Stereo V. Mono Track

By all means, someone please direct me to the thread if this has already been covered (which, being that it seems soooo basic, I wouldn't doubt that it has been).
I've been selecting all my tracks as stereo. What's the difference/pros and cons? I read the manual on this section and I know that mono pans a signal left to right while stereo "balances" the volume ratio between the left and right channels . . . but is that all there is to it? Does it matter which one you pick? Does stereo use more CPU? (I don't recall where I read that, but I remember a small blurb that said something such).
I just want to make sure I'm not doing something horribly stupid or whatnot by continuously selecting all my tracks as stereo.
Someone please help enlighten me.
Thank you very much,
Javier Calderon

Use a stereo channel for a stereo signal. Use a mono one for a mono signal.
If you use a stereo channel for a mono signal, all you'll get is a slightly louder mono signal that uses up a little more CPU - in other words, pointless.
So, if you record a vocal from one mic, use a mono audio channel, as it's just one signal. If you using a nice stereo synth with FX, use a stereo channel.
Remember, a stereo signal is only stereo if the two channels, left and right, are different. If they are both exactly the same, all you have is a mono signal on two channels, so you are wasting resources.
Most softsynths and samplers put out stereo signals these days, so the majority of virtual stuff is done using stereo channels. When you're recording guitars, or from microphones, you are dealing with single channel signals much more often.
Don't forget, that if you put a stereo effect on a mono channel, the output of the effect is stereo, so it effectively "converts' your channel into a stereo one, even if it starts off mono before any plugins.

Similar Messages

Question about stereo vs. mono tracks. (Very basic, but appreciate help)

I’m still a little confused about Stereo Vs. Mono tracks when recording in Logic. (This might sound stupid, but I’m still getting confused by this stuff.)
When first recording a track, do you guys usually do it in mono or stereo?
Secondly, I’m still confused about the benefits or stereo tracks. Why not just record mono and then pan a track left or right when mixing? I’m just not getting the concept of stereo recording. I know these are very basic questions, but I’ve read numerous books and I’m still a little in the dark on this. Thanks for the help!

Most of the things I record are done on mono tracks. Each piece of a kit goes to its own channel, then I pan things accordingly later (Overhead L & R, etc.).
You only need to record in stereo if you actually have a source that is stereo, i.e. a keyboard with stereo fx and L&R outputs, but even then I usually just set up two mono tracks, one for L and one for R. I would do a similar thing if I was using a stereo pair to mic something.
You can always make a mono track stereo later as well using a variety of plug-ins.

12 Track input limit- stereo or mono tracks?

Hello,
I am trying to decide whether to buy Logic Express or Pro. Is the 12 track input limit on Express for 12 stereo tracks or 12 mono tracks?
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thank you

Stereo to mono track? Elements 9

Non-Linear softwares like Avid import all sound in mono track form. Adobe doens't, for some reason. Instead it's all in stereo form. I need someone to explain how to change the stereo track into two separate mono tracks. I know this action is possible in Premier Pro via a setting. Elements is not clear on this matter.
I did record a wireless mic, and a camera mic simultaenously at times. I need this sound in mono track form to avoid ambient noise. Otherwise when you lower the track volume it affects both.

PrPro makes splitting a 2-channel stream easy, but as Steve points out, PrE does not. The assumption is that all 2-channel streams will be staying in that format.
Now, when I need to split 2-channel (or 6-channel) source material, I just use Adobe Audition. The great freeware program, Audacity, can also split the audio stream, but I cannot step you though that process, as I use Audition, where necessary.
Good luck,
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Stereo to mono track conversion

Is there a way to convert a stereo track to a mono track? I looked in the manual - it may be there, but I could not find it.
Thanks

Click on the double circle and it'll turn into a single

Stereo -- two mono tracks

hello!
I had a question about importing a stereo track. I'm in a stereo multitrack right now, and open a stereo track in that, but
I'm still not sure how to split the stereo track into two mono tracks.
Right now it's just playing on the Left side of the headphone. How do I get it so that there are two tracks - one on top of the other?
Help?
Thank you for bearing with my training wheels here!
Best,
Trail

trailmixalot wrote:
hello!
I had a question about importing a stereo track. I'm in a stereo multitrack right now, and open a stereo track in that, but I'm still not sure how to split the stereo track into two mono tracks.
I'm not sure why you want to do this. If you put a stereo track into a stereo session, then it will play in stereo. If you want to alter the relative left and right levels of the track, you use the Pan control in the mixer. If you can't hear both channels, then you need to check the mixer's master output options (where it says Default output at the top) and make sure that you have a stereo option selected - if you don't have this selected properly, you'll definitely only hear one channel.

