Make stereo tracks from a multi track recording

[Keith Taylor]

I have a newly acquired Zoom F8n field recorder so I am still in the learning process with it. I can import the multi tracks into Audacity 2.4.2.
I would like to couple two of the tracks as a stereo pair with no mixing to mono. Is this possible?
Keith

[DVDdoug]

Edit -> Preferences -> Import/Export -> Use Advanced Mixing Options.

Note that mixing is done by summation so you can end-up pushing your levels into clipping (distortion). You may have to reduce the levels before mixing, or you can export as floating-point WAV (which has no upper limit), then re-import and use the Normalize or Amplify effect to bring the level down before re-exporting to your desired format.

[jademan]

On a related issue, if you ever have two consecutive mono tracks, you can convert them to a stereo pair by selecting "Make Stereo Track" from the track drop-down menu. See: Splitting and Joining Stereo Tracks

[Keith Taylor]

Jademan and DVDdoug thanks for your advice, I eventually noticed it in the track drop down menu.
My next issue is I am getting very lopsided L/R channel amplitudes when performing MS decoding via channel mixer. Wondering if I have a phase reversal between M and S. This should only swap the channels and not alter the amplitudes?
Under Effect, wondering if "invert" means both channels get inverted, or just one, to put them in antiphase.

[DVDdoug]

Under Effect, wondering if "invert" means both channels get inverted, or just one, to put them in antiphase.

If you have a stereo track select Split Stereo Track from the drop-down menu. That will allow you to select and invert one channel/track.

Wondering if I have a phase reversal between M and S. This should only swap the channels and not alter the amplitudes?

That seems right but the algebra should be easy to work-out...

I've never done any M/S recording or processing... I've only used L+R for mono or L-R as a "vocal remover" effect. I ASSUME that most people use a utility or plug-in to convert back-and-forth.

[steve]

I've never done any M/S recording or processing... I've only used L+R for mono or L-R as a "vocal remover" effect. I ASSUME that most people use a utility or plug-in to convert back-and-forth.

The "Channel Mixer" plug-in has a preset for converting between L/R and M/S stereo: https://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Nyqu ... nnel_Mixer
Windows instructions for installing Nyquist plug-ins: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/ins ... st_install

[Keith Taylor]

DVD and Steve, thanks for your replies. I have sorted out the stereo imbalance following MS decoding. Seems that what I thought was MS was actually two tracks of M or two tracks of S, so that explains the behavior I was seeing.

The important thing is to intiate the pairing of the tracks from the multitrack from the menu in the UPPER track.

Keith