Audacity Forum

I can think of many scenarios when it necessary to split stereo tracks into mono tracks.
This can of course be done by;
1) Split Stereo Track
2) Click on drop down menu of first track - Left channel > Mono
3) Click on drop down menu of second track - Right channel > Mono

For many users, splitting stereo tracks and making 2 mono tracks is a common, frequent and essential task. The "Stereo to Mono" feature cuts down the job from 3 steps to one, and for these reasons it is, in my opinion, well worth its menu space.

On the other hand, I can think of only one situation where it is actually necessary to convert a single mono track into a stereo track, and it is not a common reason at all. In fact it is probably not actually required any more often than "Split Stereo to Left", "Split Stereo to Right" or "Swap Left and Right", but I don't hear anyone asking for those.

My main argument against "Mono Track to Stereo" is that it is for a perceived need that does not really exist. This is the point where I'm open to persuasion. If anyone can show me the need for this feature I'll be happy to change my vote.

Just to add to the list of reasons why not - it also adds unnecessary confusion if it is in the same menu as "Make Stereo Track".

What I would be in favour of is making the number of channels that are recorded more accessible. In live recording projects it is frequently necessary to switch from 1 channel (mono) to 2 channel (stereo) and back again, ant it's a small PITA to have to go "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices > Channels=..." each time. If multi-channel support is ever fully implemented, then easy selection of the channels to be recorded would become even more of an issue.

kozikowski wrote:Who was the champion of Stereo Track to Mono? How did that slip by? Surely there's other ways to do that.

For me, the Champion is definitely Brian Davies - his ClickRepair utility has a little check box to turn your stereo show into mono - and what's more it can be set to work while the clicks are being removed too.

It worked a treat for me on the version of Carole King's It might as well rain until September that I transcribed from a compilation LP of my wife's. Before processing it was a horrible false-stereo - sounds so much better now its "Back to mono" as Phil once said

WC

For many users, splitting stereo tracks and making 2 mono tracks is a common, frequent and essential task. The "Stereo to Mono" feature cuts down the job from 3 steps to one, and for these reasons it is, in my opinion, well worth its menu space.

I don't think it is worth the menu space.

But my main reason is more along the lines of what you'd agree with. Doing it manually ensures that the user understands what is happening. Figuring out that I had to choose mono for each track if I want them to be mixed on export was an important concept to grasp as a user. Otherwise I would still be a little confused concernig how it works.

I'm a little time crimped right now, but what happens if you drop a mono narration track into a full stereo musical show? I know it's an article of faith that all the parts of a show need to be in the same standard for best results.

Koz

kozikowski wrote:what happens if you drop a mono narration track into a full stereo musical show?

You mean if you wanted to drop the mono narration track into the same track as the stereo show?
Then yes, you would need to convert the narration track to stereo - but why would you want to put the narration into the same track as the stereo show? Isn't it usual in video to have separate narration and music tracks? There must be a reason for that.

There's no problem having one or more mono narration tracks and one or more stereo tracks in the same show. On mix-down/export the mono tracks will mix equal left/right, just like when you play the production through your headphones.

+1

however it is completely possible to create a stereo track from two existing mono tracks
and its relatively simple..

in regards to the thread posting you we're quoting, this is what he should do,
or you for that matter if you ever nedded to:

step 1:split the stereo track into 2 mono tracks

step 2:create 2 new mono tracks

step 3:copy the first existing track and paste into new mono track 1.

step 4:copy the second existing track and paste into new mono track 2.

step 5:take the first pair of duplicates and pan one hard left, the other hard right.

step 6:take the second pair of duplicates and pan one hard left, the other hard right.

you now would have the same amount of noise from each of the before said mono tracks going to each speaker.
all you would need to do is amplify or compress the tracks to taste.
or add fx if needed.


also something to keep in mind...
when pasting make sure the cursor is at 0:00

<em>Trebor</em> wrote: The PseudoStereo method I used was combing each track with (multiples of) a different frequency.

That's interesting. Could you give a more detailed description of how you do that?

Thread transferred to Wiki Pending Feature Requests page - retained here on the Forum in Audio Processing as it is useful reading.

WC

stevethefiddle wrote:I...

My main argument against "Mono Track to Stereo" is that it is for a perceived need that does not really exist. This is the point where I'm open to persuasion. If anyone can show me the need for this feature I'll be happy to change my vote.
...

that is your opinion

many of us *do*use it

it should stay as is IMHO

it should be obvious why so many people need it
but for now
i leave it as an exercise to the student to figure out

whomper wrote: it should be obvious why so many people need it

As I said, I'm happy to change my view if anyone can illustrate why it is necessary, though there have been as yet no compelling arguments put forward.
It is not at all obvious to me why so many people need it - perhaps you could elucidate.

whomper wrote:... i have needed to do it. but you are right. do not need a button....

I agree.