PHIXER for vinyl cut / lacquer mono prep: bass fold and phase before cut
A vinyl cut or lacquer does not forgive anti-phase bass the way a streaming encoder might. Wide low-end that feels huge in headphones can scoop on true L+R sum, thin the groove, and stress vertical modulation before the lathe or DMM. Prep with a mono / bass-fold habit: sum, correlation, polarity, attack timing, then residual frequency-aware phase rotation only when a stereo bed must stay stereo. Free phase-repair helps after hygiene. It is not a vinyl lathe, not RIAA EQ, and not a substitute for a cutting engineer.
Download PHIXER free YouTube tutorial YouTube intro
PHIXER is free stereo phase-repair (VST3/CLAP/AU · Win/Mac/Linux) from Riverflux Audio. Frequency-aware phase rotation for leftover L/R fights on stereo material. It is not a lacquer cutter, not a de-esser for sibilance on cut, not a click remover, and not a correlation meter. Use it after polarity and timing, when residual spectral cancellation remains on a stereo bed you must keep stereo before cut.
Mono / bass fold failure modes before vinyl cut
- Bass fold scoop. Kick or sub that vanishes on L+R sum while headphones still feel huge. Less width in lows first; then Ø and timing. Habit cousins: where PHIXER sits in a mastering chain.
- Multiband / crossover leftovers on the cut master. Split-band crush that recombines with band phase shifts into the vinyl master bus. Cousin: PHIXER for Multiband / crossover phase shifts.
- Stereo imager / Haas width fighting the groove. Side energy that thins vertical-safe mono. If invert or a mono-safe center print is enough, stop. Honesty: When not to use PHIXER.
Lacquer mono prep in about 90 seconds
- Sum L+R on the cut master bus (or monitor controller mono). Listen to kick/bass body, vocal mid, and groove weight. Do not mute one side to "hear the problem."
- Watch correlation / goniometer on a sustained soft source and a kick hit. Note dips toward 0 or -1 on lows.
- Flip Ø on one path or one delayed side. Keep the flip that returns body. If mono weight returns fully, stop.
- Nudge attack timing a few samples if invert helps only part of the transient. Re-check on a phone speaker and again after any limiter pass.
- Only then audition residual L/R spectral fights if the stereo bed must stay stereo and a band still cancels on fold. Prove any change with mono A/B before lacquer or DMM.
Honest order of fixes (before spectral phase rotation)
1. True mono sum first
Vinyl cut prep starts with L+R, not a soloed side. Bass fold honesty before width tools.
2. Read the meter, then listen
Correlation / goniometer hints; ears decide for groove and vertical-safe mono.
3. Polarity invert (180) before rotation
Flip Ø while mono. Continuous phase rotation is a different job from a 180 invert.
4. Attack timing before spectral tools
Nudge a few samples so transient peaks agree. A correlation needle will not slide a late transient for you.
5. Skip when invert or a mono-safe center print is enough
If Ø or a mono-safe center print solves the scoop, stop. Honesty list: When not to use PHIXER.
6. Only then residual frequency-aware phase rotation
If the stereo bed must stay stereo and fold still hollows after invert and timing, gentle rotation can help before lacquer or DMM. Prove it with mono A/B. Watch the YouTube tutorial and intro.
Vinyl cut / lacquer mono prep table
| Check | Pass signal | Fail signal | First fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| True L+R sum | Bass / groove body stays | Kick or bass scoops on fold | Do not mute one side; sum honestly |
| Correlation near +1 on lows | Groove-friendly mono | Needle toward 0 / -1 on bass | Less width in lows; flip Ø; timing |
| After multiband / crossover | Bands recombine solid in mono | One band hollows on fold | Multiband cousin; then residual rotation |
| After stereo imager / Haas | Fold still solid | Cut preview thins | Less width; shorter delay; mono A/B |
| Mastering chain placement | Mono check before limiter/clipper delivery | Loudness pass hides scoop | Mastering chain placement |
| Polarity flip test | One flip restores body | Neither flip fully restores | Timing next; then residual rotation |
When not to reach for PHIXER
- Wrong polarity on one path (flip Ø first).
- Obvious attack misalignment (nudge first).
- You only need a mono-safe center print for the cut, not a stereo bus.
- Groove noise, clicks, or RIAA / EQ problems (wrong tool).
- Honesty list: When not to use PHIXER.
Related guides
- PHIXER for Radio broadcast mono fold / mono sum and phase cancellation
- PHIXER for Club System / PA mono fold and disappearing bass
- PHIXER for Multiband / crossover phase shifts and mono check
- Where PHIXER sits in a mastering chain
- When not to use PHIXER (honest limits)
- PHIXER for Vinyl Transfer / needle-drop dual path
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- YouTube tutorial · YouTube intro