Mono Compatibility - TranceAddict Forums

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Posted by CReddick on Feb-14-2007 22:50:

Mono Compatibility

So everyone's always talking about making sure you're track sounds alright in MONO... but I can't say anyone ever addresses fixing it. I've completeled something recently I'm pretty proud of, and its a very Stereo track. When i monitor in mono, a lot of the stereo synths have some major phase issues. drums & bass, sound fine, as they're mono. but a lot of my arps and whatnot are all over the place. any suggestions? i really like the full stereo sound. i feel like reducing the stero image would really be detracting from the song.

Posted by echosystm on Feb-14-2007 22:53:

Make a club mix that is more mono. Obvious?

Posted by No Left Turn on Feb-14-2007 23:07:

You don't necessarily have to reduce the stereo image just to make it sound ok in mono. Like you said, if your synths are out of phase when you monitor it in mono, try inverting the phase on that individual channel first. If that doesn't work, tweak some of the settings on the synth (not by too much so that it doesn't change the sound of your patch drastically).

Posted by CReddick on Feb-14-2007 23:44:

quote:
Originally posted by echosystm
Make a club mix that is more mono. Obvious?

No. I can't say that is the solution I'm looking for. That results in having two separate mixes with very little change. I'd rather make the existing more compatible. I played the track out last weekend in a large room that had a great stereo setup, and it sounded perfect.

I'll try the phase tweak this weekend and report back.

Posted by camsr on Feb-15-2007 00:06:

When you produce for mono (almost always), you have to design your sounds to be mono. The wholeness of the sound should be in mono (except for some detuned synths which are panned eg supersaws), and then you ADD stereo effects after to give the stereo image. I have a saying and its: If it sounds good in stereo, it might sound like shit in mono; but if it sounds good in mono, it will sound better in stereo. This has worked to improve my sounds so much. MY advice, learn to use choruses, flangers, phasers, reverbs, delays, and filters to add stereo presense.

Posted by CReddick on Feb-15-2007 00:45:

quote:
Originally posted by camsr
When you produce for mono (almost always), you have to design your sounds to be mono. The wholeness of the sound should be in mono (except for some detuned synths which are panned eg supersaws), and then you ADD stereo effects after to give the stereo image. I have a saying and its: If it sounds good in stereo, it might sound like shit in mono; but if it sounds good in mono, it will sound better in stereo. This has worked to improve my sounds so much. MY advice, learn to use choruses, flangers, phasers, reverbs, delays, and filters to add stereo presense.

Will try that. A LOT of the patches straight out of the VIRUS have a huge stereo field... so this is going to be interesting.

Posted by TwistedDUO on Feb-15-2007 03:09:

Addressing why mono is so important is a simple matter accessibilty. Much of what you hear in a "stereo" output is not true stereo. It's simply two mono outputs that are in phase. Understanding what effects like flanges and reverb do will help you understand phase-shifting. It's also these effects that will allow you to equalize the phasing on each side of the stereo track.

Posted by CReddick on Feb-16-2007 01:37:

Nice!

Posted by camsr on Feb-16-2007 04:52:

Creddick read your PMs

Posted by Limit on Feb-17-2007 04:31:

so are you guys saying to keep all tracks to mono? I thought this mono thing wen tout the door when people started to dj with cd's? I mean I know some clubs have mono setups still, but I hear a lot of tracks that have stereo basslines...That was a major no no before vinyl was still king. I'm still confused now? What should be mono and what should be stereo?

one thing I dont understand is using stereo effects on mono tracks...doesn't it just make them stereo anyway? Like if I has a bassline and it was mono, then i used a chorus on it..wouldn't it become stereo?

Posted by CReddick on Feb-17-2007 04:42:

From the majority of research I've done now... The basic consensus is that it really depends on the tracks final destination. like if you were writing something for broadcast, there's a high chance someone could hear your music on a TV with one speaker. I don't think you'll find too many clubs that are set up with a mono system. I mean, even vinyl is still stereo. I've double checked my track a few places and things seem to fall into place ok. I'm really not going to sweat it too much.