Out of Phase

"Phasing" issues, in regard to microphones, are relative to mic placement when using more than one microphone.  If you have phasing issues on tracks you can sometimes correct them by inverting the phase of one of the mic's tracks. This can be done in SHS. The reason it's important is that when an out-of-phase stereo track is played in mono there can be serious frequency cancellations that affect how the track sounds.

What mics are you using and what placement configuration? Spaced pair, X/Y, Mid/Side? Are you using an external mixer or going straight into a soundcard? What soundcard are you using?

These are all important questions to be answered in oeder to provide more specific information to help you.

There is a Phase Invert button on each track.  I didn't see which version of SHS you're using but the button looks like an "O" with a slash through it.  If you're using SHS7 it's under "Input / Output".  You can see it on this link. 

Ok... I was at work when I sent this message and copied the wrong mic information. It is a Samson CO1 studio condenser and a AKG perception 100.

Hammered Dulcimer are pretty dynamic instruments and the highs can sound clangy and the hammers can have a thunk sound that is really annoying. I play counter to the lead player and want myself on either side of her. I usually mic from directly over head (like described above); I've recently tried just about every mic placement I could and am still getting the phase problem. It works to use the invert phase button so I guess that is what I'm going to do since I can't get anything else to work. Everything I've read said to fix the problem but I'm at a loss.

The other dulcimer is recording a stereo file and getting a pretty good sound with a Tascam condenser that she paid $50 for ...

I've got a studio person to do the mixing and a master house close by so all I need to do is get a good recording.... sigh. This is not easy.

Any advice I can get will be very welcome. Thanks ... V

 

I've been pondering on this one for a while, and this statement caught my eye today:
"I've got the two mics placed about 2 ft over the top of the dulcimer point mostly straight down."
Do you mean they are hanging vertically above the dulcimer?
If that is the case, I believe you are picking up sound reflected from adjacent walls more than direct sound from the instrument.
This could definitely introduce some phasing issues.
The diaphragms in these mics pick up sound from the side, not the end.
You may want to consider getting some mic stands with booms, so you can accurately position your mics.
Mic placement and orientation can have a dramatic effect when recording accoustic instruments, and a pair of such stands are almost essential.