Is there a way to minimize interference between signals of different instruments?

Question

Phase cancelation between different audio tracks is an issue that cannot be solved just by a constant phase offset. There are sweet spots, but no matter what the global relative phase of two tracks is, there will always be some frequencies interfering destructively, while others might become too dominant due to constructive interference. I've found that this is the major factor, why two instruments mask each other when combined. As the phase relations change over time, there is also an inconsistency in the timbre, which I don't like.

So I wonder, if there are strategies to somehow even out the intereference effect. Is there a plugin to manipulate phase as a function of frequency... just like an EQ, but for the phase instead of the amplitude. Is there a plugin to define a desired phase relation and have the phases a different tracks aligned automatically for each frequency band? That would give interesting options: A phase offset of 0° would make two signals fundamentally additive. A phase offset of 90° would highlight the complementary parts of two signals by avoiding a buildup in the regions where they overlap. A phase offset of 0° would subtract the overlap of two signals, which is generally not a good thing, but might interesting as an effect.

Do you think that would work, or do you think the phase distortion would alter the timbre of each track so much that it would sound unnatural?

Answer 1

Phase cancellation is really only an issue when there are several instances of the SAME instrument, playing the same notes. And, of course, the ultimate manifestation of this is multiple instances of the same sampled instrument. It's why we don't build up an orchestral violin section with 8 tracks playing the same notes, and why a good sample set has separate sample banks for Violin 1 and Violin 2. And why Automated Double Tracking (ADT) is of only limited use.

Are you having practical problems with mixing DIFFERENT instruments? Live, or sampled? The usual techniques are applying a small delay to one of them (often inaccurately referred to as 'shifting the phase'). Or some stereo separation can help.

Or maybe you're layering up bass instruments in a quest for the ultimate 'phat' sound? Particularly if they're all derived from similar, relatively simple sinewave-based methods of synthesis. This can cause problems. Sometimes less is more!