- We help recording engineers transform their monitoring to the industry's highest standards by implementing our PhantomFocus™ technology - Hi everyone, Thank you again for joining us for this third episode of the MixRoom Mentor™ series. In Episode Three - PhantomFocus™ Tools, our discussion will reveal two extremely valuable sonic gizmos that will render a huge impact on your control room monitoring.  Carl. Episode Three - PhantomFocus™ Tools In the previous episodes we discovered the dramatic results that the Allison Effect has on low frequency performance and the profound importance of the frequency response shape for accurate monitoring.  If you haven't had a chance to read the previous Episodes One & Two - PhantomFocus vs. New Monitors, I suggest that you go back and read them now if you've been archiving them, as the following will make much more sense in context. If you've missed them, all three episodes will eventually be available in the Library section of the CTD website here.  The PhantomFocus System (PFS) has over 50 steps in its implementation protocol, not all of which we have not been able to address here in these episodes. However, my intention has been to lift the veil a bit, take a look under the hood, remove some of the mystery and to help you understand what we're actually doing when a client hires us. At the same time, I wanted to provide some useful procedures that anyone can put to use on their own. If there was ever a desert island go-to piece of advice for monitoring - this is definitely it. The Null Positioning Ensemble™ (NPE™) refers to the ensemble positional relationship between the monitors, console, and listener, relative to the axial modes in the room.  This is part of what I call the rhythm section in the PFS. If you don't get this right then you're polishing a turd. This graph is totally self-explanatory and correctly implemented will help your monitoring experience more than any other single thing you can do or buy, outside of a PhantomFocus System, regardless of what monitors you have - and it's free!  Use it in conjunction with Axial Mode Calc also found in the Acoustic Tools section in the Library of the CTD website here.Check out the example and then load your rectangular room dimensions into the active version that you can download. Also, check out the Null Positioning Ensemble photos there that show you how to angle your monitors. You'll need to take some time with this. It's not going to happen in 20 minutes. It takes my assistant and me the better part of a day to totally laser it in but you'll be able to get it within 80% - 85% or so on your own.  I know this looks too simple and you may be thinking "what's the big deal, I kind-of do that already" - you don't. So, don't "kind-of" - it won't work. Be Nazi about this and you'll be amazed at what happens. I really hope you dig into this in your monitoring setup. For those of you who take the time to do this I'd love to hear your stories. Considering PhantomFocus™ for your mix room? No matter how modest or elaborate your room may be...  Stop wasting time, money, and mixing with uncertainty - Finally Do It Right phantomfocus.com Contact us at: mixroommentor@carltatzdesign.com to schedule a strategy session.  Are you PFS Ready? carltatzdesign.com  PhantomFocus™ Strategy Session