Subject:Mono to Stereo in SF 8?

Posted by: Starman9

Date:4/25/2014 2:36:05 PM

I have a USB input device that allows me to record a high quality Neumann condenser mic directly to my computer and SF 8 but the signal is mono and shows up on the left channel only. I can copy and paste the left channel to the right channel but is there a setting in SF 8 that will import it as a stereo signal to avoid this extra step?

Subject:RE: Mono to Stereo in SF 8?

Reply by: rraud

Date:4/25/2014 4:34:43 PM

Since it's a mono microphone, the file can be mono as well and will playback in the center, i.e., equally in the both left and right channels.
Right-click "Stereo" in the status bar channel box; (lower right in SF TL window) and select "Mono". In the subsequent 'source' dialog box, select "Left Channel". Done, fast and easy.
.. the same can also be accomplished in file 'Properties' .
Bonus: When saved, the file size is half of the original two-channel stereo file with no quality loss... assuming it's a PCM .wav file

Addendum - The "Process> Channel Converter" menu item can make it dual mono if desired, just using the audio from Left.

Subject:RE: Mono to Stereo in SF 8?

Reply by: Starman9

Date:4/25/2014 6:00:23 PM

Channel box? You lost me. You mean in the file window itself? I see that you can right click and under properties you can choose mono. Is that what you mean? I would prefer it if all the files look like the stereo music files with two separate channels rather than one channel mono. Can this be done while recording? Like when I plug in a Blue Yeti USB mic it records on both channels and I don't have to change anything.

Never mind, found the word stereo and see you can right click it to choose a mono recording. Thanks for the tip. I'd still prefer having the file record in stereo with two separate channels like music does though without having to process or paste after the fact.

Subject:RE: Mono to Stereo in SF 8?

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:4/25/2014 9:52:13 PM

Any particular reason you want a stereo file? Having stereo with both channels identical gains you precisely nothing, except for wasting twice as much disk space. I'd record it in mono and keep it in mono. Any place a mono file is used in a stereo context, the single mono channel will be played equally through both left & right outputs, so it fills every requirement you would have for stereo just as well.

Subject:RE: Mono to Stereo in SF 8?

Reply by: rraud

Date:4/26/2014 10:24:21 AM

If your dead-set on having a dual mono (stereo) file. The previous mentioned channel dialog works the other way as well. Mono> Stereo.
If you want to record a dual mono file, a mixer or mic splitter would be needed prior to your sound card. Though I can think of little reason for a dual mono vocal track.
A mono channel converted to stereo is not really <stereo>.. at least in the aural/acoustical sense. There are effects processors that can do that though.

Subject:RE: Mono to Stereo in SF 8?

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:4/27/2014 3:49:40 PM

"I'd still prefer having the file record in stereo with two separate channels like music does though without having to process or paste after the fact."

Would need to be a function of your sound card driver . You can't do that in a recorder in the same way that you can't drive down two sides of a divided carriageway at the same time !

geoff