Talk about audio - Mono vs. Stereo!

                                Talk about audio  - Mono vs. Stereo!

The difference between mono and stereo

The difference between mono and stereo is the number of channels they send to the speakers.

Mono sends just one channel for all speakers, while stereo sends two different channels, one for each speaker.

what is mono

Mono audio means that only one signal is sent to all speakers.

The same signal can be reproduced through several speakers, but, since there is no difference between them, there is no stereo wide-area effect, it just makes everything louder.

Please see this illustration below to understand it better

Mono audio can sometimes sound narrow and a little unclear. In some cases, however, it's worth it and actually quite useful.

For example, clubs, restaurants, and bars have many speakers in so many directions that they cannot define which speakers are left and which are right.

So they play everything in mono to avoid phase cancellation and other issues.

what is stereo

Stereo audio sends two signals, one for each speaker. It uses two different channels, one for the left speaker and one for the right speaker.

Stereoscopic channels can be used to create simulations of directionality, perspective, and real space.

However, the main use of stereo signals these days is to generate width.

By using the stereo recording method/stereo extension plug-in, you can turn the mono sound into stereo, making the sound wide and loud.

Stereo signals are supported by the vast majority of audio systems these days, and it seems to be increasingly becoming the standard for audio systems.

Therefore, it is necessary to know how to use it correctly.

is stereo better

Stereo is much better for the average listener, it sounds wider, more detailed and more realistic.

However, in places with multiple speakers, such as clubs, cafés or restaurants, stereo can cause phase cancellation problems, so mono is the right choice.

Whether stereo is better than mono depends on the situation.

As a normal listener, it's much better to use stereo because it creates width and sounds better overall!

game

Stereo is always better than mono in games because it provides a more realistic sound.

In fact, you're better off with wraparound headphones when gaming. It will give you a better idea of where your opponents are coming from and improve your skills significantly

listen to music

Stereo is much better than mono when listening to music with headphones, car speakers, home stereo, and any other commonly used speakers.

The only time you should use mono is when you're setting up a complicated system (usually in a restaurant or bar) and you can't tell which speaker is left and which is right.

Even then, however, it is possible to set up the stereo correctly by separating the different zones and setting each zone separately.

music production

As a producer/mix engineer, you'll want to make stereo tracks.

However, if you want to refine and produce high-level things, it is equally important to choose different processing for different instruments!

Since each instrument plays a different role in the mix, some instruments should be in stereo and others in mono.

What is a stereo sound field

Have you ever heard a song where when the chorus starts, everything suddenly goes super wide, but still feels incredibly focused and powerful?

If so, it means the song's mixing engineer has used the stereo field correctly.

But before we dive into how to use it properly, we need to understand what it is.

The stereo zone is the range between the left and right sides of a song. It consists of left, right and mono elements. We can use Stereo Field to make room for all the elements in the mix to sound wider and more prominent.

As you probably know, each song consists of a mono element, a left/right channel element, and a full stereo element (elements that play in both left and right channels).

The most common methods currently exploiting the stereo field are LCR and 50/50 panning.

LCR and 50/50 Panning

LCR and 50/50 panning means that, with the exception of the vocals, kick, snare and bass, every element in the mix should be panned left and right or 50% of the pan!

This way, you can make room for major elements (like vocals) to stand out, as well as add width to the mix, which can shape an ultra-full mix.

Should I Record Vocals in Mono or Stereo?

If recording a single singer, it should be in mono, but if recording two or more singers, or in a room with unique acoustics, the vocals should be in stereo.

Recording a vocal in mono makes it sound powerful, clear, and emphasized; recording it in stereo makes it wider, louder, and softer.

In some cases, it might be interesting to experiment with stereo recording.

For example, if you're recording in a room with unique acoustics, you might want to try recording the lead vocals in stereo.

But be aware that this will complicate the mix, there may be some phase cancellation, so be careful.

The most versatile stereo recording method

For this method, you need two omnidirectional microphones.

Basically, you need to point each mic towards a different part of what you're recording, and record both at the same time.

This way, you get two parts "A" and "B" which, combined, create a full, beautiful stereo sound.

A more disciplined approach would be to pan the "A" channel about 75% to the left, and about 75% to the "B" channel, and then fine-tune.

The higher the percentage, the larger the stereoscopic image and the higher the risk of phase problems.

Is Stereo Louder Than Mono?

Stereo is no louder than mono.

Stereo, however, may sound louder because it sends two different channels to the speakers and simulates space and width.

However, if you compare the two on an even number of speakers at the same volume setting, both should have equal dB levels.

The reason is the way the mono signal is generated.

As we all know, a stereo signal uses two channels, one for the left and one for the right.

However, a mono signal uses only one channel, which is actually a combination of (left+right)/2.

So it's actually impossible for stereo to be louder than mono.