MONO vs. STEREO

[jaydot]

Now maybe I am just ignorant or maybe just stubborn, but when i record a song, clearly, I have one mic. It is done in mono.

 

However, when I am done recording (RAP), I always move this track to a stereo layer so that I can adjust what channel (excuse me if my terminology is incorrect) I want to have it balanced to.

 

For instance, I may take my main vocals and put it on -13 (out of 64/-64). The majority of the vocals are on the left ear, however there are still vocals on the right ear.

 

I then might put my keywords on 25, and then my ad-libs on -27 or something of that nature.

 

To me when I listen to this, this gives the impression of depth, sort of a 3D sound. This is all capable because I put this on a stereo track.

 

If i were to leave it as a mono track, this would totally alienate one ear. Or I would have to duplicate the mono track and adjust it like so.

 

Now I was speaking with an engineer who has done work with many major artists, and he told me my process is wrong.

 

How can this possibly be?

[markedmondson]

Whether a track is stereo or mono only indicates what kind of SOURCE audio it's playing, not its DESTINATION. Ergo a mono track can output into the stereo field- just as you want.

 

It's simple: if your source track is mono, i.e. a vocal, the its track should also be mono- but assigned to a STEREO output. This will let you pan it wherever you want in the left-right field.

 

If your source track is stereo, i.e. music or an instrument sound, put it on a STEREO track, and still assign it to a stereo output pair. In this situation, the pan knob works as a BALANCE control- i.e. panning left attenuates the right and vice versa.

[David Nahmani]

I gave a detailed explanation of this too - toward the bottom of the following thread:

 

http://www.logicprohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=46960

 

To me when I listen to this, this gives the impression of depth, sort of a 3D sound. This is all capable because I put this on a stereo track.

 

If i were to leave it as a mono track, this would totally alienate one ear. Or I would have to duplicate the mono track and adjust it like so.

 

It's exactly the opposite. Only on a mono track can you use a real Pan knob, and decide toward which speaker you should send more of the mono signal. By placing your mono file on a stereo track, you're not doing much anyway: you're dealing with a stereo track where both sides playback the same mono file - you're wasting resources and misusing plug-ins.

 

A mono source belongs on a mono track throughout the entire production process. No reason to move it. Want it slightly to the right? Pan it slightly to the right. Simple as that.

 

PS: in general your lead vocals are better left centered - but that's your choice.

[markedmondson]

PS: in general your lead vocals are better left centered - but that's your choice.

 

Plus, this has the added benefit of making all your recordings compatible with those "vocal remover" boxes sold in the back of audio magazines in the 70's!

 

8)

[jaydot]

not understanding that....

 

if its mono, and its panned, does it or does it not purely put it on that channel.....

 

and p.s.

 

i always put my main vocals slightly to the left, but an engineer told me otherwise...smh.

[David Nahmani]

not understanding that....

 

if its mono, and its panned, does it or does it not purely put it on that channel.....

Only if it's HARD panned (panned all the way, as in -64 or +63). Everything in between is available with every other position of the pan knob. You need to experiment a bit tweaking the pan on a mono track while listening to the effect to "see" how it works.

 

i always put my main vocals slightly to the left, but an engineer told me otherwise...smh.

Honestly, if I were you I would reconsider. Lead vocals belong in the center.

[jaydot]

I tried this..... its seems as if its almost the same effect or maybe I am just listening wrong.

 

 

I get what you are saying about the hard pan.

 

I put in some earplugs and took out the right earphone. Then I took out the left earphone. I panned at different channels and could still hear in both ear pieces, except one was obviously at a higher level than another.

 

 

 

Thanks for all the help.

[David Nahmani]

I tried this..... its seems as if its almost the same effect or maybe I am just listening wrong.

 

You are listening right. Placing a mono file on a mono track or on a stereo track will yield exactly the same results, but placing it on a stereo track and starting to use plug-ins will use more resources - for nothing. You're basically asking your computer to make the same math twice at the same time for no reason.