Mono Mixing In Pro Tools

  • Thread starter Thread starter peritus
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peritus

peritus

The not fountain head
Okay... So I've been obsessed with figuring out how to best deal with phasing issues...

At the studio, we have a monitoring box that allows for mono mixing.. However, at home, I do interface to active monitors...

The question is.. What is quick, easy, and reliable way to "check my mix in mono", from inside a Pro Tools session? Should I create a mono master fader, and mute it while I'm mixing stereo.. And mute the stereo while mixing mono?

Thanks for the help!

:confused:
 
which interface do you have???

the 002's and 002r's have a little button in between the monitor volume and the headphone knob, near the 'mute' button, and it says MONO. it lights up green when you press it.

thats the quick way if you have that unit.
 
create a stereo aux and pan it in the center.
then send each audio track to an open stereo bus and assign the aux track's input to that stereo bus. that's the easiest way.
or download Digi's new signal tools: http://digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=71&itemid=4951&ref=signaltools-fhp

a mono master fader is only going to let you control one channel...ie. channel 1. So you'd have to pan each of your audio tracks to the left and assign them to outputs 1/2 in order to get it to work. But this would mess with any pan automation.
 
Using Pro Tools M-Powered with a Firewire 410.. Thanks Benny.. Got it all worked out now...

Cool... :)
 
bennychico11 said:
create a stereo aux and pan it in the center.
then send each audio track to an open stereo bus and assign the aux track's input to that stereo bus. that's the easiest way.
or download Digi's new signal tools: http://digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=71&itemid=4951&ref=signaltools-fhp

a mono master fader is only going to let you control one channel...ie. channel 1. So you'd have to pan each of your audio tracks to the left and assign them to outputs 1/2 in order to get it to work. But this would mess with any pan automation.
Click to expand...

I've finally got Signal Tools...

Is there some "listen in mono" option?

I looked at the manual and didn't see anything about it..
 
peritus said:
I've finally got Signal Tools...

Is there some "listen in mono" option?

I looked at the manual and didn't see anything about it..
Click to expand...

it's always looking at the phase relationship of the two channels.
The first way is it's Lissajous meter (that big green scope) and the other way is that phase meter below that.

Look at the attached photos. Picture 1 is of an out of phase signal and picture 2 is of an in phase one.

The more vertical the line in the Lissajous meter, the more out of phase it is. The more horizontal, the more in phase.
Like wise, with the phase meter and it's dot...at -1 it's 100% out of phase and at +1 it's perfect mono image. At 0 it's considered a "perfect stereo image"
 

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Thanks again...

So if something is pefect stereo, it won't canel out in mono either? Sorry, but this stuff has got me stressing...
 
Okay.. I take it back.. I figured it out... Thanks..
 
If you're listening for phase issues on Pro Tools, make sure you know about the Waves Paz analyzer. It's really helpful for shitty phase relationship. Google it.
 
peopleperson said:
If you're listening for phase issues on Pro Tools, make sure you know about the Waves Paz analyzer. It's really helpful for shitty phase relationship. Google it.
Click to expand...

Yeah... I've been meaning to look into that too...

Thanks for the tip!

:)
 
peritus said:
See, I'm working on this mix contest over here:
http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=224997&goto=lastpost

Here's my current mix @ 320 mp3....
http://download.yousendit.com/FE4031E956CAB720

I'd say 95% of the mix was spent in mono mode (using your aux track procedure), while keeping the Signal Tools phase-meter up for reference (pre-mono)...
Click to expand...


a good technique to do, but don't stay in mono the entire time. Mixing in mono is great for trying to level out the volume of the individual tracks so that each sits well in the mix. Maybe when writing automation. But don't forgot that it IS going to be listened back in stereo. Any any EQ changes you've done because it sounds muddy or threatens other instruments in mono...doesn't necessarily mean it will sound the same way in stereo.
Of course this is just my opinion. There are other guys here that advocate doing it mostly in mono. But for the mix competition, why not try and practice the technique. They're great for that. :)
 
bennychico11 said:
a good technique to do, but don't stay in mono the entire time. Mixing in mono is great for trying to level out the volume of the individual tracks so that each sits well in the mix. Maybe when writing automation. But don't forgot that it IS going to be listened back in stereo. Any any EQ changes you've done because it sounds muddy or threatens other instruments in mono...doesn't necessarily mean it will sound the same way in stereo.
Of course this is just my opinion. There are other guys here that advocate doing it mostly in mono. But for the mix competition, why not try and practice the technique. They're great for that. :)
Click to expand...


Wise words... Thanks for your help
 
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to bennychico11 again.
 
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