Audio8

You should have a "pan" control in just about any recording program or recorder. What are you using? As has been said, most sources such as guitar, vocals, bass, etc. are mono sources and should be recorded in mono and panned for effect. I record keyboards as two mono sources since when I record a stereo track, I can't pan either side, only the track. But, you should not be turning your speakers up and down to achieve stereo balance, it should be done in your recording program or mixer or stand alone unit. First thing would be to read how to use your equipment instead of asking how to work around something that is normally basic recording functions. I use a Boss BR-900CD, and I've read the manual, and it does not go into this type of detail. I know it's basic, but I just started, hence I'm learning the basics. I have no problem recording; I'm just not knowledgeable of these recording terms that constantly get thrown around. Like I said, if there is a reliable guide that could explain some of that stuff, please point me to it. I don't really turn the speakers up and down. I just control the faders so that I can bring guitar out the left speaker and not the right (or vice versa). However, the only way I am able to do that is to bounce a track to a multi track. For example, I would need to bounce track 1 to track 1/2. That way I use both faders to control the sound from each speaker. Sorry, if this is confusing.

You can achieve the same thing without the stereo track just by panning the mono track left or right accordingly. It should have the exact same effect, and will take up half the disk space. Stereo is generally used when there are actual subtle differences between the left and right track. For example, on piano, if you have one mic over the high strings and one over the low, the sound at each mic is going to be slightly different, giving you a stereo sound. If you mic the piano with one mic, and then replicate that track onto a stereo track, its really just the same track panned hard left and hard right, which should be the same as mono panned to the center. You could create some stereo-like effects by processing each track differently, but without this it is no different than mono. Thank you for your help. Unfortunately I don't know how to pan the left or right in mono. The best I could do is record a track in mono, then bounce it to stereo, then bring up the left or right volume (while turning the other down), and then bouncing that back to mono. That's all I really know how to do. I just started recording, so this is new to me. I am now starting to record vocals- which is probably going to get even harder. Thanks for your help

Errrr. You dont need to record with two mic's to pan a track out of one speaker or another. A mono track can be panned. Down the centre means the same signal will be coming out of both speakers. To the right, just the right speaker, to the left just the left speaker. Most mic's record only one signal. They can only send something in mono unless they are specifically designed to be stereo microphones. You then build a stereo mix with these individual mono tracks. I appreciate your post, however I do not really understand it. I record with only 1 mic. I always record in mono- every time. Then, if I want a specific track to come out of one speaker and not the other, I then bounce it to a stereo track. Then I would turn the left fader all the way down, and the right fader up. This way I can change the sound from speaker to speaker. Sorry for my ignorance on this subject. I am very new, but willing to learn. It would be nice if there was a thread that explained all the technical terms involved in recording. Thanks

Thanks for the help guys. Interesting how you recommended mono for a lot of stuff, especially vocals. The only reason I like doing some recording in stereo is because I can control the sound coming out of the speakers. Such as adding some type of guitar sound coming out of the left speaker only. Or playing vocals out of the right speaker. That's the only benefit that I really see for stereo use. I am however limited to tracks. I have a BR-900cd, which is only 8-tracks (9 counting the drum machine which I use). However, I suppose I would be able to record 8 tracks, then bounce them together, then bounce another 8 to them, etc., etc. That way I could record more. But I usually do limit myself to 8 right now. Thank you for the information. Like I said, the only reason I like stereo is to control the sounds coming out of different speakers. Other than that, I am pretty happy with mono recordings.

I never know what I should record in mono and what I should record in stereo. I used to record everything in mono and then bounce the whole thing into stereo. Is that good? Or is it better to record certain things in stereo first? Thanks for the help. I'm very new to this.