Pan option active when track set on mono???

[StudioBellwood]

The question is, why is the pan option still active on a track after you turn on the mono button? I haven't got a chance to experiment with it yet, but perhaps someone else has. Even though it is appears active, does it have no affect when mono is on? i would assume so. Dumb question but i'm just wondering

[richiebee]

I'm not a Sonar user so this is more general information than specifically for that.

Just because a source is mono doesn't mean your mix will be. You put your mono sources into various spaces in the stereo field by panning them, and create a stereo mix from that.

[joebingo]

panning isn't about turning the volume off one channel of the stereo track. It is about moving both channels of a stereo track, or the single track of a mono source, to either the left or right of your soundscape.

Something i don't do nearly enough of lol.

[StudioBellwood]

Originally Posted by richiebee

I'm not a Sonar user so this is more general information than specifically for that.

Just because a source is mono doesn't mean your mix will be. You put your mono sources into various spaces in the stereo field by panning them, and create a stereo mix from that.

Okay so clear me on this one; on a mono track, you can pan it to either side, in turn reducing the volume of the other side (... 16% R is -16% L). This is also the same on a stereo mix, however stereo allows you to edit either side of the mix R or L. i.e.; i can put an fx affect on the right side alone w/o touching the left side. OR, you can kind of picture a mono mix as a stereo mix where you don't have the ability to edit just one side (both tracks are the same and the only thing that can be different about them is the pan)


If i am tottaly off track than let me know soon so i can delete this and save myself the embarassment. Thank you though, if you look at the suggestions forum, i am the one who suggested a vocab page so this kind of stuff could be explained without the mess of a forum. please bear with me and again your help is greatly appreciated. (yeah i can't spell that word)

[joebingo]

Originally Posted by tj morano

Okay so clear me on this one; on a mono track, you can pan it to either side, in turn reducing the volume of the other side (... 16% R is -16% L).

Bingo!

A mono track automatically will play out of both your left and right speakers, at equal volumes; unless you tell it to do otherwise, while a stereo track, will play out in stereo. If you were to record a song from an ipod or something (as long as it is stereo in the first place) onto a stereo track, the output would be the same as it is on the ipod. If you were to record onto a mono track, both sides of the stereo track would be composited onto on channel, played at equal volume through both speakers.

in terms of allowing you to edit one side of a stereo track, this is usually saved for post production (if the Left channel is peaking for example).

In essence though, you are correct.

Appreciated was correct btw. embarassment, however, was not and should be spelled: embarrassment

I really hope that this has helped and not confused you more with my slightly incoherent first part of message...

[StudioBellwood]

Originally Posted by joebingo

Bingo!

Thanks this does clear things up quite a bit. I was going to leave my reply also to you but i did'nt get to it so thanks for checking back anyways and for clearing things up for me. The last thing is, doesn't this mean that there are alot of situations where having either a mono or stereo track doesn't matter (this is of course in terms of a small individual track, not a final mix or bus)?? If you are looking for an equal pan, that it really does not matter, correct?

Thanks again.

[joebingo]

unless recording from a stereo source, all you need is mono.

[StudioBellwood]

Originally Posted by ap1325

When your source track is MONO and you are mixing it's output to a stereo main bus, the pan slider/knob moves that single mono track around the main bus' stereo space.

When your source track is STEREO and it's output is sent to a stereo main bus, the pan slider/knob moves the two channels of that source stereo track simultaneously and around the main bus' stereo space.

Your sources can be Mono or Stereo but your output/mix is Stereo in this case.

Yeah i actually have figured it all out since i posted this. I appreciate the help though.