XLR Condenser Mic...Stereo?

[Monkey Allen]

Is the signal from an XLR Condenser Mic, into something like a Presonus Firebox (which has XLR inputs) stereo or mono?

 

[Track Rat]

Mono...........

 

[RezN8]

1 to 1

If you're using one mic the signal would be mono, UNLESS you are using a stereo mic. Your software maybe set to capture this file as a stereo track, but it's still a mono signal. -Rez

 

[Monkey Allen]

So if I record it to one track, it will either go left or right? It will not record on both?

I would have to specify which track I want it to go on...the left or the right.

If I set my software to stereo, I wont get a signal will I? Or it will just default to the left track or something right?

Is the way to make a mono recorded signal into stereo, to copy it and past it to the opposite side from which it was recorded on?

 

[DonF]

A "stereo" track where both sides are the same is in fact a "dual mono" track. With one (mono) microphone, you are limited to mono recording. That is an inescapable fact.

However, there's a mixer component called a "pan pot" that allows you to place this mono signal within the stereo field -- left, right, or somewhere in between. With several mono sources mixed together, panned appropriately, you can create a believable stereo image.

 

[Farview]

You should be recording a mic to a mono track in your software. The mono track will have a pan control that lets you move the mono signal from left to right. Most of the time, stereo is created by taking a lot of mono tracks and panning them to create a stereo image.
If you want to record something in stereo, you need 2 mics. This is done on drum overheads, orchestra, chior, ambient sound effects, keyboards (without the mics, just plugged in), etc... If you only have one mic, you want to set up a mono channel and record to that. Pan it later.

 

[Monkey Allen]

Ok, thanks, I understand