Quick start
This workflow is a good starting point for a multi-mic drum recording in a DAW.
- Insert PhaseLock on every related track. Put one instance on each kick, snare, tom, overhead, and room track you want PhaseLock to compare.
- Open any PhaseLock instance. Every connected instance appears in the shared session view.
- Leave the related tracks in Group 1, or assign a different group if the session contains unrelated microphone setups.
- Choose the Phase Reference for the group. For drums, start with an overhead or another microphone that represents the kit as a whole. You can change it later and compare.
- Click ANALYZE, then start playback. You can also click Analyze while playback is already running.
- Play a useful section. PhaseLock stops listening after eight seconds. To finish sooner, click ANALYZE again or stop playback.
- Listen with Coherence: On. Phase Coherence is enabled by default; Time Alignment is not.
- Select individual lanes to inspect their polarity, coherence result, and waveform.
- To align timing, turn on Time Align. New lanes align to the group reference. Choose Off / Original Timing for lanes you do not want to move.
- Compare the result by switching Coherence or Time Align between On and Bypassed. Use the DAW’s plugin bypass when you want to compare the complete plugin result.
Note: Do not assume that every drum microphone should have Time Alignment enabled. The delay between a close mic and a room mic is part of the room sound. Begin with Phase Coherence, then add Time Alignment one track at a time and listen in the full mix.