Bounce Mix to Mono?

[crantle]

I work on a lot of sound design for talk-heavy podcasts -- and the desired output is almost always a mono audio file.

I'm not seeing any way to directly mono bounce from the master bus in Reason 12, and I have noticed a lot of similar complaints/feature requests across this forum.

It's looking like my workflow, if I continue to use Reason for these projects, is:

1. Bounce my mix (forced stereo)
2. Convert to mono in Audacity
3. Import into Reason to master, then bounce (forced stereo)
4. Convert to mono in Audacity for final delivery

I'm really hoping I am missing some basic functionality, or there's a rack extension out there which can perform this simple export function directly in Reason (I'm happy to pay for this feature) ...and if not, what workflow would you suggest as a better workaround? Please feel free to tear apart my approach above!

[deeplink]

Unplug the Right cable from the master output.

Or place the Mono Combinator Effect as an Insert.

[crantle]

Unplug the Right cable from the master output.

This results in a stereo file with left channel audio only.

Or place the Mono Combinator Effect as an Insert.

The Combinator still feeds into the stereo master bus -- and any bouncing/exporting from here always results in a stereo file. Am I missing something?

[nooomy]

You can send everything to a buss channel and set width to 0. Or you can set the Mclass stereo width in the master and pull down the width to 0.

[deeplink]

You can send everything to a buss channel and set width to 0. Or you can set the Mclass stereo width in the master and pull down the width to 0.

I think what OP is looking for is not a just a mono sound, rather the actual audio file is exported with a single mono channel only.

[crantle]

You can send everything to a buss channel and set width to 0. Or you can set the Mclass stereo width in the master and pull down the width to 0.

I think what OP is looking for is not a just a mono sound, rather the actual audio file is exported with a single mono channel only.

Yes -- I can easily make Reason "sound" like a mono track (and do so often for stereo mixing), but I'm looking for a mono file output option from the master bus. It appears, after more forum perusing, that this is a very common feature request and is not possible from within Reason 12 at this time.

[moneykube]

I have always wondered why this was / is not an option when bouncing... it surely should not be difficult to add this option > it is common in many daws and helpful for some tasks.

[huggermugger]

I work on a lot of sound design for talk-heavy podcasts -- and the desired output is almost always a mono audio file.

I'm not seeing any way to directly mono bounce from the master bus in Reason 12, and I have noticed a lot of similar complaints/feature requests across this forum.

It's looking like my workflow, if I continue to use Reason for these projects, is:

1. Bounce my mix (forced stereo)
2. Convert to mono in Audacity
3. Import into Reason to master, then bounce (forced stereo)
4. Convert to mono in Audacity for final delivery

I'm really hoping I am missing some basic functionality, or there's a rack extension out there which can perform this simple export function directly in Reason (I'm happy to pay for this feature) ...and if not, what workflow would you suggest as a better workaround? Please feel free to tear apart my approach above!

Why are you doing Step 2? Get the Mix where you want it but don't Bounce it. Instead, save the Project under a different name for the Master. Apply your mastering as needed. Then do Step 4.

PS By "forced stereo" I think maybe you mean 'dual mono'?

[stratatonic]

I work on a lot of sound design for talk-heavy podcasts -- and the desired output is almost always a mono audio file.

I'm not seeing any way to directly mono bounce from the master bus in Reason 12, and I have noticed a lot of similar complaints/feature requests across this forum.

It's looking like my workflow, if I continue to use Reason for these projects, is:

1. Bounce my mix (forced stereo)
2. Convert to mono in Audacity
3. Import into Reason to master, then bounce (forced stereo)
4. Convert to mono in Audacity for final delivery

I'm really hoping I am missing some basic functionality, or there's a rack extension out there which can perform this simple export function directly in Reason (I'm happy to pay for this feature) ...and if not, what workflow would you suggest as a better workaround? Please feel free to tear apart my approach above!

Does this work for you?:
Setup:
Add a Mix Channel Directly below the Master Outs - Call it MONO OUT
Stick an Ozone Maximizer (or whatever you use) between the two.
Connect L Master Section OUT to L Ozone IN
Ozone L OUT to Mix Channel IN L/MONO
Direct Out L from Mix Channel to OUT above the Master Section

File>>Bounce Mixer Channels>select MONO OUT and "All Except Fader Section"

You should get a mono output file.

[nooomy]

I work on a lot of sound design for talk-heavy podcasts -- and the desired output is almost always a mono audio file.

I'm not seeing any way to directly mono bounce from the master bus in Reason 12, and I have noticed a lot of similar complaints/feature requests across this forum.

