Should you mix in mono?

[Aosta]

I remember reading a while ago about this subject in one of the categories but couldn't find it in a search so whoever you were asking about mixing in mono you may find this helpful..or anyone else really

[integerpoet]

I haven't watched the video because I am on hold with IRS and can't afford to miss them picking up.

(By the way, their hold music is the most insipid dross and I have now heard it enough times that I love it and I'm worried that it's ruining me.)

But the question is broken because the answer isn't binary or a shade of grey or even "it depends".

I guess it's still a decent question to put in the title of a video because people who like simple answers think it's a debate which can be won and those people do need to see a video about it.

[motuscott]

Does object based mixing work in mono?

[integerpoet]

Does object based mixing work in mono?

Based on my experience with this plug-in, I bet not.
https://www.reasonstudios.com/shop/rack ... -surround/

[motuscott]

The couple upstairs are getting all touchy about me installing JBL15s as my ceiling (their floor) speakers for object based mixing fun.
Do I have a legal case?
They have a cat.

[integerpoet]

The couple upstairs are getting all touchy about me installing JBL15s as my ceiling (their floor) speakers for object based mixing fun.

Hang them rather than bolt them?

[robussc]

I'm not sure the video is asking that question, just that the final mix should be mono compatible. There's many occasions when we're not listening to true stereo, Music in grocery stores, airports etc is all basically mono.

For mixing, doing the EQing stage in mono helps me avoid being fooled by the stereo separation into thinking two instruments aren't colliding in their frequencies - you really do have to sort them out (and it's also a great feeling when you flip back into stereo and the mix really comes alive again - though sometimes I've actually forgotten that I'm mixing in mono because the mix is sounding so nice!)

Anyway, that's why I do part of the mix in mono.

[motuscott]

2 long a hiatus or not long enuff?
ReasonFrens want 2 no
Unfollow me on Faceplant

I am, of course, jkng

[robussc]

2 long a hiatus or not long enuff?
ReasonFrens want 2 no
Unfollow me on Faceplant

I am, of course, jkng

Ha, yeah I need to change that sig, it's tired.

[TritoneAddiction]

I check mono compatibility every now and then when I'm working on a song. I typically like to have all the most important elements of the song in the center, so that in whatever way their played at least the core of the song is there. All the less important things I tend to put to the sides.

[motuscott]

I'm genetically adverse to committing to anything but yes, single button mono check is a must.
I know this because I am a hugely successful song doer

[motuscott]

I do it with my speaker system. Don't trust theITBox solutions

[RobC]

1. No. 2. It doesn't.

[TheGodOfRainbows]

I'm genetically adverse to committing to anything but yes, single button mono check is a must.
I know this because I am a hugely successful song doer

Song doer

I do songs too, but I'm not hugely successful. I just do songs for the love of the game.

[motuscott]

I'm genetically adverse to committing to anything but yes, single button mono check is a must.
I know this because I am a hugely successful song doer

Song doer

I do songs too, but I'm not hugely successful. I just do songs for the love of the game.

You are RT famous,
which is the very definition of hugely

[bxbrkrz]

I am always thankful for my mono button on Totalmix, confirming what's wrong in 2 seconds. I can't believe ppl are still uploading out of phase audio on YT and elsewhere in 2023. Mono On = 100% silence. But how?

If you have the option, use it.

[integerpoet]

I can't believe ppl are still uploading out of phase audio on YT and elsewhere in 2023. Mono On = 100% silence. But how?

As a practical matter, my guess would be they never auditioned on any speakers other than headphones.

And if that's the case then I bet it was only a single pair of headphones, adding insult to injury.

But it didn't even occur to me a finished mix might totally cancel.

Like, how do you not test on a bunch of speaker pairs before putting something out into the world with your name on it?

I would like to think it was innocent ignorance and a teaching moment.

[bxbrkrz]

I can't believe ppl are still uploading out of phase audio on YT and elsewhere in 2023. Mono On = 100% silence. But how?

As a practical matter, my guess would be they never auditioned on any speakers other than headphones.

And if that's the case then I bet it was only a single pair of headphones, adding insult to injury.

But it didn't even occur to me a finished mix might totally cancel.

Like, how do you not test on a bunch of speaker pairs before putting something out into the world with your name on it?

I would like to think it was innocent ignorance and a teaching moment.

Now I understand.
I need to take my own medicine and start listening for out of phase audio on headphones
Good luck to all the innocent producers out there.
Thanks for the feedback, headphones was the answer

Edit: I wasn't talking about a full mix, rather maybe some live dawless beat making direct to a recorder.

[selig]

As a practical matter, my guess would be they never auditioned on any speakers other than headphones.

And if that's the case then I bet it was only a single pair of headphones, adding insult to injury.

But it didn't even occur to me a finished mix might totally cancel.

Like, how do you not test on a bunch of speaker pairs before putting something out into the world with your name on it?

I would like to think it was innocent ignorance and a teaching moment.

Now I understand.
I need to take my own medicine and start listening for out of phase audio on headphones
Good luck to all the innocent producers out there.
Thanks for the feedback, headphones was the answer

Edit: I wasn't talking about a full mix, rather maybe some live dawless beat making direct to a recorder.

I still prefer a single speaker for mono checking over phones, but it may just be old habits. it's easier to hear mono when it's coming from a single/mono source IMO.

As for how folks get YouTube videos with a channel inverted, I'm not even sure what software they would be doing that with. It's either an accident or someone's idea of how to make mono audio "S - T - E - R - E - O"!

Back in the "old days" you would learn to hear this if you accidentally wired a speaker backwards, but with powered monitors this never happens (to me, at least). Now when I hear a YT video with inverted audio I immediately jump up to check the speakers!

[RobC]

1. No. 2. It doesn't.

Because commonly, they suggest newbies to start mixing in mono, then make adjustments in stereo.

I mean, you responsibly take care of mono compatibility and OOPS, unless intended, during sound design.

[bxbrkrz]

Now I understand.
I need to take my own medicine and start listening for out of phase audio on headphones
Good luck to all the innocent producers out there.
Thanks for the feedback, headphones was the answer

Edit: I wasn't talking about a full mix, rather maybe some live dawless beat making direct to a recorder.

I still prefer a single speaker for mono checking over phones, but it may just be old habits. it's easier to hear mono when it's coming from a single/mono source IMO.

As for how folks get YouTube videos with a channel inverted, I'm not even sure what software they would be doing that with. It's either an accident or someone's idea of how to make mono audio "S - T - E - R - E - O"!

Back in the "old days" you would learn to hear this if you accidentally wired a speaker backwards, but with powered monitors this never happens (to me, at least). Now when I hear a YT video with inverted audio I immediately jump up to check the speakers!

Out of phase audio... That hollowness makes me physically ill, almost like sea sickness.
Whole mixes are not too common for me, and most likely a stupid basic mistake. The worse is when some feel 'smart' making a solid mix but 'playing' too much with pads, and other arrangements, elements, making them as wide as possible. That is deliberately atrocious.

You know what, maybe it would be beneficial to have a tech and tricks thread with examples, and how to listen and be aware of that problem. Too bad I don't have any examples from memory.
Yeah, I need to train on headphones as it is something I have never thought it was a requirement to myself. A nice mono monitor is still best, but most new producers are using headphones, can't afford a set of pro monitors, or a proper mixer with sub mono to an Auratone or Avantone clone, etc

[RobC]

I always have been a user of many headphones, yet never made an OOPS(ie).

I test on speakers of all kinds - but it's more about the "it's finished and it works" feeling.