was a cabling problem
(as in faulty cable), then you'd have the same problem all the time, not
just when panned to center.

The amp?  Man, I can't think that the amp is the problem.  But, as a test,
get some 1/4" to RCA cables and run them from your mixer's main outs and to
your home stereo's tape or CD in.  Listen to your mix through your stereo.
Does the problem persist?  Actually, this test would rule out everything
downstream of your mixer: the cables, the amp, the speaker wire and the
monitors.  Try this out.

If the above test fails to reproduce the problem, then it has to be
downstream of the mixer.  Check the polarity of all your wiring.  Make sure
it's consistent for both sides.  Actually, you've probably done this
already a thousand times.  So, confident that the wiring to and from the
amp is correct--and that the problem still persists--switch the polarity of
the leads coming into only one speaker.  We're now deliberately out of
phase with the other speaker.  Still have the problem?  At this point, I
doubt phase is the issue.  Move your speakers to a new position.  Maybe you
just have one wickedly bad sounding room (though this should be evident in
the stereo mixes, too).  I can't think of anything else, and I've already
been long-winded enough.


                                                                           
                 
                    "Paul Buelow"                                          
                 
                    <paul@webms.c        To:     
<Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>      
                    om>                  cc:                               
                 
                                         Subject:     Re: [all] stereo to 
mono phase        
                    11/06/00             problems                          
                 
                    01:51 PM                                               
                 
                    Please                                                 
                 
                    respond to                                             
                 
                    Loopers-Delig                                          
                 
                    ht                                                     
                 
                                                                           
                 
                                                                           
                 



> what is the nature of the source program material?
>
I've experienced the phase problem with a variety of sources and isolated
it
to a problem  between the mixer and the amp + speakers. The mixer is an
Alesis32. Monitoring through the mixers headphone output does not exhibit
the same muddy result when panning to center.

I have ruled out the source as the problem. The source is fine when patched
directly to the amp (hence no panning to center). Is panning to center
inherently going ot cause a phase problem. Could it be the room or speaker
position causing a problem? The source is either mono tracks from a digital
multitrack deck, CDs, DJ-600 mixer output or mic input.

It appears to be a problem with the relationship between my cabling and/or
monitor wiring.