Glad the video was helpful! I wouldn’t stay in mono for the full mix, but it can really be helpful to fine tune the level balance between certain elements. Try it out on your next mix and let me know how it works for you! Thanks for watching! -Justin
Thank you for the video! since i started using this great technique i often noticed that when mixing the vocals in mono usually the vocal level is more accurate and tend to sound right on other systems. but' heres the "but" sometimes when switching back to stereo the vocals have less volume than i expect. So i guess the best approach is to compromise by making the mono mix work as a priority Other wise the vocals can sound too loud and it can be worse (: id love to hear you opinion (:
That’s a really great question! Here are my thoughts… When comparing a lead vocal in stereo vs mono, the vocal may sound quieter in the stereo mix because of the way our ears perceive sound in stereo vs mono. In a full stereo mix, the lead vocal is typically one of the few elements that are centered while other Instruments and effects are often panned across the stereo field to create space and separation. The lead vocal can seem quieter in comparison because it doesn’t have the same width as the other instrumentation. When listening from a mono source, it allows us to identify the center vocal level better because it’s being balanced against everything from the same center position. Our ears and brain don’t have to work as hard as they did to process the audio information that was coming at us from different directions. So once you get a good balance in mono and then jump back to listening in stereo, this extra depth and width can again make the lead vocal appear quieter, even if its level is the same as in the mono mix. This is especially true if you are going from one right to the other without any break or palette cleanser. At that, if you’re getting great results in mono and your mixes are translating well to other listening systems, then that’s the goal! Based on my thoughts above, I would advise against making a compromise in vocal level just so that it sounds more appealing on your monitors in stereo. That may change how it’s perceived in other real world environments and you could be back to square one of trying to find the sweet spot. Rather, listen to a ton of reference material through your speakers to get very familiar with how the vocal levels are sitting in different mixes. Compare them in stereo vs mono and see how it affects the perceived vocal level. Overtime, how these mixes sound through your monitors will become locked in your brain and it will be second nature when reaching to adjust the fader on your own mix. Hope this helps! -Justin
This video is referring to listening to your mix in mono while mixing the lead vocal. With everything coming up the center, it allows your ears to quickly judge the level of the vocal against the other instrumentation. For the second part of your question, the lead vocal is typically a mono track since it’s a single audio source on one microphone. A stereo track just takes up more hard drive space and is not necessary, unless you’re using creative stereo FX or something like that where a stereo track is needed. Hope this helps! -Justin
The first desk is called the Studio RTA Creation Station. I purchased it from my local Guitar Center sometime around 2005, but it looks like they still sell the same desk! Here’s the direct link: www.guitarcenter.com/Studio-RTA/Creation-Station-Maple-Maple-1500000019697.gc
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MIXING VOCALS IN MONO IS KEY ! ! ! ESPECIALLY RAP .
It can be very helpful!
u made a Good Points i will Try to mix in mono from now on
Glad the video was helpful! I wouldn’t stay in mono for the full mix, but it can really be helpful to fine tune the level balance between certain elements. Try it out on your next mix and let me know how it works for you! Thanks for watching!
-Justin
Thank you for the video!
since i started using this great technique i often noticed that when mixing the vocals in mono
usually the vocal level is more accurate and tend to sound right on other systems.
but' heres the "but" sometimes when switching back to stereo the vocals have less volume than i expect.
So i guess the best approach is to compromise by making the mono mix work as a priority
Other wise the vocals can sound too loud and it can be worse (:
id love to hear you opinion (:
That’s a really great question! Here are my thoughts… When comparing a lead vocal in stereo vs mono, the vocal may sound quieter in the stereo mix because of the way our ears perceive sound in stereo vs mono. In a full stereo mix, the lead vocal is typically one of the few elements that are centered while other Instruments and effects are often panned across the stereo field to create space and separation. The lead vocal can seem quieter in comparison because it doesn’t have the same width as the other instrumentation.
When listening from a mono source, it allows us to identify the center vocal level better because it’s being balanced against everything from the same center position. Our ears and brain don’t have to work as hard as they did to process the audio information that was coming at us from different directions. So once you get a good balance in mono and then jump back to listening in stereo, this extra depth and width can again make the lead vocal appear quieter, even if its level is the same as in the mono mix. This is especially true if you are going from one right to the other without any break or palette cleanser.
At that, if you’re getting great results in mono and your mixes are translating well to other listening systems, then that’s the goal! Based on my thoughts above, I would advise against making a compromise in vocal level just so that it sounds more appealing on your monitors in stereo. That may change how it’s perceived in other real world environments and you could be back to square one of trying to find the sweet spot.
Rather, listen to a ton of reference material through your speakers to get very familiar with how the vocal levels are sitting in different mixes. Compare them in stereo vs mono and see how it affects the perceived vocal level. Overtime, how these mixes sound through your monitors will become locked in your brain and it will be second nature when reaching to adjust the fader on your own mix. Hope this helps!
-Justin
The lead vocals should be only mixed in mono or should be left in mono?
This video is referring to listening to your mix in mono while mixing the lead vocal. With everything coming up the center, it allows your ears to quickly judge the level of the vocal against the other instrumentation.
For the second part of your question, the lead vocal is typically a mono track since it’s a single audio source on one microphone. A stereo track just takes up more hard drive space and is not necessary, unless you’re using creative stereo FX or something like that where a stereo track is needed. Hope this helps!
-Justin
whats the name of the first desk?
The first desk is called the Studio RTA Creation Station. I purchased it from my local Guitar Center sometime around 2005, but it looks like they still sell the same desk! Here’s the direct link:
www.guitarcenter.com/Studio-RTA/Creation-Station-Maple-Maple-1500000019697.gc