rec. giut. in mono or stereo?

[pattygram]

hi all, im wondering how most of you record your elec. guitars. during mixing i pan most either l.or r. so does it matter if its stereo or mono. mono takes up less room file wise. so should it be rec. in mono. thanx.

 

[Porter]

Simple answer... when you record a guitar you have one sound source? So just record the track in mono... if you have an effects pedal that has stereo effects and stereo out, record stereo.

Porter

 

[dachay2tnr]

Yup. Record it in mono, unless you are looking for a particular effect that requires stereo.

Besides taking up less space in mono, instruments are nearly impossible to pan when recorded in stereo.

 

[mixsit]

I'll often use two different mics on a pair of mono tracks, if for no other reasons, it's easy, and you get to try tone options you might not have expected to work later in the mix. One ends up being enough useually, but a second can be used to blend (tones can add or do phase-eq things, fun on electric cabs), sometimes they get panned out and/or treated differently.
Kind of like why you'd track the bass mic and DI.
Wayne

 

[James Argo]

Agree with those above

Anyway, I think you'll get more various answer if you post in Recording Tech. forum instead of Cakewalk forum...


Jaymz

 

[hawk]

I have a similar question. If you want to record 2 guitar tracks only (at separate times, not at the same time,) should you record one left and one right? Or does it really matter? I mean, it's still a mono signal, right?

 

[James Argo]

that's right...

You can always pan them in mixing stage...

 

[dachay2tnr]

I have a similar question. If you want to record 2 guitar tracks only (at separate times, not at the same time,) should you record one left and one right? Or does it really matter? I mean, it's still a mono signal, right?

Not sure I understand what you're asking, hawk. If you record them in mono, there is no left or right.

However, you can pan a mono track left or right upon playback, since the playback of the "mix" will be in stereo. That allows you to "place" the guitar in mix by panning it.

 

[AlChuck]

dachay2tnr, the inputs are usually labelled L or R, especially on a consumer soundcard that has a TRS minjack for a line in. Even my Delta 66 labels its inputs in pairs -- Delta 1/2 L, Delta 1/2 R, etc.

 

[hawk]

Not sure I understand what you're asking, hawk. If you record them in mono, there is no left or right.

There is a L and R input on my sound card. I was asking if, when I record 2 separate guitar tracks (IE, not simultaneosly,) if I should record one in the L jack and one in the R jack. But, I think it doesn't matter, as you can pan with software later on. Thanks.

 

[Porter]

hawk,

You are right, you can pan it later on. When you record from a L or R source you are recording a MONO signal, as log as you record it as MONO you should be able to pan it left or right. If you selected a STEREO source recorded the guitar plugged just into the left channel, the guitar would be panned hard left... you could split the tracks to two mono tracks then pan it.. I'll stop there not to confuse you anymore.

Porter

 

[dachay2tnr]

There is a L and R input on my sound card. I was asking if, when I record 2 separate guitar tracks (IE, not simultaneosly,) if I should record one in the L jack and one in the R jack. But, I think it doesn't matter, as you can pan with software later on. Thanks.

Yup. You got it. Doesn't matter, just so long as the input you've selected in Sonar matches the jack you are physically plugged into.