Recording in Mono-Not stereo

Posted on

Pslam 34:8
Member Since: Dec 04, 2004

Im sorta having the same problem as the before post. I am running a Behringer EURORACK UB802 4-channel mixer. www.behringer.com/UB802/index.cfm?lang=ENG As well I am recording with Acid 4.0.
I have two main outs-a right and a left and I use a "y" to run the two together into my soundcard but when I am listening to it It's only coming out my left speaker. As well I have to duplicate the track and pan one to the left and the other to the right in order to get a full sound. I even tried to run the sound from my headaphones and I'm not even getting sound through the speakers when I do that.

PLEASE HELP! Buller? Buller? Buller? Has anyone seen Ferris?

[ Back to Top ]


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 06, 2004 11:16 am

You have to set your app to record in mono, from the left channel. Right now it's two mono's going to one mono with your y cable and you are inserting it into a stereo jack, which means only the left channel is making contact. So it's recording a stereo track but the right channel is nothing.

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Dec 06, 2004 11:20 am

Quote:
PLEASE HELP! Buller? Buller? Buller? Has anyone seen Ferris?


'fraid not...

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Dec 06, 2004 11:43 am

What sound card are you using? I'm pretty sure that if you want to record in stereo, you need a soundcard that accepts a stereo pair of 2 inputs.

With that being said, what are you recording. For most cases, you probably don't need a stereo recording.

Pslam 34:8
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004


Dec 06, 2004 12:41 pm

At the moment I'm not sure what my soundcard is but I know it has just one imput. Which could turn out to be a bummer!

Quote:
With that being said, what are you recording. For most cases, you probably don't need a stereo recording.


, but I really don't like recording mono cause if I do then my pan slider is in the middle but all my sound is on the left speaker. I'd like to have my pan slider on center and my sound centered in order for me to get a true distinction where my sound is coming from. Right now on my pan slider, from the center to hard left is nothing but left. So my slider is really only using half of its potential of-center to right-center being hard left and hard right being... well you know.


Quote:
You have to set your app to record in mono, from the left channel. Right now it's two mono's going to one mono with your y cable and you are inserting it into a stereo jack, which means only the left channel is making contact. So it's recording a stereo track but the right channel is nothing.


I don't want it to be mono. So is there some way to set my app to record in stereo, cause obviously it's default is set to mono.
Thanks everyone for their help

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 06, 2004 12:44 pm

Oh, in that case, check your y cable, it should be two mono jacks on one end and one stereo jack on the other, it sound like you have one mono on that end instead.

Pslam 34:8
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004


Dec 06, 2004 12:46 pm

Thanks, I might need to check that. That sounds good!

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Dec 06, 2004 01:40 pm

I noticed that you don't want to record in mono, but if it means anything, I'm pretty sure you can record in mono without it coming solely from your left speaker. If you want to try this, you prolly have to set it up in your recording application. There should be an option to select left as the input or something like that.

man of music
Member
Since: Dec 12, 2004


Dec 12, 2004 08:34 am

coolo,i been readin thru posts and it seems like ur the man i need to talk to.i have a guestion regarding this,i inderstand now to record in mono via app.,how should i have the mixer set-up?should i be panning left/right? and how come i can't hear myself in the headphones?

man of music
Member
Since: Dec 12, 2004


Dec 12, 2004 09:17 am

db Master is pretty smart as well...saved my life......that guy

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Dec 13, 2004 02:03 am

Stonetone, I'm not sure if I understand your question. But here's what I do (one instrument/mic at a time, no outboard effects):
1)mic goes into mixer input 1
2)mixer main out L goes into input 1 on soundcard (delta 66)
3)in recording app select delta 66 for input and choose mono L instead of stereo or mono R
4)I get one mono track, and everythings gravy.

If you are using outboard effects, you may want to be recording in stereo. Also, you don't need to pan your track at all. As for the hearing yourself in the headphones, heh, that I haven't really figured out. Well, I figured out for my setup, but my setup actually utilizes a stand alone preamp in addition to the mixer. What I just described actually is how I used to do it, and I couldn't hear myself in the headphones.


Also, you calling me out for advice is somewhat ironic, since I learned most everything I know from the other guys here and trial and error. It's just that I've been pretty active lately (it goes in spurts).

Oh yes, and welcome to HRC.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Dec 13, 2004 10:28 am

My perception is that there is a fundemental misunderstanding of mono vs stereo here. I don't know how exactly to approach this.

When you record a guitar in mono or create a single mono track of a recorded guitar and pan that mono track in a stereo mix you have created a stereo effect. The guitar now presents itself at different levels on each speaker. Stereo is nothing more than the ability to hear sounds in different places in a left to right field. Simply having that guitar presenting itself somewhere besides dead center in the left to right field constitutes a stereo mix.

