Which tracks to mono

[metronome]

i have a lot of questions these days:)
since it's an issue with SPs, which tracks do you usually make mono? i've read somewhere that it's better to put low-end tracks to mono, like kicks and/or basslines. i'd like to read some more informed comments on that, if anybody has any knowledge to share.

[HxC]

Kicks & bass 90% of the time unless you are doing some unconventional ish - but even a spiked purple mohawk is still hair if you know what I mean

[tape smoke]

mono is usually the best for everything, thats why pro tools doesnt use stereo files by default, but adobe uses stereo tracks by default so people say adobe sounds better, I think it is, but some people will defend pro tools to the death, i would to if i spent 50 g's on a setup.

stereo will give you a fatter sound initially, but will end up clogging up your mix with doubled up channels, when I find a good sample, I always sample it in stereo and sepereate the left and right. because sometimes thats where you find the best stuff ever, if you sample a stereo song to mono, it junks it up, because it mashes both channels into 1 .

[metronome]

thx mr.dipshit!
if anyone's interested, i found two great links on this matter:
http://www.beattips.com/beattips/2008/1 ... pling.html
http://www.beattips.com/beattips/2011/0 ... tereo.html
the first one is a tutorial for mpc but can be applied in sp sampling.
and beattips is a great website in general.

[MAAM]

Anything that you are not using to widen your stereo image can be kept mono. Highs and mids are where you usually pan to create a wider stereo image but it's all experimental.

When working with low polyphony kit like an sp best to keep kicks and sub bass mono. This means you can add an extra stereo voice or two mono as opposed to them being taken up by sounds which are just going to sit in the center of the mix anyway.

But when working with samples from old records and the like you just have to play it by ear and trust your instinct.
But remember don't be wasteful with polyphony as sp's dont have much of it.

[yo-yo crunch]

mono is usually the best for everything, thats why pro tools doesnt use stereo files by default

i have to contend with this statement. i don't really think that's the reason. i think pro tools has default mono channels because that's how real mixing boards are.

also i don't get how you could say mono is usually best for everything. i usually use it on kicks, snares and basslines but that's normally less than half the elements in a song

[vingthorthehurler]

i think pro tools has default mono channels because that's how real mixing boards are.

Good point

[vingthorthehurler]

thx mr.dipshit!
if anyone's interested, i found two great links on this matter:
http://www.beattips.com/beattips/2008/1 ... pling.html
http://www.beattips.com/beattips/2011/0 ... tereo.html
the first one is a tutorial for mpc but can be applied in sp sampling.
and beattips is a great website in general.

great findings, thanks for sharing

[tape smoke]

thanks man for correcting me and refreshing my memory about mixer channells being mono, I havnt used one for so Long I wouldnt remember how to use one, if I remember correctly they do have stereo input rca jacks on top for tape in and out and various other purposes, also I remember these stereo tracks routing through the master stereo fader. which can be assigned to a fader group and re routed to fx sends.

I'm spoiled with my sound card being rca only, straight up left and right. clean and clear. mind you its no soundblaster 16 bang crunch, my berhinger is a little softer and fuzzier. but its ok. it is also ok to use to mono samples and mess with the pan effect and then play them at the same time and sample in stereo, it is gnarley, im so used to sampling mono to save space its just an old habbit that stuck, but splitting left and right into mono is still gnar shit.