recording to 2 tracks

[gwhittle]

I have read that it is common to record a guitar part or vocal, onto 2 tracks instead of just one. Why is this better than recording onto one track if you can set the pan to send it to each speaker? If I record to only one track, is this not true stereo? I have a 4 track recorder and would rather not have to bounce tracks all the time, if I can help it.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Stereo *only* comes from using 2 mics to capture a source (each mic feeding a separate channel)....

Panning a mono signal will place that track within the soundfield of a mix, but it is NOT a stereo track....

 

[jake-owa]

With a four track machine you'd better get real used to mono. I would not even consider stereo unless i had an accoustic song with one guitar and some vocals.

My old 4 track setup was drums mono on one bass on two guitar on three and vox on four. If you need more mix it to a digital deck or (shudder) cassette and run that mix in stereo back to the 4track in stereo freeing up two tracks.