Polarity
Definition
The absolute positive or negative orientation of an audio signal's waveform. Inverting polarity (flipping the waveform upside down) reverses the relationship between positive and negative values. Often confused with phase, which describes timing relationships between signals rather than absolute orientation.
In Simple Terms
Flipping your audio waveform upside down — positive becomes negative and vice versa. The "phase flip" button on your console or DAW actually inverts polarity, not phase. When two mics on the same source sound thin together, flipping the polarity of one often fixes it instantly.
In Practice
Two microphones on a snare drum — one above, one below — produce signals with opposite polarity because the drumhead pushes one mic's diaphragm while pulling the other. Inverting the polarity of the bottom mic aligns the signals, restoring the full body and punch of the snare.
Common Confusion
Phase and polarity are not the same thing, despite the universal mislabeling of the polarity invert button as a "phase" button. Phase describes a time-based relationship that varies by frequency. Polarity inversion is instantaneous and frequency-independent — it simply mirrors the waveform.