Mixing audio recorded with multiple microphones can sometimes present problems when you come to the mix. These problems are often caused by microphone being set at different distances from a source. This results in time delays between the microphones, that in turn presents problems with phasing issues in the mix.
The common technique that corrects phasing problems in multi-mic recordings is time aligning one audio track to another so that the multi-mic recordings playback at the same time. This article shares 4 Time Align plug-ins in Pro Tools.
Nudge Audio In Pro Tools
In this free video tutorial, you will learn how to use the Nudge feature in Pro Tools with audio clips. Watch to see variations of the nudge clip boundaries, selections and clip contents. This method relies on no plug-ins, solely eyes to nudge the audio in line with another and ears to hear if an improvement has been made to the phase.
Time Adjuster In Pro Tools
Time Adjuster is a free Pro Tools plug-in that delays audio in samples. This plug-in is mono and stereo formats and includes phase invert and control over volume. Like nudge, users have to use their ears to confirm phase. This is a really simple yet handy tool for balancing wonky stereo images in stereo audio tracks as well.
Precision Time Align By Eventide
Precision Time Align by Eventide is similar to the Time Adjuster in Pro Tools, however, it features a few more extended controls making it a better tool for time aligning. The Time Adjuster in Pro Tools delays (move backwards) audio whereas the Precision Time Align plug-in moves audio forward. There is also a very cool Distance control meaning users can enter in actual measurements in feet or meters.
Visit the Eventide website for more information about Precision Time Align
InPhase By Waves
InPhase by Waves, captures audio enabling users to time align clips quickly with a phase correlation meter making it easier to use. InPhase does exactly what it says on the tin, however, some skill is required to get the most out of it as the controls are comprehensive.
Visit the Waves website for more information about InPhase.
Auto Align By Sound Radix
Auto Align by Sound Radix eradicates the guess work in time aligning. It is simply an intelligent plug-in that works out all the maths very quickly in detect mode offering up time and phase aligned audio. If you work a lot with multi-mic audio in Pro Tools and you haven't yet tried Auto Align then you are seriously missing a trick.
Visit the Sound Radix website for more information about Auto Align.
Let us know how you time align audio in Pro Tools in the comments below.