8mm Forum: Mono vs. Stereo?

This is topic Mono vs. Stereo? in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 10, 2011, 05:50 PM:

OK, this may only appeal to audiophiles, (no doubt a few on this forum) ...

But it can be quite a difficult decision on what kind of mix to go with. I just finished an 8th mix of one of the songs on my album, "Shame", an unabashed 60's garage style rocker, and it's become quite a decision on which to include on the album and which to just make a "bonus track".

I really wonder sometimes how those recording artists and artists actually came up with what mixes they made in mono.

My favorite example from back then is the Beach Boy's/Brian Wilson song "Wouldn't it be Nice" from the "Pet Sounds" album.

This is a song that is very full. The instrumental portrion is heavily "Phil Spector'd" with that gorgeous "wall of sound" that Spector made famous ...

But then Brian had nto tackle with four part (or more, I forget) harmony that the Beach Boy's specialized in ...

All in one mono mix, right in the middle!

In the eearly 90's, Brian Wilson went back into the studio for a box set version of "Pet Sounds" and remixed in full stereo this classic track. Now, he placed each harmony vocal at a different place in the stereo spectrum, as well as placing the assorted instruments in different spots.

The song is an even greater revelation in it's stereo version, as we were now hearing with more fidelity each part, as well as some nuances that were being lost in the mono mix, but this even draws more attention to just how difficult (and frustrating) it was to take all that info and squeeze it into a mono mix.

I found that same problem on "Shame". The "mono" mix (actually, it's not true mono, but stereo mostly squeezed into the middle) is more "mushy", but it has more power and thump. However, by having all the guitars in the middle, it allows the assorted percussion to show off more.

In the wider stereo mixes, (as I recorded with different effects, the same electric guitar parts), I have more fidelity to the guitars on both sides, however, the drums just did not "read" as well, so it's a trade off either way.

Your thoughts folks?

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on July 10, 2011, 08:10 PM:

Well...I always mix in stereo. On occasion I really hard pan left and right to isolate certain instruments. And I usually listen to my mixes in different stereo's, boom boxes, car systems and even played back mono before I am happy with them so I know my mixes should sound good in what ever they are played in.

Bill [Smile]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 11, 2011, 10:29 AM:

That's a very good point Bill ...

I did most of my first mixes with a pair of very good headphones turned very low, (mixing "loud" is a big nono!), but when I played the finished album on my good ole fashioned stereo system, (you know, with the four foot high box speakers with monster woofers!, not like those rinky dink little mini speakers of today!), the vocals (especially the processed vocals) had a lot of over powering low end to them, and I had to remix each and every track!

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