Recording in stereo is simply the creation of two mono tracks, one panned hard left on hard right. This is done to take advantage of instruments that create a stereo field. A good example is a keyboard. A keyboard will often use an effect such as chorus to create two different different mono tracks. The left output will sound different from the right output. In recording a keyboard of this nature I will still use two mono tracks rather than one stereo track as I have more control over where I put those two mono tracks in the mix.

I can only hope this helps at some level. I really don't know of any other way to approach this. The other thing that is confusing to me is the difficulty you are having in panning. In a proper functioning system you should be able to set a mono track hard right and hear only the right speaker. You should be able to move the panning from right to left and hear the instrument move across the right to left field as you change the panning from hard right to hard left. At center pan both speakers should be playing the mono track evenly giving the impression of the sound coming from dead center of the field.

Pslam 34:8
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004


Dec 13, 2004 12:40 pm

Hay StoneTone. Do you have your headphones in the speaker jacks. Cause if you do then go into your volume settings and make sure your "Line In" volume is up. I know that was my problem anyway.

And the stereo thing? It seems alot of people around here LIKE recording in mono. It gives more freedom in the mixdown, I geuss. I just started recording in stereo, so I geuss I'll figure this one out on my own, which one I like better. Right now I like recording one track and not having to duplicate it to get stereo.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Dec 13, 2004 12:55 pm

Well, the thing is, if you're not panning, and you're recording say vocals with one mic, there is no need to record in stereo. In this instance, your stereo is just two mono tracks of the exact same thing. Which is fine, except that if you are recording to a computer, a stereo track takes more processing power than a mono track. So this is ok for a while, but if you record enough tracks it takes its toll on the system.

However, if you are recording and using say an outboard reverb unit, or like walt said, a keyboard that is utilizing chorus, or other sounds that utilize a stereo field you will want to record in stereo, so as not to lose the desired stereo effect.

Pslam 34:8
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004


Dec 13, 2004 02:51 pm

So let me ask you this. Whats the difference in recording in stereo and recording a track in mono where your sound is coming from one side and then duplicating the track so thet you have the stereo effect? Or do you just record in mono and then pan to the middle to get your stereo?

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 13, 2004 03:48 pm

I don't think that would make any difference, unless you do something to the duplicated track that you don't do to the original track...otherwise, having the exact same signal duplicated and added to the mix (no matter where its panned) would just be a waste of resources on your computer.

If you want the same signal coming from each speaker, then record 1 mono track and leave it panned center. Voila!

Pslam 34:8
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004


Dec 13, 2004 03:58 pm

Well which is better. Two tracks, one panned hard left and the second panned hard right, or one main track without pan setting in the center?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 13, 2004 04:01 pm

Nothing is written in stone as "better"...whatever works for your song is best. personally, I usually record two mono tracks of guitar pan them slighty different (not hard left and right) and EQ them a little bit different, it gives a very big sound. But there are times I only want one thin track...every project is different...

I don't usually have anything except kick drum and vocals sitting dead center. I generally have everything else panned, maybe ever so slightly, some way or another.

I think panning hard left and right fills up the whole stereo image with guitar, I hate that, I want some positioning available for the other instruments as well.

Pslam 34:8
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004


Dec 13, 2004 04:06 pm

I like that. That helps alot

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 13, 2004 04:10 pm

It's not about one instrument or another when mixing. It's about each one, and it's placement in the overall picture and it's placement in the frequency spectrum. Not only do you need to position the instruments in the stero (or surround) field, but they all need to have their dominant space in the frequency spectrum...it's a lot to consider, but it spearates the men from the boys (sorry Karyn and BoyzMum, just an expression :-)

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Dec 13, 2004 05:32 pm

db, I pretty much completely agree with you, as you are talking about mixing. But when recording, I personally prefer to record in mono (for the majority of my recordings - one mic and all), then in my software, I can pan left, right or whatever while mixing. But, the original recording is almost always just in mono. The final mix, for sure, is always going to be stereo.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 13, 2004 06:02 pm

I record in mono, but I prefer to go from more than one source, so recording 2 or 3 mono tracks for a given instrument, as it adds more depth and fullness to the sound, such as a guitar cab with a 57 on the cone, an MK319 back about 3-4 feet and one direct feed., then mixing those sources for the best sound...but yeah, I know what you are saying too, and I have done that many times as well...as I keep saying, it just depends on the situation.

Member
Since: Apr 22, 2004


Dec 13, 2004 06:14 pm

Nae worries dB...its an expression I have used mahself.

Related Forum Topics:



If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.