Phase Scope

You can display a phase scope in the Channel Meters window, Hardware Meters window, and Record dialog to find phase cancellation among the channels in an audio file.

Right-click the meters and choose Show Phase Scope from the shortcut menu to toggle the display of the phase scope.

To change the display, right-click the meters, choose Phase Scope Style from the shortcut menu, and then choose a setting from the submenu:

Style

Description

Lissajous - XY Plot

Displays the right and left channels plotted along the X and Y axes of the graph.

For these sample images, a stereo file with simple sine waves was used to provide a crisp line. When viewing typical audio, the lines will be more diffused.

Right channel only.

Left channel only.

Right and left channels.
The "forward-slash" display indicates that no phase cancellation exists.

Right and left channels after inverting the left channel.
The "backslash" display indicates that phase cancellation exists.

Lissajous - Rotated

Displays the right and left channels plotted along the X and Y axes of the graph. This setting is identical to the Lissajous - XY Plot setting, but the graph is rotated 45 degrees.

For these sample images, a stereo file with simple sine waves was used to provide a crisp line. When viewing typical audio, the lines will be more diffused.

Right channel only.

Left channel only.

Right and left channels.
The vertical line indicates that no phase cancellation exists.

Right and left channels after inverting the left channel.
The horizontal line indicates that phase cancellation exists.

Polar - Linear Plot

Displays the right and left channels plotted vertically on the graph.

For these sample images, a stereo file with simple sine waves was used to provide a crisp line. When viewing typical audio, the lines will be more diffused.

Right channel only.

Left channel only.

Right and left channels.
The centered line indicates that no phase cancellation exists.

Right and left channels after inverting the left channel.
The separate left and right vertical lines indicate that phase cancellation exists.

Polar - Circular Plot

Displays the right and left channels plotted on a circular graph.

For these sample images, a stereo file with simple sine waves was used to provide a crisp line. When viewing typical audio, the lines will be more diffused.

Right channel only.

Left channel only.

Right and left channels.
The centered line indicates that no phase cancellation exists.

Right and left channels after inverting the left channel.
The separate left and right horizontal lines indicate that phase cancellation exists.