Simple Explanation

When two sound signals are out of sync, their waves can cancel each other out, reducing or eliminating certain frequencies.

Concise Technical Definition

Phase cancellation occurs when two out-of-phase signals (signals with opposite timing) are combined, causing them to subtract from each other rather than add, resulting in a reduction or complete cancellation of the signal.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Imagine two people singing the same note but one is off-pitch. When they sing together, their voices can cancel each other out instead of harmonizing, making the sound weaker or disappearing entirely.

Industry Usage Summary

In audio systems, phase cancellation can occur when multiple microphones or speakers are not properly aligned in phase, resulting in the loss of certain frequencies, particularly in the bass range. This is why phase alignment is crucial, especially in live sound and recording setups, to avoid unintentionally cancelling out parts of the sound.

Engineering Shortcut

The cancellation of sound due to opposing phase relationships between two signals.

Full Technical Explanation

Phase cancellation occurs when two signals that are out of phase (having opposite timing relationships) are combined. Since sound signals are represented as waveforms, phase cancellation happens when the positive and negative parts of the waveforms align in such a way that they cancel each other out. In vector terms, this means that the signals subtract from one another rather than adding together. This phenomenon is most noticeable in the low frequencies, where phase cancellation can significantly reduce or eliminate bass. Proper phase alignment is crucial in audio systems to ensure full, balanced sound reproduction.