Is there a difference between Mono and Mid?

[ferez21]

Hello,

I just want to understand it once and for all, is there a difference between the two?
Say i want to put an insert effect on my bass channel to make it...well, mono...can i use a Mid/Side encoder and cancel the Side, or does a Mono signal have a different information then Mid and i should use another technique?

Thanks,
Erez.

[bjporter]

Good question.

From what I understand it, in a layman's perspective, is this example:

Let's say you record an external synth that has a lot of stereo effects. You use a mid side plugin to get the Mid... that's only the stuff panned in the center... so no side (the part that makes it stereoish) information.

Now let's say you take the same recording, and make it mono. That retains all side and mid so it is squashed into one channel.

If you record a bassline that has no stereo effects, or modulation... it will sound the same in mono or mid.

[bjporter]

I just set up my screen casting system... I could do a video of this too.

[ferez21]

Now let's say you take the same recording, and make it mono. That retains all side and mid so it is squashed into one channel.

Thanks,
This is exactly what i thought but wasn't sure. So how how do i convert a signal to a proper Mono?

[Sendy]

I have to hold my hand up and admit I've had moments of confusion on this issue

[bjporter]

Now let's say you take the same recording, and make it mono. That retains all side and mid so it is squashed into one channel.

Thanks,
This is exactly what i thought but wasn't sure. So how how do i convert a signal to a proper Mono?

I'll be honest... I'm not sure what you mean by proper mono... sometimes the Layman's speak can get confusing

I'll take a shot though. To convert a stereo to mono in cubase, I use a send, or change the output of my stereo channel, and make it go to a mono group channel (or bus).

Search routing, busing, or grouping. What DAW do you use?

[PeterL]

Converting to Mono = adding side information
Converting to Mid = removing side information

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[ferez21]

I use FL Studio, and just to add a little something, i'm actually interested in splitting the bass channel signal into low and high frequencies, and only mono the low ones.

edit: By proper Mono i mean the sum of Mid information AND side information.

[Keith99]

Mid=Left+Right
Side=Left-Right

So mid has all the information from the sound so yes discarding the side leaves you with a mono signal

[ferez21]

Mid=Left+Right
Side=Left-Right

So mid has all the information from the sound so yes discarding the side leaves you with a mono signal

Are you sure Mid have all the information? i think it shouldnt have.

[bjporter]

I use FL Studio, and just to add a little something, i'm actually interested in splitting the bass channel signal into low and high frequencies, and only mono the low ones.

edit: By proper Mono i mean the sum of Mid information AND side information.

K, all you need to do is this. Take your channel, and use 2 sends. One send goes into the mono 'high' group. In that group you will use a high Pass filter.

The other group, a mono group, the 'low' group, will have a low pass filter.

That way you have 2 mono channels, split for high and low...

Did I get that right?

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[murnau]

I use FL Studio, and just to add a little something, i'm actually interested in splitting the bass channel signal into low and high frequencies, and only mono the low ones.

edit: By proper Mono i mean the sum of Mid information AND side information.

the best you can get + free:



Basslane - Low Freq Stereo to Mono Control

Basslane is the original freeware classic used in countless productions to control the stereo field of lower frequencies on tracks and mixes. It's a simple, yet very handy little utility that allows you to narrow the width of the frequencies below a defined threshold. The easy-to-use interface features a range of monitoring options allowing precise finetuning while auditioning the processing at different stages.

http://www.toneprojects.com/products/plug-ins/basslane/

[ferez21]

Thanks @bjporter, i'll try that.
Theo, i actually not looking for anything fancy, just a solid tool to do the simple job. I do have Mixcontrol, thanks for reminding me of this feature