Audacity Forum

I'm using Audacity 1.3 Beta to record voice work using a Presonus Firebox and a Rode NT1A condenser mic. Before, I was using a Digitech GNX 3000 for my audio interface and - doing so - it would record in stereo (2 channels). Now, though, the Firebox only allows me to record on one channel. In 2-channel stereo setting, this means the sound only comes from one side or the other (depending on which of the two mic ports I'm jacked into). If I record in Mono instead, it comes out of both speakers and sounds fine.

However, what does recording in mono really mean? If I did a project in mono, exported to mp3, burned to CD, and then played it in my car, would it play over the left and right speakers? I'm perfectly happy recording in mono if it means that it will play fine when exported and burned to CD, but I thought I'd check for some feedback before experimenting, and perhaps also garner any tips in the process.

Thanks in advance for any help!

The Rode NT1A is a mono microphone, so no problem with recording it as a mono track.

When you burn a CD you need to set the type of CD to be an "audio CD" (not a "data CD" as most CD players will not play data CDs).
When you burn an audio CD, if the source file is mono, then the CD burning software will automatically convert it to "stereo" (of course it is not "true" stereo - it is 2 identical audio channels). It is generally best to export the recording as "16 bit 44100 Hz WAV" to ensure compatibility with your CD burning software.

Thanks for the quick reply! Good to know that it will come across as stereo when played on CD, since that is my intended end format.

Also good tip for export preferences. I'd read that it's good to record in 24-bit, 96Mhz (which is the highest the Firebox can pull), and then export your lossy stuff from there. Great to know some settings to go with there.

I would record a test and make sure it works. I have Music CD recording software that doesn't like mono music. In fact, it will not convert to stereo on the fly. I get a damaged recording with the end of the performance missing.

Koz

I'll do a sample and detail the results along with the app I'll use (Toast Titanium more than likely).

I should also mention - in case anyone comes across this that already has recorded from a mono mic into stereo settings only to find it's isolated to one channel - you can change it back to mono by selecting the dropdown arrow on the track --> Split Stereo Track --> Delete the track with no data --> Use track dropdown to select Mono, and it should come over both sides on playback.

Most people capture or convert the voice performance to stereo even though it's a mono microphone. It effortlessly integrates into stereo shows no matter who's doing the editing. It saves the midnight phone calls about the voice performance being "damaged" because the voice only appears on one side of the show.

Go ahead, ask me how I know that.....

Koz

kozikowski wrote:have Music CD recording software that doesn't like mono music.

I've never come across that problem on any CD burning software that I've used. - purely for my information/education, what software is that?

theseus75 wrote:you can change it back to mono by selecting the dropdown arrow on the track --> Split Stereo Track --> Delete the track with no data --> Use track dropdown to select Mono,

In Audacity 1.3.12 there is an option in the track drop-down menu for "Split to Mono" which saves a few mouse clicks (just one of the many improvements in the 1.3 version).

<<<what software is that? >>>

The free version of Veritas would do that. Nasty surprise. "Wait. Where's the rest of my show...?"

Koz