How do you monitor and measure the subharmonics generated by phase inverters?

Phase inverters are devices that reverse the polarity of an audio signal, creating a mirror image of the original waveform. They can be used to create subharmonics, which are frequencies below the fundamental frequency of a sound source. Subharmonics can add depth, warmth, and richness to your audio recordings, but they can also cause problems if they are not controlled and balanced properly. In this article, you will learn how to monitor and measure the subharmonics generated by phase inverters, and how to adjust them to achieve the best results.

1 What are subharmonics?

Subharmonics are frequencies that are half, a quarter, an eighth, or a smaller fraction of the fundamental frequency of a sound source. For example, if you have a sound source with a fundamental frequency of 100 Hz, its subharmonics would be 50 Hz, 25 Hz, 12.5 Hz, and so on. Subharmonics are usually not audible by themselves, but they can affect the overall tone and quality of the sound. Subharmonics can make a sound fuller, warmer, and more powerful, but they can also make it muddy, distorted, and noisy.

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Tony G Copeland

CEO/Director at Easy Entertainment LLC/Danay Records/Teejaydees Productions
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Monitoring and measuring subharmonics generated by phase inverters typically involves the use of specialized equipment and techniques. Here's an overview of the process: Equipment: You will need the following equipment to monitor and measure subharmonics: Power quality analyzer: This device captures voltage and current waveforms, and provides detailed analysis of various power quality parameters. Oscilloscope: An oscilloscope is used to visualize and measure the waveforms of the voltage and current signals. .

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Esteban barrera

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Phase inverter takes a signal and split it adding an opposite phase on one of the signals, creating cancellations and sums in some frecuencies but can't add harmonic content that it's not in the fundamental waveform. never heard nothing like that. distortion by the way can create it subharmonics.

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2 How do phase inverters generate subharmonics?

Phase inverters are devices that flip the polarity of an audio signal, so that the positive peaks become negative and vice versa. When you combine a phase-inverted signal with the original signal, you create a phase cancellation effect, where some frequencies are reduced or eliminated, and others are amplified or created. This process can generate subharmonics, especially when the signals are not perfectly aligned in time or frequency. For example, if you have a sound source with a fundamental frequency of 100 Hz, and you phase-invert it and delay it by 5 milliseconds, you will create a subharmonic of 50 Hz, because the signals will cancel each other out every 10 milliseconds.

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David Fiori

Independent Music producer and mixing engineer, for Pop, indie pop rock, Hiphop, click my Link-tree to work with me
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Understand what in a song creates the lowest of low frequencies. Once you understand that than you can address the issue. Sometimes vocals take up a lot tot that real estate, if the person has a lot of bass in there voice. Than you have to be conscious of the bass in the song, and last but not least no how to move them around ( panning) is always a good thing to really understand to keep them away from each other As far as tools go , it is always great to have a subwoofer and a oscilloscope so you can see what you cannot hear . Like always cut more than you boost best habit you can get into .

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3 How do you monitor the subharmonics?

To monitor the subharmonics generated by phase inverters, you need to use a spectrum analyzer, which is a tool that shows the frequency distribution and amplitude of an audio signal. A spectrum analyzer can help you see how much subharmonic content is present in your signal, and where it is located in the frequency spectrum. You can use a spectrum analyzer as a plugin in your digital audio workstation (DAW), or as a standalone device. To monitor the subharmonics, you should compare the spectrum of the original signal with the spectrum of the phase-inverted signal, and look for any differences or peaks in the lower frequency range.

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Scott L Wilson

Support Analyst at Merge Healthcare (Formerly IBM Watson Health)
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Effective monitoring of sub frequencies generally involve the use of a subwoofer. Using a spectrum analyzer in conjunction with a subwoofer, you can visually see produced low frequency alongside monitoring and develop an informed process to "learn" best practice scenarios. Additionally, in challenging environments, you can utilize acoustic room correction software such as IK Multimedia ARC3 or Headphone correction monitoring plugins to negate the effects of your room or environment.

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4 How do you measure the subharmonics?

To measure the subharmonics generated by phase inverters, you need to use a frequency counter, which is a tool that shows the exact frequency and amplitude of a single tone in an audio signal. A frequency counter can help you identify the subharmonic frequencies and their levels in your signal. You can use a frequency counter as a plugin in your DAW, or as a standalone device. To measure the subharmonics, you should isolate the subharmonic tone from the rest of the signal, using a filter or an equalizer, and then feed it to the frequency counter. You can then adjust the phase inverter settings to change the subharmonic frequency and level.

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5 How do you adjust the subharmonics?

To adjust the subharmonics generated by phase inverters, you need to use the controls of the device, which may vary depending on the model and type. These commonly include a delay, mix, and filter. Changing the delay can alter the subharmonic frequency and level, as well as the phase relationship between the signals. The mix control can modify the subharmonic level and overall tone. Additionally, adjusting the filter can impact the subharmonic frequency range and level, as well as the harmonic content and brightness of the sound. You should adjust the subharmonics according to your preference and context of your audio recording, taking into consideration factors like sound source, genre, mood, and desired effect. Additionally, you should check for subharmonics in different listening environments and devices to ensure they are not too loud or too quiet, or causing any unwanted distortion or noise.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you monitor and measure the subharmonics generated by phase inverters?

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1 What are subharmonics?

2 How do phase inverters generate subharmonics?

3 How do you monitor the subharmonics?

4 How do you measure the subharmonics?

5 How do you adjust the subharmonics?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Audio Recording

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