36
Why Polarity Programming?
During the recording process, the polarity of the recorded signal is typically in-
verted many times. If the total number of 180
°
inversions is even, the “net” polar-
ity remains unchanged; if odd, a 180
°
polarity inversion is introduced. Some
people are quite sensitive to this distinction. (The difference can be envisioned
by imagining a kick drum being struck: the initial motion of the drum head is
forward, forming a compression wave; if inverted, the initial transient would be
reproduced as though the drum head had initially moved backward, creating a
rarefaction.)
To complicate matters further, different portions of (or instruments on) the re-
cording may experience even or odd numbers of inversions, resulting in no
single “correct” playback setting. This problem is particularly common among
multiple-microphone recordings. Ultimately, only you can decide whether one po-
larity setting sounds better than the other, and if so, which you prefer.
Fortunately, if the Nº37 is Linked to a compatible digital audio processor (such as
the Nº36), the playback polarity of the processor will be known by the transport,
and may be controlled by the transport’s remote control. Moreover, the Nº37 can
be asked to “remember” your preference for each recording (should you have
one).
Important Note:
Programmed playlists include polarity information. The Nº37
will ensure the “correct” polarity (that is, the polarity you
chose when creating the program) upon playback of that
playlist. This polarity may only be overridden by either
temporarily overriding the playlist or by re-programming the
playlist (see below). If you are sensitive to polarity—and many
people are not—you will want to determine the correct
polarity before creating your playlists.
Whole-Disc
Polarity Programming
If you want to remember only the preferred polarity for an entire disc, and do
not wish to store a custom playlist:
1
PRESS STOP
When in
stop
, the Nº37 displays the total number of tracks and time on the
disc. (If you have already saved a program, the track display will be pre-
ceded by a
P
, and indicate the total number of tracks and time of the pro-
gram, not the disc. You must not have a preexisting program if you wish to
save a single polarity for the entire disc in one step. To erase a preexisting
program, press and hold the
program –
button.)
2
CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED POLARITY
You may use either the
polarity
button on the processor or the
polarity
button on the Nº37 remote control. (Remember: the two units must be con-
nected by a Link cable for polarity programming to work.) Select your pre-
ferred setting.
