A Dumb ass question

[Fire Dome]

1 really stupid question for you more knowledgable people to answer.

1 Stereo/Mono. Ok what is the real difference between each (In laymans terms)? What are the advantages of using either and when should one or the other be used?

Dave

 

[Steal Sessions]

Well, google (www.google.com) gave me a hit that explains it: http://www.bcae1.com/stermono.htm

just search for "stereo vs mono" in google or another search engine on the web and read.

 

[noisedude]

Mono - 1 channel of sound. If you have two speakers then the sound coming out of both is identical.

Stereo - 2 channels of sound. A contrived impersonation of realistic hearing - i.e. sounds coming from different directions. If you have two speakers, then a signal is sent to each and the coming result gives and impression of 'space'. If you 'pan' something hard right then it will only be sent down one channel (hopefully the right hand speaker if you're set up right!!!!!).

For single sounds such as a voice, a mono recording can be placed into a stereo setting e.g. just left of centre or all the way to the right. You can record in stereo and then shift that entire image around, e.g. a guitar through a delay pedal may pan its delay from side to side. In mixing you could shift it further one way or the other.

Make any sense?

 

[tedluk]

1 really stupid question for you more knowledgable people to answer.

1 Stereo/Mono. Ok what is the real difference between each (In laymans terms)? What are the advantages of using either and when should one or the other be used?

Dave

It's impossible to answer the second half of your question without some specifics. It's like asking, "Red or Green? What are the advantages? When should you use one or the other?"

Ted

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

In my opinion most tracks should be recorded MONO unless there is something specific you are trying to achieve in stereo--like recording a stereo source.

If you have one guy singing--record it in mono.

Now let's say you have 5 or 6 people singing in a group... you could put two mics up to capture that in stereo--thus, record it in stereo.

Drum overheads are another classic thing that should be recorded in stereo, or at least eventually arranged that way.

 

[Ronan]

In my opinion most tracks should be recorded MONO unless there is something specific you are trying to achieve in stereo--like recording a stereo source.

I agree with this completely. If it is a full band situation, I rarely mic anything but the drum overheads stereo, or on rare occasions for a sparse mix I will mike a leslie cab stereo.

Lots of mono elements make for a bigger stereo final mix.

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

Exactly, too many things recorded in stereo quickly devolves into a very mono sounding mix, because nothing is really panned.

Plus its easier on your track count, hard drive usage, DSP processing power... etc, etc, etc....