KVR Audio

Passante · Post by **Passante** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:40 pm

Hello experts, I have a question I'm not sure how to formulate.

Do you consider mono-ing an element before mixing it with the rest as a correct approach?

I'm not refering to mono-ing your master and mix everything in mono, but simply as an approach, as a method or path. Let's take a hi hat for example. Imagine I start a mix from there and as a first step of the mixing process I put that element in mono, then eq, compress eventually and pan...
Would there be any advantage in doing so and could there be some contraindication.
For some reason mono-ing an element as a start seems logical to me.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:44 pm

A hihat is likely to be mono to start with ...

ras.s · Post by **ras.s** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:58 pm

I find it easier to mix with most of my stuff in mono. For instance, I make reggae music and piano is a staple sound -- I have no use for it being spread as wide as possible (it's not uncommon to have low notes on the left side and high notes on the right side). If I'd have a piano to mike, I'd probably record it in mono anyway. The same applies for pretty much every sound, including unnecessarily wide drums. I take care of the stereo image by panning.

Monoing also gives more contrast to other sounds that are wide, when I want that contrast (with pads or panned aux sends, for example). And further, doing it also sort of emulates analogue mixers and recorders, where having stuff in stereo is a luxury.

Passante · Post by **Passante** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 6:13 pm

thecontrolcentre wrote:A hihat is likely to be mono to start with ...

Is it always the case? Cause running it through an analyzer it showed some minimal stereo info. Now I'm wondering if that "minimal" info could be so relevant to trouble the overall mix by accumulation.

ras.s wrote:I find it easier to mix with most of my stuff in mono. For instance, I make reggae music and piano is a staple sound -- I have no use for it being spread as wide as possible (it's not uncommon to have low notes on the left side and high notes on the right side). If I'd have a piano to mike, I'd probably record it in mono anyway. The same applies for pretty much every sound, including unnecessarily wide drums. I take care of the stereo image by panning.

Well, that's exactly the method I'd like to undertake, but as a newbie I need confirmations.

ras.s wrote:Monoing also gives more contrast to other sounds that are wide, when I want that contrast (with pads or panned aux sends, for example). And further, doing it also sort of emulates analogue mixers and recorders, where having stuff in stereo is a luxury.

I noticed that when I mono something it somehow becomes more dense, tighter.

DJ Warmonger · Post by **DJ Warmonger** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 6:24 pm

Many people advise to do that. If something sounds good in mono, it will only sound better in stereo. It doesn't work the other way round, though.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 6:42 pm

Passante wrote:
thecontrolcentre wrote:A hihat is likely to be mono to start with ...

thecontrolcentre wrote:Monoing also gives more contrast to other sounds that are wide, when I want that contrast (with pads or panned aux sends, for example). And further, doing it also sort of emulates analogue mixers and recorders, where having stuff in stereo is a luxury.
I noticed that when I mono something it somehow becomes more dense, tighter.

That second quote is nothing to do with me. Not that I disagree

Passante · Post by **Passante** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 6:58 pm

Yeah sorry, I messed up with the quotes. Now it's fixed.

simon.a.billington · Post by **simon.a.billington** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 8:41 am

You don't have to do it that way, but when starting out it can be very handy.

Asides from ensuring better mono compatibility, and yes there are still some very valid reasons to keep mono compatible, it helps to ensure you are getting enough frequency separation and that, if played out of a mono device or a device with a narrow stereo field, it will provide a better guarantee that everything doesn't turn into mush.

Working in stereo can give you the illusion of having more frequency space than you do, collapse it down to money and you know for sure. You don't have to keep mixing in mono, but at least reference it regularly.

bronxsound · Post by **bronxsound** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:08 am

not a must. the biggest advantage is ease of mixing. however there's nothing terribly wrong with working in stereo. it requires a bit more attention while mixing.

Passante · Post by **Passante** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:42 pm

Guys, I'm not working in mono. I work in stereo but put in mono each sample before starting the actualy mixing process.

simon.a.billington · Post by **simon.a.billington** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 11:31 am

Yeah you don't have to do mono while writing and arranging. Although if you did you might choose your arrangements more wisely because you will be able to tell the sounds and parts that cut though more versus the ones that clash or just makes it appear more muddy.

Mono-ing as a start