I am not sure we have proof that the sessions would have differing polarities?
I can see how the studio could be inverted or positive, but it takes either a pretty conscious decision to find a way to invert the signal, or it take a peice of inverting gear.
(One cannot do it with a simple cable, unless maybe an XLR that was soldered up wrong.
If we want a system that is true to the source, then I would not start with a system that is obviously incorrect.
But YMMV
I cannot imagine why we would have recording engineers make a choice between which phase to use. But if they are, then yes, the whole thing is bone right at the beginning.
A three mic live recording would seem to be a hard thing to have jacked up.
I think he meant a race to the bottom in price… Being 5 cents cheaper.
Absolute phase can only be controlled in a two or maybe three mic recording with meticulous attention to the amplification and mastering chains.
In a multi mic recording, absolute phase disappears. Remember, phase and distance are interchangeable quantities. Once you use two mics at different locations to record a single voice or instrument and roll the tape or digital recorder simultaneously for both mics - and this is what studios do - you have phase incoherence.
Recording engineers do flip phase and shift tracks intentionally, but usually not out of carelessness or malice - it's because they understand that their many tracks are in various, uncontrolled phases relative to one another and they are trying to get us the best sound by ear. And this the best case scenario.
In playback, our speakers are more often than not phase incoherent as well as a function of frequency. Carefully designed ones can be, which was a priority for me in purchasing Eminent Technology planars. They do a very decent square wave from about 100Hz and up.
Bottom line is that if you are listening to a VERY carefully made recording, where the engineer was absolute phase aware AND you are playing it back on a phase coherent, non-inverting system, you are doing great. In all other cases, changing absolute phase is well worth the trouble, on at least some fraction of recordings.
I understand what "race to the bottom" is - I am an American, after all. I meant I wasn't looking for the cheapest price here.