Stereo to Mono (track already recorded)

I recorded a band the other night on my brand new iMac 24" (loving it), and the whole session went through great but after several takes, we finally got a good bass track down and i found out i had accidentally kept the default stereo track setting, so it's only on the left channel and turning the pan control to the right just fades it out. I can't seem to find an option to bounce it down to mono or split it. Any ideas?
thanks a lot guys.
I just want to say, i'm very happy with my set up and garage band in general, though i may be upgrading to something a bit more pro. sounds great so far though.

Setting the track to mono should fix it.

Stereo to mono tracks...

Perhaps someone can help me... I am a relatively new Logic user, making a DJ-style mix with several different audio tracks (mp3's) dragged into Arrange.. They worked fine, except were locked and couldnt crossfade.. when I tried to change this, I think I did something funny..(selected all and Coverted Selections to New Audio Regions)..and continued arranging...now, when I go for playback, the tracks are shown as mono, some dont play and if they do, they come out stereo on their listed track and the next below it (which are now both mono).. I have tried opening a second project (with stereo tracks) and copying all the tracks across, to no avail... can anyone assist me?
Thank you....

Sounds like a couple of things. First of all, go to Logic->Preferences->Audio, and select Devices and Core Audio tabs. Then make sure that the Universal Track Mode button is CHECKED. When this setting is OFF, it will automatically take a stereo file and split it up into two mono files in the arrange window, each with its own track. Handy for some things, but most of the time it's easier to see a stereo file in a single track. Like you're trying to do.
Second - there are certain things, like fades and crossfades, and a lot of destructive editing stuff like Time a Pitch Machine, etc. that can not be done on compressed files like mp3's or aac's. (They can also not be done on Apple Loops). That's why your fades didn't work. When you import an mp3 or other compressed file into Logic, before you add it to your Arrange Page, go to your Audio bin and highlight your mp3's, go to the Audio File drop down menu at the top of the Bin, and select 'Copy/Convert Files' and select to change the file to AIFF format. If you tick the box 'Change file reference in Bin' at the bottom of that window, then when it's done you'll have all your new AIFF's in the place of the mp3's. Then you can do all your fades and other editing.
Good Luck!

Logic Pro X stereo and mono tracks in the mixer window

did apple decide to remove this capability from the channel strips??? I can't find it anywhere..any help would be great.

Its still in the 'Inspector', just the location is changed.
- Check the red circle!
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How do you combine 2 mono tracks into a single stereo track?

Question here:
How do I combine 2 mono tracks into a single stereo track in Logic?
I recorded using my left and right out of my keyboard to a hard-disk recorder (Korg d888). The files are made as two separate wav files. Is there way to combine these in Logic so I can treat it as one stereo track?
I have several files to do and am hoping Logic has something like a "combine tracks to stereo track" tool or something.

Solo both tracks and bounce them with no effects and faders at 0 dB.

Export mixdown of several stereo tracks as one mono track

How can I select a few stereo tracks in STP and export them as a single mono track? either back to FCP or as a standalone file?
Thanks!
Processor 2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Memory 32 GB 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512 MB
Software Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4 (11E53)
Final Cut Studio 7
Oops, i posted this in the wrong discussion group. can this be moved to STP?

On the Channels Strip (of the Audio Track with the Audio Region), ctr+click on the left segment of the Input Button. That opens a popup menu where you can select Left (only the left channel of the Audio Region is played as mono), or Right (only the right channel of the Audio Region is played as mono).
Once the signal flow of the Channel Strip is mono (one channel), you can use the "Mono➤Stereo" version of some plugins to convert the Channel Strip to a stereo channel.
About your second question. If you are referring to the little blue "Catch Playhead Button", that automatically scrolls the Workspace when the Playhead reaches the right border to keep the Workspace visible. You also can also enable the "Scroll in Play" mode in the local View Menu. That one locks the Playhead in the center and scroll the Workspace "underneath"
However if you are referring to that little Play icon in the left upper corner of the Region Header (only visible in the Editor), that one, the "Solo Play Button", only plays that Region in solo mode. It is basically a combination of "Play " and "Solo" in on button. You can find all those little informations and much more in my graphically enhanced manual "Logic Pro X - How it Works".
Hope that helps
Edgar Rothermich
http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/
'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'

Changing 2 Mono Tracks back to 1 Stereo Track on timeline, or source monitor?

