Phonitor
23
Solo
You can engage the solo switch to monitor only the left or right channel
of the stereo signal.
The Solo switch has three positions: L, R and OFF. The middle or OFF
position allows monitoring the stereo signal. Switched to L or R, and
you will hear only the left or right channels, respectively.
A selected solo channel defaults to retain in its respective left or right
position, and we call this function “Solo-in-Place”. However, should you
prefer to hear a chosen solo channel in both ears (“Solo-to-Center”),
you can additional active the Mono switch. This Solo-to-Center variant
also allows some interesting possibilities for comparison between two
channels. You can, for instance, recognize immediately whether the
sound of both channels contains comparably equal highs and mids.
Likewise you may ascertain quickly whether a signal such as a voice,
snare, kick or bass track (that you wished to locate in the middle of the
stereo field) has been placed properly – if not, this setting will reveal
different levels in the left and right channels.
Phase ø
The phase reversal control is another important monitoring func-
tion. As with the solo function, you can choose between L, R and OFF.
Choose the middle position, OFF, to hear the stereo signal. Switching
to L reverses the left channel phase (thus inverts by 180°). The same
effect occurs in the right channel when switching to R.
With phase reversal and a simultaneous activation of the Mono
switch, you can generate the difference between both audio channels.
Depending on which channel’s phase reversion you have activated,
what remains will be the channel’s available stereo information. In this
differentiated signal you can, for instance, now judge whether signals
to be placed in the middle “sit” properly or not. If not, a remainder of
the center signal will not be cancelled out by the phase reversal – some-
thing which should happen with a true mono signal. Before you under-
take this test, you should eliminate any stereo effects on the channel
you wish to test, as such reverb processing will tend to be retained and
invalidate the results.
However, even more important for precision testing of the center signal
can be to discern the intrusion of artifacts. For example through this
process you can easily detect distortion which may be introduced digi-
tally (via converters or internal DAW mixing).
Solo, Phase
ø
Control Elements
