Apple Logic Pro /LogicExpress Discussion

OK!

I'm gonna approach this from a purely Logic Pro "Clinical" point of view.

Logic Pro has a Pan/Balance knob above the Fader on the Channel Strip. It's really quite simple ... you "Pan" a Mono Signal and you "Balance" a Stereo Signal (really ... it's in the manual). So, a Stereo Pad with all kinds of rich depth (different sounds for each channel of the stereo spectrum, with a smidgen of effects), when you move the Balance Knob left or right, would actually cancel out the information on the opposing side (eg. Balance Left and information on the Right goes bye bye, try it you'll like it). The purpose for the Directional Mixer Plug In, is to "Pan" Stereo Signals, so, the channel information isn't lost (by moving/mixing in the information from the right to the left or visa versa) when you want to ease the panning left or right. Panning a Mono File is more efficient (in terms of specific Mix placement)than a Stereo file.

Based on Logic's handling of Recorded Audio Tracks the answer becomes simple. Then answering a basic question about how much control you want of your "Multi" microphone(d) recorded files will determine how you actually record the file (set the inputs in the I/O and the Stereo/Mono buton). 

If you use 2 Mics on a single subject and you're worried about blending while mixing? Then 2 Mono Files.
Two Mics on a Guitar? Do you want independent EQ and Compression control? Then 2 Mono Files; not interleaved. If not? Interleaved (AKA Stereo).
One Solo Vocalist 1 Mic? Then 1 Mono File (recording in stereo just doubles the file size for no useful reason, unless of course you have lots of hard drive space and RAM, then more power to ya).
Recording a Live Choir? Well ... you get the picture :)

But, as always, if I've misunderstood the question ... NEVER MIND!

Best to all,

John Tomlinson

P.S. If you have a stand up, rinky dink, honky tonk, piano ... record it in Mono. If you have a Grand Piano, record it in Stereo ... it just sounds better :P


--- In Logic_Cafe@yahoogroups.com, "HKC" <hkc@...> wrote:
>
> Andy B:
> I haven´t a clue whether it would be better to  record piano, vocals or bass in mono. I have always chosen stereo. Could someone explain when it would be benefical to chose mono?
> 
> If you only have one mic it´s mono and it´s simply a waste of memory to record in stereo since there is no difference. If you have a signal where you record with 2 mics, like a piano, some kinds of acoustic guitar, overheads etc you can choose to either record in stereo or two mono files. 
> It all depends on how you want to treat the audiofile afterwards. Do you want the same processing on both channels and do you want them to be panned hard, stereo is the way to go. Do you want them to be processed as to different sounds choose 2 mono channels. 
> There are no rules and in the end it´s not so important because it´s fairly simple to make stereo to 2Xmono and the other way around. It just takes a little time.
> 
> 
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