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mixingdown in mono
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:11 am
by FSTZ
makes me happy

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:49 am
by two oh one
Yeah. I used to do it a lot. Sum the channels, turn one monitor off and pan around until things just fall into place. I should do that more. I just keep forgetting.

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:33 am
by decklyn
yeah i keep forgetting to try this!
do you do it with just one speaker?
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:12 am
by cryptic
My setup is constantly mono

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:36 am
by vonboyage
I dont even know how to do this.

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:50 pm
by FSTZ
I have a headphone amp that I use to control my comp volume.
it has a built in mono button.
you push it and viola!
BIG SOUND
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:24 pm
by MARCHMELLOW
Vonboyage wrote:I dont even know how to do this.

yeah this is new to me too
explain why?!
i know its always better to keep the majority of your individual tracks mono, and test your mixes in mono, because some PA's are in mono etc... but never done my final mixdown in mono...
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:32 pm
by somejerk
interesting. i always mix in stereo, it just seems like it would be a lot more interesting than mono. but mono for club systems...that might be a really good idea. i'll have to consult my local venue and see what their set up is!
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:34 pm
by Sharmaji
do it all the time-- i monitor out of a mixer so i just leave my main stereo buss with both channels panned up the center-- makes for a much more powerful mix. getting a stereo field is the last thing i deal with.
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:42 pm
by FSTZ
gaston_UK wrote:because some PA's are in mono?
^^^exactly
the majority of large soundsystems I have experienced are mono
so you wanna make the tune sound proper in both, mono and stereo
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:51 pm
by auan
Cool. I always kinda struggle at mixdowns because trying to get levels, EQ frequencies and stereo placement all right all at once seems a bit much. You guys just mix in mono then sort out the pans later then?
Any time I ran a PA in mono btw, I ended up tripping the amps - I had noise levels to stay under when I was doing sound for gigs. I always ran it in stereo but with everything panned centre. Don't think it makes much difference.
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:54 pm
by decklyn
from what i understand it also has to do with the phasing as well.
when you mixdown in mono, you turn the pan, and when the phasing is optimal, it just 'sounds right'.
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:59 pm
by MARCHMELLOW
i still dn't understand what i'll be listening out for in a mono mix?
is it literally just listen for traks that get 'lost' in mono mix? i don't fully understand this talk of phasing?
somone mentioned about stereo FX tracks - i always use mono effects tracks, as i heard its better to...but again don't fully understand why!?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:52 pm
by Littlefoot
unklefesta wrote:I have a headphone amp that I use to control my comp volume.
it has a built in mono button.
you push it and viola!
BIG SOUND
or wierd hollow sound if you cant mix

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:30 am
by tremourz
I need to start to reference this way as well. Just need a good single monitor.
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:15 am
by ramadanman
tbh it's probably best mixing down in stereo and then checking occasionally to make sure it still sounds fine in mono. when getting a tune mastered the engineer will often spend a couple minutes checking in mono rather than doing the whole process through one speaker
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 8:17 pm
by dubengineer
gaston_UK wrote:i still dn't understand what i'll be listening out for in a mono mix?
is it literally just listen for traks that get 'lost' in mono mix? i don't fully understand this talk of phasing?
somone mentioned about stereo FX tracks - i always use mono effects tracks, as i heard its better to...but again don't fully understand why!?
.. phasing:
If u sum two equal sound waves which are in phase with each other u will get the same sound but 3db´s louder.. If u sum them with one of them out of phase they will cancel each other out and the result is silence.
You can try this out in your sequencer, most eq plugs has got a Ø or + button which turns the phase of the track its on.
So things in the mix thats more or less out of phase in one channel or in between channels gets cancelled more or less out when the mix gets summed to mono.
Mixes should always work in mono, but why not do a raving stereo mix? I know as a live sound engineer how nice it sounds when i take care of a good mixed stereo track with the appropriate comp and eq.. ajusting for the room etc..
But one thing that often happends on clubs is that at the beginning of the night the dj mixer works in full stereo = no problem but later on when some ones been using his own needles or changed the mixer, the engineer tends to turn the channels in mono to escape all the crowd and staff thats been on his back about the speakers that blown or that one side is missing.. And there u have the problem - if both sides work but in mono and your bass is out of phase the track will sound wimpy..
excuse my long explanation and apologize if its to basic - am bored at my parents house , got a cold and can see no end to this week of darkness and fat foods..
DUUUUUUB COME SAVE ME!!!
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:02 pm
by westernsynthetics
Vonboyage your signature is disturbing, that is the meanest thing ever, that poor worker...
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:47 pm
by John Locke
westernsynthetics wrote:Vonboyage your signature is disturbing, that is the meanest thing ever, that poor worker...
yeah, and only marginally worse than that other one i seen sum1 else with on here of some poor tnuc sleeping and getting his tie stapled to the desk and his face slapped in. not actually very funny, strangely enough
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:10 am
by two oh one
westernsynthetics wrote:Vonboyage your signature is disturbing, that is the meanest thing ever, that poor worker...
Yeah, that bothers me. Late night store clerk getting punched hard for money that isn't even his.
Gangsta shit just isn't glamorous.