What is Polarity Inversion?

Polarity inversion is the process of flipping the polarity of an audio signal so that its waveform is reversed. This means the positive and negative parts of the waveform are swapped, turning peaks into troughs and vice versa.

Polarity inversion is often used when working with multiple microphones recording the same sound source. If two signals are captured in opposite polarity, parts of the sound may cancel each other out. Inverting the polarity of one signal can help restore the proper relationship between them.

Many mixing consoles, audio interfaces, and digital audio workstations include a polarity invert switch, sometimes labeled with a Ø symbol. Engineers use this function to correct phase-related issues and improve the clarity and balance of a recording.