Audacity Forum

I recently read in the Audacity tips that recording with mono tracks is recommended, since recording in stereo uses up twice as much space.

So I wanted to ask some of the seasoned users here:

1) What is the difference (practically speaking) between stereo and mono?

2) When do you record in stereo, and when do you use mono?

Thanks for your input. I may need to revise my approach here (I've been using stereo for everything).

It depends on what you are recording.
If you are recording from a single microphone, that is a mono source, so there is not much point in recording a stereo track (unless you have some overriding reason to do so).
If you are recording from a stereo cassette player then you will probably want to record in stereo.

<<<(unless you have some overriding reason to do so).>>>

My overriding reason for recording a mono microphone in stereo is delivery. I know my editor is expecting a stereo sound file no matter what the performance.

You're right. Most of the time you don't need stereo and the files sizes are half what they are in stereo. Recording a talk show is almost a complete waste of time in stereo.

There are production reasons for recording in stereo -- or more accurately in two channel. The Pamela software package for recording Skype phone calls produces a file with you on one side and the performer on the other. It allows you to do production and editing on one voice without the other.

Koz

Thanks guys, this is instructive.