vocal phase issue

jimc · #1 01-16-2009, 03:49 PM

On our last CD (recorded before I joined the band) there is one track that has a problem. On certain systems and when played on local radio, it sounds like the vocals are hardly there at all, as if a vocal cancellation gadget was in use.

I think when originally recorded the vocal was doubled by delaying a copied track slightly and that phase issues between the two are the problem.

Does anybody know if there is some way of fixing this from the stereo master rather than going back to the original tracks? I'm guessing not but thought I'd ask just in case!

Here's a link to our myspace page

http://www.myspace.com/jeffwatsonband

The track in question is called 'Goodbye, farewell, so long'. sounds ok on my computer speakers here but not everywhere!

Thanks,

Jim

anderbass · #2 01-17-2009, 09:54 AM

Sounded fine on my PC speakers too.

You could try reversing the phase from one side/channel of your curent master and burn a new CD, but even if this helped the vocal issue I'd think this would probably throw everything else out of phase.

agreatheight · #3 01-17-2009, 09:57 AM

Sounds fine on my system as well.

Tenma4 · #4 01-17-2009, 10:47 AM

The vocals pull greatly to the right, probably because of what you describe. I believe you're going to have to go back to the original tracks.

FWIW, the lead guitar seems to shift a bit from time to time as well. I was trying to decide if that was intentional or not. Just in case it's helpful, I actually had a similar issue once with a program I used to rip tracks to mp3. Everything panned down the middle like to pull to one side because of something the converter was doing. The problem was not present in the mix I ripped to mp3. For your sake, I'm hoping you might (but I doubt it) have such an issue so perhaps you could just re-rip the file and upload again.

sonic assassin · #5 01-17-2009, 11:35 AM

on certain systems, copy and delay will cause phase issues. it depends on what you're playback system is and where you're standing.

lesson learned, copy and delay = ridiculous comb filtering.

John Wentzien · #6 01-17-2009, 11:53 AM

I'd go back to the mix and reverse the phase on just one of the vocal tracks.
(Hope you saved the original mix!)