Detection of phase alignment and polarity in drum tracks

Weidman A, Sweeney J, Bulla W. Detection of phase alignment and polarity in drum tracks. In: AES Convention 155. Audio Engineering Society; 2023. Paper 10667. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22248

@inproceedings{Weidman2023_22248,
  author = {Weidman, Alek and Sweeney, John and Bulla, Wesley},
  title = {{Detection of phase alignment and polarity in drum tracks}},
  booktitle = {AES Convention 155},
  note = {Paper 10667},
  year = {2023},
  month = oct,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22248}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - Detection of phase alignment and polarity in drum tracks
AU  - Weidman, Alek
AU  - Sweeney, John
AU  - Bulla, Wesley
T2  - AES Convention 155
M1  - Paper 10667
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/10/06
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22248
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - A time-shift applied to individual tracks that removes timing differences between microphones, called “phase alignment,” is frequently promoted as a way to improve the clarity and definition of live-recorded drum tracks. Common techniques include manual and automated micro-timing adjustments and switching the electrical polarity of “problem” tracks. This study aimed to determine if there was a clear audible difference between an original and corrected recording. Using a paired comparison test, listeners were asked whether two audio samples were the same or different, and later, asked for individual preference between the two samples. Evidence here questions the tacit assumption that time-shift techniques have the claimed influence to greatly improve, or even appreciably alter, the observed quality of a drum mix.
ER  -