The Little Labs IBP Phase Alignment Tool plug-in for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces lets you easily eliminate the undesirable hollow comb-filtered sound when combining out-of-phase and partially out-of-phase audio signals. Fully authenticated by Little Labs, the IBP Phase Alignment Tool plug-in is a “fix it” as well as a creative one, letting you tweak audio phase as a texture and tonal color.

Whether combining direct and miked signals, acoustic guitar and vocal mics, drum kit mics, or multiple split-guitar amps, the Little Labs IBP Phase Alignment Tool plug-in makes sure signal phase can be quickly and easily controlled and manipulated.

• Eliminate phase issues with multi-mic setups, DI/mic combinations, and live-recorded material
• Place mics where they sound best, rather than limited phase-coherent positions
• Tweak with real time, continuously variable phase sweep between 0° and 180° with all "in between"
• Use Phase Center switch for greater control of either low or high frequency sources

Little Labs IBP

Little Labs IBP Controls

All parameters are clearly labeled with control names.

Delay Adjust

The Delay Adjust parameter is unique to Universal Audio's "workstation" version of the Little Labs IBP. Delay Adjust is a continuously variable control that simply delays the input signal from 0.0 to 4.0 milliseconds.

Unlike the "analog" Phase Adjust parameter, which is frequency dependent, Delay Adjust is purely "digital" and shifts all frequencies equally. Delay Adjust accomplishes the same function as manually moving an audio region forwards in the timeline so it plays back a little later in relation to other regions.

Delay Adjust Bypass

This switch bypasses the Delay Adjust parameter. Delay Adjust is bypassed when the switch is engaged (darker).

Phase Adjust

Phase Adjust is the main parameter in the Little Labs IBP. It is a continuously variable control that shifts the phase of the input signal. The range of Phase Adjust is either 90° or 180°, dependent on the Phase Adjust 90°/180° switch.

The Little Labs IBP hardware is an all-analog device that uses analog allpass filters to produce phase shifting. Allpass filters displace signals in time as a function of frequency (they are frequency dependent). The modeled UAD version accurately models the hardware along with all its idiosyncrasies.

Therefore phase shifting using the Phase Adjust knob is not "perfect" like mathematically-manipulated signals in the digital domain. When Phase Adjust is set to 180° on one of two identical tracks side-by-side, the signals will not cancel as you may expect.

Note: If a "standard" 180° phase shift is desired, use the Phase Invert switch. If "digitally pure" frequency-independent phase shift is desired, use the Delay Adjust parameter.

Phase Adjust Bypass

This switch bypasses the Phase Adjust parameter. The signal phase is normal when the switch is engaged (darker).

Phase Invert

This switch inverts the polarity of the input signal, like the phase button on a mixing console. Phase is inverted when the switch is engaged (darker).

Phase Adjust 90°/180°

This switch determines the range of the Phase Adjust parameter. This is useful when finer Phase Adjust resolution is desired.

When the switch is disengaged, the Phase Adjust range is 180°. When the switch is engaged (darker), the Phase Adjust range is 90°.

Phase Center Lo/Hi

This switch sets the range of frequency emphasis. When the switch is disengaged (lighter), the Phase Center range is Hi. When the switch is engaged (darker), the Phase Center range is Lo.

Note: Use of the 90°/180° and Lo/Hi parameters are typically used for individual tone signals such as a kick drum or toms as opposed to program material.

Power

This switch disables the plug-in. When the switch is disengaged, the plug-in is bypassed. When the switch is engaged (darker), the plug-in is active and the green LED is illuminated.

The Little Labs IBP hardware unit