8,720
edits
Changes
m
no edit summary
'''Phase''' describes the "starting position" of a wave, described in terms of ''degrees'' (0 - 360). When two waves have the same frequency and phase, their crests and troughs align, creating complete positive interference. The combined wave looks identical to the original, only with a larger amplitude. When two waves with identical frequency have complete opposite (180 degree difference) phases, the crests align with the troughs, resulting in complete negative interference. The combined wave is not a wave at all, but a constant equilibrium pressure level - the waves cancel each other out.
'''Whenever combining multiple audio sources, particularly two or more microphones for the same instrument, signals may arrive delayed, causing different interference patterns throughout various frequencies.''' This is known as a '''comb filter''' (sometimes also called being ''out of phase''), with frequency nulls occurring routinely throughout the audible frequency spectrum.