It's looking like my workflow, if I continue to use Reason for these projects, is:

1. Bounce my mix (forced stereo)
2. Convert to mono in Audacity
3. Import into Reason to master, then bounce (forced stereo)
4. Convert to mono in Audacity for final delivery

I'm really hoping I am missing some basic functionality, or there's a rack extension out there which can perform this simple export function directly in Reason (I'm happy to pay for this feature) ...and if not, what workflow would you suggest as a better workaround? Please feel free to tear apart my approach above!

Why do you have to monofy Two times and to master?

Isn’t it enough to just mono it as a last step ?

[fullforce]

Selig Gain?

[Hazel]

The Quadelectra Stereo Spliter has a mono setting and it's a 9$ RE. Not sure if this helps what you are trying to achieve or not.

[Aquila]

The Quadelectra Stereo Spliter has a mono setting and it's a 9$ RE. Not sure if this helps what you are trying to achieve or not.

Not quite. To clarify, the OP wants to export a single channel (mono) audio file. Reason only exports dual channel (stereo). No amount of plugins or processing can change the export process.

[selig]

!
Does this work for you?:
Setup:
Add a Mix Channel Directly below the Master Outs - Call it MONO OUT
Stick an Ozone Maximizer (or whatever you use) between the two.
Connect L Master Section OUT to L Ozone IN
Ozone L OUT to Mix Channel IN L/MONO
Direct Out L from Mix Channel to OUT above the Master Section

File>>Bounce Mixer Channels>select MONO OUT and "All Except Fader Section"

You should get a mono output file.

That works, or you can even put the extra Mix Channel after the master section - the key is to remove the right channel on the mono output, wherever you put it!
No reason for all the confusion over the years IMO…every time I’ve seen this question asked the correct answer has been given,

[stratatonic]

!
Does this work for you?:
Setup:
Add a Mix Channel Directly below the Master Outs - Call it MONO OUT
Stick an Ozone Maximizer (or whatever you use) between the two.
Connect L Master Section OUT to L Ozone IN
Ozone L OUT to Mix Channel IN L/MONO
Direct Out L from Mix Channel to OUT above the Master Section

File>>Bounce Mixer Channels>select MONO OUT and "All Except Fader Section"

You should get a mono output file.

That works, or you can even put the extra Mix Channel after the master section

In my example , I did

- the key is to remove the right channel on the mono output, wherever you put it!
No reason for all the confusion over the years IMO…every time I’ve seen this question asked the correct answer has been given,

I assumed that that OP wanted to bounce out a mix of his project. For zero future confusion though, I do think that there should be a MONO button on the mixer to make it really flipping simple though.

My way (I think) is the only way you can get your entire mix out in mono through the Master Section, but you have to mess around in the back with a few devices and cabling.

Even simpler, depending on the size of your project, I suppose you could buss your tracks you wanted out, level your mix, stick in a Selig Gain on the buss, set to mono, unplug the R cable and the bounce the buss.
Maybe you could also put a Selig Gain in one of the sends, mono on, unplug R, and adjust your mix thru sends and bounce the send.

[40charlton07]

!
Does this work for you?:
Setup:
Add a Mix Channel Directly below the Master Outs - Call it MONO OUT
Stick an Ozone Maximizer (or whatever you use) between the two.
Connect L Master Section OUT to L Ozone IN
Ozone L OUT to Mix Channel IN L/MONO
Direct Out L from Mix Channel to OUT above the Master Section

File>>Bounce Mixer Channels>select MONO OUT and "All Except Fader Section"

You should get a mono output file.

That works, or you can even put the extra Mix Channel after the master section - the key is to remove the right channel on the mono output, wherever you put it!
No reason for all the confusion over the years IMO…every time I’ve seen this question asked the correct answer has been given,

hi family!

so sorry to dig up this old thread - i am just a bedroom banger but i have a friend who is a good engineer who said he can mix and master some of my projects. he has asked me to send in mono only.

in the example above from @selig and @stratatonic, do i have to use a maximiser? i would like to bounce all channels to disk without any effects or fader data. Could i just use the mix channel after the master section, wired as above with the R channel removed and that would work?

thanks everyone. reasontalk is such a great resource for people like me.

best wishes
40C

[selig]

Depends on exactly what your engineer means.
What do they want you to do with stereo sources, such as a pair of drum overheads or room mic, or stereo piano/synth/etc?
Maybe they want all stereo files delivered as individula mono, labeled “.L” and “.R” to differentiate.
OR maybe they just want you to be SURE you’re not sending actual mono sources as “dual mono” stereo files (common).

For the most part you should NOT have to add anything to achive this, but you many want to remove certain added effects. Best way to do this is to use Bounce Mixer Channels and tap the signal before the fader and inserts. The result should be mono sources are bounced mono, stereo sources are bounced stereo. That is what I ask for when mixing for clients, but best to ask for clarification before going through the process incorrectly.

[mimidancer]

Selig Gain?

I agree Selig Gain is the best and easiest way to mono in reason. Just one button.