I was working in Premiere Pro CS 5.5 and I switched Audio on a clip to 2 Mono Tracks instead of its original 1 stereo track. I brought it in the Source Monitor and then on the timeline.
I then realized later on that I wanted to switch the audio back to 1 Stereo Track instead of the 2 Mono tracks.
I could not figure out a way to do this.
Is it possile to do this? If so. how?
Thanks in advance?

Joe has given you a good answer, but exactly why do you want to switch the two mono Tracks back to Stereo?
If one is not doing certain things, then they will be Mixed-down to stereo on Export. However, certain editin operations WILL be easier with both back in stereo, if you are doing those.
Good luck,
Hunt

Possible to Join Two Mono Tracks to Stereo, Or Change Panning of a Stereo?

In the new Garage Band 11, is it possible to Join Two Mono Tracks to Stereo, or Change the Panning of a Stereo track, or split a stereo track into two mono files?
Sometimes it would be convenient when I have a lot of tracks to combine two mono tracks into one stereo track to eliminate an additional track.
Also, I find that I often want to change the panning of a stereo track to either make it wider, or merge the two channels, even reverse L&R. If no way to change the panning of a stereo track can a stereo track be split into two mono tracks to be panned differently?

Woodwyn wrote:
is it possible to Join Two Mono Tracks to Stereo
only by exporting the two tracks
or Change the Panning of a Stereo track
you can pan a stereo track in every version of GB with the pan knob
or split a stereo track into two mono files?
indirectly:
http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#stereotomono
(Let the page FULLY load. The link to your answer is at the top of your screen)
want to change the panning of a stereo track to either make it wider, or merge the two channels
that's different. no, you'd have to split the track into two mono files as described above.
even reverse L&R.
same answer

How do i export 16 mono tracks in a sequence as 8 stereo tracks.

Hi I'll be working with 16 tracks of mono audio in Premiere to enable flexibility with my audio edits but when i export i want to make those 16 tracks as 8 stereo tracks, as this is what our specs for TX are. So 1&2 will be stereo track 1, 3&4 will be stereo track 2, 5&6 will be stereo track 3 and so forth... In FCP this is easy as you can link and unlink the audio in the sequence, and in the sequence settings audio outputs dictate whether it will be mono or stereo.
From what i gather i can edit in mono sequence then copy and paste into stereo sequence, however as the audio tracks are 1 track whether it is stereo or mono how do 16 fit into 8 when pasting.
Sorry in advance if i am missing something very easy here, but im pulling my hair out with this.
Thanks in advance
Jason

PP wil naturally send a track to two channels, even with a multichannel Master. So you can ruote the tracks in the Mixer window.

Mono track on boom mike - how to convert to stereo

I actually have another sound question: When we where shooting we the two audio channels as follows: one came from the camera mic and one from a boom mic.
Now I think I only want to use the sound from the boom mic. So what I have then is one mono track of live sound.
What do I do with this? How do I convert it into stereo. The cameraman who shot the stuff for me told me "you just copy the track" - I can do this of course but then I have essentially two mono track as a stereo track. Is that o.k.?

If you are worried that your mono track will sound too "flat," or won't locate properly in a stereo field filled with other sound elements, then here's a tip for you. I use this for voiceovers and on-camera speech when I have wild sound, music, or other sound events happening underneath in the mix.
Add a very small and subtle amount of stereo reverb to the mono V/O or speech track.
Use a short delay or "small room" setting on the reverb. Of course, "season to taste" is the rule for the length of delay with regard to blending the reverb into the rest of the audio. But usually for speech, a short delay works best in my experience.
My method is to add just enough for the reverb to be perceivable, and then dial it back a little.
This will really help place that sound source in a "hard center" position in the stereo field.
Also, if you are mixing speech, dial in about 1 to 2 db boost of 1000hz EQ to aid in speech intelligibility. Again, "season to taste."
Good luck.

Stereo V. Mono Track

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