I am trying to record a bass line with a M-Audio 192/6 audio interface, and i can’t record it in stereo.
I had install 2.4.2 last Audacity version and the drivers of my interface, too.
When i open Audacity and turn on the interface, it appears in the Upper Toolbar dock area “2 stereo chanels” but it only record in mono and the when i make the playback the sound is mono.
I think the recording is mono, because in the recording meter toolbar, online apears a green bar on the left side, and when i hear the recording, only the left column is playing the sound.
If i try recording in mono, when i hear it, the sound is stereo - i can hear it in the left and right column, but i think i read that in the manual, and that is normal, i think !
A few weeks ago i recorded in stereo with the two green bars working.
I was just using 1 line, with a bass guitar. I tried also with a mic, but the result was the same.
The stereo recording with one silent channel, is possible or normal ?
It’s normal. A single voice or instrument is mono.*
If you are recording an orchestra or choir you can record in stereo with two microphones, one pointed toward the left half of the stage and one mic pointed toward the right-half.
You could record the mic on the left and the bass on the right. But, you probably wouldn’t want to leave it that way because it wouldn’t sound natural. Usually if you have a full band, the main vocals are centered (equal in both channels) with the instruments spread across the virtual soundstage. The bass guitar is usually centered too, but that’s mostly for practical purposes so you can take advantage of both woofers.
Most modern pro recordings are made in multi-track with each instrument recorded in mono on it’s own track. (Several mics/tracks may be used for the drums.) Then during the mixing process the various vocals & instruments are panned (positioned) naturally across the soundstage.
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Sometimes acoustic piano or drums is recorded in stereo because the sound doesn’t come from a single point.