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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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If you have vocals recorded in mono, and expect to mix them with no panning (centered at 0), would you render them into stereo, or render them as-is in mono? (They are dry.)
Andy
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Not sure what you are asking. Do mean saving the file with just the vocal performance as a WAV file to perhaps work on some more (maybe in melodyne or an audio editor) or do you mean the final song mix with your vocal in it; or is the final just the vocal by itself?
In my DAW, I always leave the vocal mono, because it is a single voice, and then pan it accordingly across the stereo field (which is often, but not always dead center) and render it all to a stereo WAV file.
If I am going to bring it into a program like Melodyne or some other audio editor, I render it to WAV as mono, work on it, then bring it back into my mix, which as I said ultimately gets rendered to the final stereo wav.
But please provide us some additional information as to what you are trying to accomplish, as the word render can have several connotations.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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OK, thanks. I'll try to be clearer and render is probably the wrong term.
I record a vocal track in mono as a wav file. I import it to my DAW and punch-in, let's say there are 6 punches (or whatever you would call them). Then I want export the track, which is still in mono, as a wav file, which would combine all the punches and the unedited remainder of the track into one solid track. Then I might work on the track more, add effects, etc.
When exporting the track, I have options for mp3, or wav, or others, and to format the track/file at 41000 Hz (or others), 16 (or others) bits, and either mono or stereo. I usually use wav/44100/16.
Is there any benefit or degradation to the track were I to export the track as a stereo track?
I hope that is more precise, but who knows. It's the peak of my skills!
Thanks.
Last edited by Andy A - USA; 02/14/17 09:15 AM.
Andy
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Just leave it mono, Andy. Most vocals are done (and worked with) in mono. No reason to complicate that any.
That being said,... let your ears be the judge. Render (export, whatever) one as mono and one as stereo - then switch back and forth and see if you hear any difference. Go with the one you like best. If they sound identical - go with mono.
(I record my vocals on a hardware recorder and transfer them to my DAW once they are done. They come over as stereo - and that is how I work with them. When I get a vocal from Janice (and Bud), they are mono. I don't have any issues with either)
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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OK, good deal. My recorder records in mono. I couldn't tell any difference when I converted to stereo, but thought I'd ask. Trying to keep things as clean as possible.
Thanks, guys.
Andy
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My rule of thumb is if the instrument is mono it stays mono. Horns, vocals, woodwinds, etc always stay mono. A Piano or organ can go either mono or stereo depending on what the instrument is playing in the song. For instance if during the song a piano or organ have a solo then I have that track(s) stereo. If they are just background playing I would have them mono. Except if a leslie is added to any instrument then the track will be stereo. Large choruses are stereo as are ensembles, either vocal or orchestral.
But as always there are exceptions to every rule.
This is just my workflow and YMMV.
Love is grand.
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If the track is mono, all you are going to get with a stereo track is the mono track duplicated as left/right, so you don't gain anything by doing so, and the resultant stereo file would be twice the size for no benefit.
Even when I get a wav vocal as stereo (which really is mono as described above, I usually just convert it to mono and deal with it that way.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Good deal. Thanks, guys. Thought I'd ask just in case I was missing something simple that could be avoided.
Andy
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Rule of thumb.
If the instrument is mono..... Sax, guitar, bass, flute, vocal, etc... record it in mono.
Using stereo accomplishes nothing, and uses twice the hard drive space.
Once you put that track into a DAW, you can pan it anywhere from center to hard left or right.
If you are recording something such as an acoustic guitar, in mono and want it to sound wider, like stereo, simply record the track 2 different times, making each one as close to the other as possible. In other words play it exactly the same but record it 2x. Now, pan one track 50% or more left and the other the equal distance right. Waaa Laaa... instant space in the mix.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Andy
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I mix all tracks except for drums (and occasionally piano) as a mono file. That gives you more latitude with panning and makes it easier to separate tracks on the sound stage IMO -- and to keep mud out. On a few productions I have added Ozone's imager to the vocal to widen it a bit.
FWIW, I never export comped tracks and then bring them back in. I don't really see a need to that as with the DAW your effects will apply to all pieces of the comped track. Also you maintain the ability to quickly volume shape any of the comped sections if needed.
We rarely ever comp a vocal but sometimes I have an RT that is in 5 or so pieces but again I just apply the effects to the track.
Bud
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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If you have vocals recorded in mono, and expect to mix them with no panning (centered at 0), would you render them into stereo, or render them as-is in mono? (They are dry.) That relly depends on what you are doing in the mix. Are you using these vocals as backing voclas? Are these vocals just one lead vocal recorded multiple times? Are the vocals from an actual signer or are there from an a speaker, or an actor, or a narrator? It really depends on what your doing, and who you are sending them off to. I don't know your scenario but I will give you some guidelines: 1. Mono backing vocals- print these as one stereo backing vocal and keep the original backing vocals together 2. Different lead vocal takes- keep one and leave it mono, unless you want to use a duplicate for certian parts of the song 3. Rap vocal- usually you have one mono vocal and a duplicate as sort of a hype man for certian phrases. 4.Actors, speakers, narrators-mono, enough said.
Last edited by Islansoul; 02/16/17 12:54 PM.
Computer: Macbook Pro, 16 inch 2021
DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, and Maschine
plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard,
music producer/engineer
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