panning & "doubling"

[paresh]

Hi guys - I'm recording everything in "stereo", even a mono source like bass bec it seems simpler & also they often have a distinct left & right after being processed thru FX, before being recorded. My question is - does panning apply in the same way to a stereo track as to a mono track? And when they often suggest copying (doubling) a part & panning each slightly L & R to make it fatter, is that necessary if it's a stereo track. Dumb maybe, but I'm a musician not an engineer. Thanks!

 

[grinder]

With the pan on a stereo track centered, one signal is on the left and one on the right.If you pan to the left, it pans both signals to the left hand side and vice versa.If you have a stereo signal recorded on separate tracks, then panning one hard left and one hard right would be the same as a stereo track with the pan centered. Copying a track only makes the track louder.You have to add an effect of some sort to the copied track to make it differant.If you copy a track then add a little delay and pan each left and right you will get a stereo effect.I prefer to double parts.Play and record a part twice, play the part as exact as possible.Try using differant pickups or amp settings and pan each track left and right.I think this method is much better sounding than copying.Recording a stereo track is good for effects such as stereo chorus and vibrato where the signal moves back and forth between the speakers.

 

[paresh]

Thanks...very helpful!

 

[faderbug]

maybe a bit late but there is no point in recording mono, single output instruments in stereo, it only eats up disk space. when you do real time stereo effects it makes no difference wether the source is in mono or stereo, the effect will allways be stereo.

i think it's a better idea to record everything dry and add effects later.