Radial Engineering Ltd.
P
HAZE
Q 500 Module
True to the Music
®
2
OVERVIEW
The PhazeQ can be considered as two different devices in one. Its primary task is to
provide added realism by allowing two sources to be brought together in such a way that
their fundamental frequencies combine in harmony. Analogue phase control should not
be measured… you must listen and decide. The other side of the PhazeQ is destructive
creativity. In other words, we invest all kinds of time and energy trying to ensure the audio
signals are perfectly phase-aligned and then… the PhazeQ lets you completely ruin this by
allowing you to introduce radical sounding EQ curves via phase cancellation. It truly is a case
of good and bad in one box.
Phase Alignment - The good!
When two microphones are placed in a room, depending on where they are positioned with
respect to the source, the sound will inevitably arrive at a different time as it travels through
the air. When the two microphone signals are mixed together they will inevitably be out of
phase. This causes an effect known as comb-fi ltering.
Phase Shift
Close Mic
Distant Mic
Time
Close Mic
Distant Mic
Time
By altering the phase (or delaying the sound) of the nearest microphone, you can shift the
fundamental frequency so that it will more gracefully combine with the sound being captured
by the second microphone.
Phase Shift
Time
Close Mic
Distant Mic
Phase Shift
Close Mic
Distant Mic
Time
What is surprising is that this effect is not merely intended for mics that are broadly spaced,
but the effect is just as astounding on microphones that are close together such as an XY
confi guration. The effect is even more pronounced when combining a direct signal such as
from a direct box with a room microphone. Engineers will often spend hours moving mics to
capture the perfect tone. The PhazeQ lets you quickly do it by turning a dial.
