Recording Vocals in Stereo vs Mono

[rca33]

In my past projects, i always recorded vocals in mono, and then add a stereo reverb effect.

I tried to do this (as an insert in cubase) and the reverb never sounded spacious enough.

Then i created a stereo audio track and added the same reverb and the result was way better.


So i wonder, is it 'normal' to record the voice as a stereo track ?

[drago]

No, I've never heard of recording vocals stereo. To do so would require 2 mics and would introduce phasing issues...

[MatsonMusicBox]

It makes no sense unless there is something different about the two sides -= tonality, timing, something. If you double a vox (sing it twice) and then run it stereo - that can be effective in places.

[sparqee]

In Cubase if you add reverb as an insert on a mono track then you will get a mono reverb. If you record a stereo track but use a mono input (e.g. one mic) then you will get a stereo track with identical left & right channels. However, when you add reverb (as an insert) on this stereo track you will hear the reverb in stereo.

Now, the traditional way of handling this is actually to record your vocal mono and then set up your reverb on a stereo Effects Channel Track. You then use one of the "sends" on your vocal track to send the vocal signal into the reverb. Since the reverb is on a stereo FX track you will hear the reverb in stereo. The real advantage to using FX sends is that you can send multiple tracks to the same send (e.g. you can send vocals, guitar & drums all to the same reverb) and save a lot CPU by not having to put a separate reverb plugin on each track.

[Vulconizer]

Sparqee gets some rep from me. Hit the nail on the head.

[sparqee]

Street cred from the Vulconizer! Rock on! Say, could you teach me that Vulcan nerve pinch thing? I've got a meeting with the IRS coming up and I might need an escape plan.

[Vulconizer]

Aye. The newest form of the Vulcan neck pinch involves having a really hawt girl on your team yelling " Look at that flock of turtles! " as a distraction while you take out your trusty rubber mallet and clonk the deserving target in the ear about five times real fast.

Soon as they hit the ground, you pinch their neck and yell " Spock! " real loud. Then you proceed to run off into the sunset with hawt-girl and play new-age music to huge crowds of under-grads on an isolated beach under assumed names for cash so the IRS can't get you back on their list.

[sparqee]

Excellent! I've got the hawt girl, I'll work on my wrist speed so I can pull off the 5 fast ear whacks (ear wax?) but I'm not too keen on the new age music thing. Er, can I substitute maybe... Spice Girls cover songs?

[Vulconizer]

Sure, why not? Hawtty Spice was always my favorite, so it's a good thang.

[rca33]

Originally Posted by sparqee

In Cubase if you add reverb as an insert on a mono track then you will get a mono reverb. If you record a stereo track but use a mono input (e.g. one mic) then you will get a stereo track with identical left & right channels. However, when you add reverb (as an insert) on this stereo track you will hear the reverb in stereo.

Now, the traditional way of handling this is actually to record your vocal mono and then set up your reverb on a stereo Effects Channel Track. You then use one of the "sends" on your vocal track to send the vocal signal into the reverb. Since the reverb is on a stereo FX track you will hear the reverb in stereo. The real advantage to using FX sends is that you can send multiple tracks to the same send (e.g. you can send vocals, guitar & drums all to the same reverb) and save a lot CPU by not having to put a separate reverb plugin on each track.

That's it !

I found that yesterday but it was too late, so i didn't post it here.

Using the sends and an FX track will do the trick. That's how i've done it in the past with real analogue mixers.
It took me a while to understand it in cubase, because everytime i set a new send, the volume starts at zero, so i wasn't hearing any effect.

Thanks for your response.