Need advice - Stereo or Mono?

[xcatch22]

Hi. Currently I've been recording by going through my guitar preamp into my Soundblaster live card. From my preamp I have a 'Line out' right and a 'line out' left. I'll run the cord from my 'left out' to the 'line in' of my sound card. Needless to say, I'm recording in mono. What I do to counteract this is overdub an additional guitarline over my first. I'll pan them off to give a fuller sound and have stereo. This gives me a good recording but I'm wondering if it would be even better if I went stereo to begin with. Is it worth it for me to get an adapter so I can run both the right and left outs into my sound card and record in stereo. Also, since I only have one 'line in'on my soundcard would it still be in mono anyway? I appreciate the help
Brian

 

[unreal]

Hi,

Well unless you're using some special reverb, flanger, chorus or something like that, the output of your preamp is likely to be mono anyway. If the output of your preamp is indeed stereo, then, of course, you'd be better to record in stereo, directly. It'll only cost you a silly little cable: something like double 1/4'' jack to stereo mini-jack (to fit into the Live). By the way, you don't appear to realise that the "line in" on the Live IS a stereo jack, so there's no problem recording in stereo through it.

SM

 

[mixmkr]

yeah...watch you don't end up just getting a dual mono signal..same thing in both the left and right channels. Also..some mixes might get a little out of proportion if all the instruments are recorded in stereo..with no panning in relation to the rest of the other instruments. It's easy to do..cause my keyboards are all stereo outs and it is hard to resist not splitting L/R all the keyboard tracks. Most times, the panning sounds best, with more of mono sources (albeit with some reverbs off on the other side...maybe)

 

[Skyline609]

I dont know too much of amps that have pre outs as stereo, but if you do, yes, all you need is an insert cable. then just stick a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adapter on the end of it, and plug em in. SB has stereo line in, so see what that does for you.