Mono to stereo etc
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Posted on Dec 29, 2005 02:12 pm
olliel
Member Since: Dec 22, 2005
Hi there! From previous chats on HRC i've found out that i'll use aux send 1 to go to the soundcard, and feed the out of the s.card back into the mixer but don't send that to the aux send. Therefore i can hear both signals, live and already recorded. But the only thing that with the aux sends, this signal is just mono, but i have 2 aux sends. The s.card i will have will be the e-mu 0404, this has 2 unbalanced ins. So if i use both aux sends and put into each s.card input, would this create stereo? As i would like the warmth made my stereo. If not is there a way around it. I cannot use the main mix, as this would be for my monitors, and would also include the feed from the soundcard and would record my song twice, if you get what i mean.
basically, does sending two unbalnced to to unbalanced on soundcard make a stereo, if not, is there a way of mixing them, or doing something on the computer to make it sound stereo. Also, do you record guitar in mono? Vocals?
thanks, ollie
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 02:29 pm Once the signal gets into the mixer part of your computer, it's usually (unless you tell it not to) made stereo, and outputs out the L and R outputs. Then you can route the 2 signals back into your physical mixer so you can hear them.
This way you'll be hearing the previous mono track (split into stereo automatically), plus the incoming mono track (which is mono until it hits the software mixer).
Basically, you record in mono, and the computer will play the track back in stereo for you. That's where you can set the pan (left and right).
Guitars, and vocals are almost always mono, unless they're coming into the computer through a processor that creates the stereo field. I've got a Boss GT6 that can make a stereo field for you. In this case, you'd connect the two outputs from the processor, to two inputs on the sound card. Inside the computer, the recording software can create a stereo track from 2 signals. You'd have to make sure the program is creating a stereo track, instead of 2 mono tracks.
If you're just doing basic recording, then they'll be mono until the computer gets them inside.
Hope that made sense.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 02:29 pm The stereo field comes from having signals from both the right, and left of center. It's going to be your use of Panning that will give you your stereo sound. Even if all your tracks are recorded mono, and you move some right, and some left, you have a stereo mix.
Guitar I find better to record mono, and either double track (record it again, exactly the same), or create a duplicate track and pan/EQ/FX differently to get a thicker sound if required.
Vocals I'm still learning...I've done it both ways with varying results.
Dec 29, 2005 02:31 pm Yup, yup and yup.
Make sure you set the faders to unity (0) as one of the auxillaries might be pre fader, and the other post.
Stereo is anything you want it to be. Its usually associated with the use of two signals from one source, but you can make stereo guitar tracks for example, by taking one mono track, panning it left, duplicating it and panning the duplicate right but delaying it by a couple of ms.
Solo Vocals are usually recorded in mono, as they will usually be sitting in the centre of the mix.
I like to record electric guitar with as many mics as possible and select the best sounds during mixing. Then I might pan certain mics left and right accordingly. I also like recording distorted guitar with an X-Y stereo pair of 1 dynamic and 1 LD condenser. Plenty of people record guitar in mono as well.
As for acoustic guitar, I like to use an A-B stereo pair of SD condensers. One pointed at the bridge, and one at the top of the neck. I also like the sound of one LD condenser pointed at approximately the 12 th fret on the guitar.
There are really no rules regarding how you record, just guidelines. Get out there and experiment!
Dec 29, 2005 02:32 pm And if I didn't have that damn pancake I would have been first
ollielMember
Since: Dec 22, 2005
Dec 29, 2005 02:40 pm So basically, i'd just use one of the aux sends, or two, it doesn't matter. Then put these into either the first or 2nd input(unbalanced). I will then use both the outputs (as they're L and R) and i can put that into one track on my mixer as i have stereo tracks on the last four.
So, just to sum it up, shall i pan everything centre on my mixer, then change wen i get to the computer? But this would be as good, because there's only going to be a stereo track at the most on the software.
ollielMember
Since: Dec 22, 2005
Dec 29, 2005 02:43 pm Oh i get it, you pan the channels left and right accordingly, bass and snare left, overheads and toms right for example. This will then create a stereo field, eventhough it is being sent as mono. It's strange to think at first, so unbalanced doesn't neccessary mean mono, and balanced not always stereo.
Cheers, please tell me if im wrong. So this doesn't mean i have to use my main mix as an output
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 02:45 pm You'd want to keep the signals separate leaving the physical mixer. This can be done by sending channel 1 to aux 1, and sending channel 2 to aux 2. Tell the computer to make two mono tracks from the incoming signals. This will keep the signals separate in the computer.
Once the computer starts playing back, all of the tracks in the mixer will play back through the L and R in stereo fashion. This is what you route back into the physical mixer, coming in through a stereo pair.
Conversely, you could send both channel 1 and channel 2 to aux 1 and aux 2, but that would be redundant, plus you wouldn't be able to edit each track independantly. Keep them separate, either through their own aux send, or by panning and going out L and R outputs from the physical mixer.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 02:47 pm balanced has nothing to do with mono / stereo. You could create a stereo balanced cable, but it'd be difficult, and I don't think any hardware would support it. So it wouldn't work.
Balanced cables (TRS) can be used as a stereo cable, and vice-versa. It's just 3 conductors in both cases. Mono and unbalanced only need 2 conductors, so they are interchangeable as well.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 02:49 pm Since you have the PCI0404 card, you have one pair of mono inputs, and a pair of mono outputs (I won't count the optical and midi right now). You'll theoretically be sending your "right" signals to the right in, and the "left" signals to the left in. How you pan these in the software is up to you. You'll set up your connections accordingly in your software, and then assign your input signal to these connections when you record.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 02:51 pm Quote:
Oh i get it, you pan the channels left and right accordingly, bass and snare left, overheads and toms right for example
If you send the signals out the aux, then you can have bass and snare on aux 1, then overheads on aux 2. You wouldn't need to pan left and right. This will keep the 2 signals separate, but each will have two signals inside of it, for a total of 4, but two signals in the PC.
If you were sending the signal out of the mains, then you'd have to pan the 2 signals left, and the other two right, and take signal out from the L and R mains (or sub outs, if you have them).
ollielMember
Since: Dec 22, 2005
Dec 29, 2005 03:03 pm So using the aux sends is the best way really, main mix will just be for the monitors. What are pre faders and post faders, or all these uneccessary to my current position, shall i just keep the faders at 0.
cheers
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 03:18 pm I'd leave them at 0, until you figure out how they work. You can have an aux send before the fader, or have an aux send after the fader, therefore the fader will make the signal louder and softer based on where the fader is.
If you start getting the cabling and routing figured out, then you'll probably start figuring out a lot more just by expirementing and playing with it.
Experience is the best teacher, they say.
It'd help to know what mixer you're using, filling out your gear profile helps us with what you have.
ollielMember
Since: Dec 22, 2005
Dec 29, 2005 03:56 pm Just to finalise this, do i just use the normal mono, TS 1/4" jack leads, like your normal guitar ones between the mixer and the pc?
cheers
ollie
p.s updated my profile too
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 04:05 pm Yep, nothing fancy there. You can use guitar cables for patch cables, though they're pretty long. I'd pick up a Hosa 1/4" to 1/4" patch cable from musician's friend. Or make them yourself if you're solderly skilled. Keep them short as possible so you don't pick up any stray RF or electrical mumbo-jumbo from about the room.
