Mixing In Mono - Secret Weapon Or Waste Of Time?
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- čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
- Is mixing in mono a technique you should be using or is it a waste of time?
In this video, I discuss the pros and cons.
The technique involves listening to your stereo mix in mono while you edit and mix it. This way you can stay more focused on the basics of level, phase and balance without being distracted or mislead by the stereo image. It seems like a simple idea but there are quite a few layers to this method and a few big drawbacks/downsides which I wanted to discuss.
Time Stamps / Chapters
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Mixing in Mono Technique
3:20 - Benefit 1 - It helps you set levels?
4:45 - A better way to set levels
5:28 - Benefit 2 - Frequency Masking?
7:22 - Benefit 3 - Polarity and Phase Issues
8:40 - Benefit 4 - It improves your listening skills?
10:00 - More Issues with Mixing in Mono
Videos I mentioned -
How To Hear Compression video - • How To HEAR COMPRESSIO...
How To Hear EQ video - • How To Hear EQ - Mixin...
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Thnx for these great contents
Can you cover advance level of transistor bass ....
How to use it properly
@@droncreation4719 That would be great. I love the sound of Transistor Bass, but when I am makin melodies/riffs, the results in piano roll are not as good, as in its "internal" sequencer - but that sequencer itself is very limited. Maybe its just some of the sequencer´s parameter which cannot be replicated in piano roll..?
Are you not continuing the new sounds design series?
Should I record a vocal or guitar in mono or stereo? I always record in mono, is this a problem?
Hearing “Hello and welcome back to the channel” is like a warm hug ❤️
Dude his voice is soo soothing
He is just a treat to ears❤
Big time
lol, only if you like funny nerds like that guy with strange accents or are a 55 plus years old female....
@@levondarratt787 why his accent is strange? because it's Scottish, not American? lol, something strange to you might be normal for someone else. I guess you didn't see true nerds lol
I've been producing for 14 years and this is just about the only channel i watch on the topic anymore. Very good stuff
@@DuskfoxOfficial that's awesome! Keep at it, don't give it up. Learn all you can!
Watch Kush After Hours
Yeah, while I wish there were more frequent videos, I’m so glad Michael focused on quality over quantity. All the information is so clean cut that producers of any skill level can understand and learn from them!
Indeed, love the comparison to "imagine mixing with a low pass filter and then being amazed when you turn it off". Have often wondered how much of the "mono mixing is great" is due to precisely that effect.
I don't have that answer, but all I can say is that I have had one of my music mixed by 2 different engineers. It sounds nice in their studios but when I heard it back on my headphones the vocals were hidding the other instruments quiet a bit. ..but on my phone those instruments literally got hidden under. ( Piano and violins). I started to assume that what I heard about mono compatibility was real.
@@davidcedric3268 I've got the same problem on a mix I'm working on. I have two electric guitars playing the same riff hard panned right and left. On my studio headphones (and any other stereo speaker system) it sounds great but on my phone speaker you can barely hear the electric guitars. I've scoured the internet looking for a way to fix it but no one so far has a satisfactory solution. Nothing I've tried worked. I'm not sure what I should do
I think the main goal is that the mono mix sounds as good (if not better) than the original stereo mix, which usually elevates the new stereo mix as a 'side effect' 😉
@@austinedeclan10 This happened with me as well but with vocals. The vocals hid under music while playing the mix on a phone but the mix sounds pretty good on stereo speaker systems. I have no idea what went wrong.
@@Moktac I ended up changing the amp settings for one guitar so that they're completely different in terms of tone. I think for vocals maybe you can mono your vocal channel. Maybe that'll work
Something I was told early on with producing dance music is that many (most?) club sound systems are setup in mono because there are speakers all over with no true left or right field so it's important to always check how a track sounds in mono to ensure it will translate well to clubs. Since then I've made it a habit to check my mixes in mono throughout the production and take that into account in the mixing process.
which is funny with dance producers getting all 256 bit abbey road studios with their productions now 😃
This is true, and the big challenge right now is for artists like myself who want to branch slightly out of the underground, which is where streaming comes into play. For a long time I was only producing Techno and Minimal, had success with that on an underground level, but those tracks are built for DJ's and Clubs, period. Now that I am thinking more audience-centric, I have to consider the casual listener as well. So the challenge is keeping that interesting stereo image and depth for them while also making sure it bangs in the club.
@@subtractivemusic I make techno too. My artist channel is @MarkWiseTechno where I post my podcasts and music on here.
when i win a grammy michael will be in my acceptance speech
ok
best of luck my man!
I think it’s a good idea to check the mix in mono at various points, along with a variety of other things - like you mentioned just the left and right separately, and just the mids and sides separately. Also, I always listen to a just 250hz and below, a 250hz-6k, and a 6k-20k at various stages just to hear the balance within each of those ranges.
ONLY mixing in mono is not what I would ever do, but I guess it works for some people. All that matters is that you get to where you want to go, I suppose 😂
That’s a really good idea David. Very well put!
Can you please explain any instance where you have had a problem by mixing in mono? I hear you saying that you would never do it, but I really don't understand where anything would fall apart in doing so... I can certainly see how mixing in stereo might COMPLETELY fall apart, when you play that mix on a stereo system that doesn't have the same response ranges as what you originally mixed for when you were mixing in stereo on a given system. In fact, I would argue that if you mix in stereo, you'd better make sure that your final mastered product is ONLY played on very similar stereo systems.... Otherwise you might find yourself thinking, "what in God's name happened to my music??"
I think perhaps you misunderstood me. I’m not saying I would never do it. I’m saying that I wouldn’t mix ONLY in mono from start to finish. I mix in mono at various points during mixing, and I always check how the mix sounds in mono. What I’m saying is to do both stereo and mono mixing at different times and for different reasons.
@@davidspingler6337 I appreciate your response. I'm not sure if there's anything unforeseen that I'm just not aware of, and that's what I'm trying to figure out. I actually try to steer away from stereo tracks altogether, unless I'm actually recording a live drummer with a mic on every piece... If you have a skilled and dynamic drummer, nothing can really capture his pure natural moves across his set like a stereo track, but I record my guitar, vocals and simple instruments on mono tracks and make panning adjustments when mixing (often automated), and I mix such instruments in mono exclusively, actually, I even mix stereo drum tracks in mono as well. I sometimes think that people are afraid that if they mix in mono, that their final mastered mix will not be in stereo! LOL! If that's the case, then I'm not really worried about mixing exclusively in mono, because I can get robust stereo sound from what I record, and control the full spacial perception this way, and I really don't see any drawbacks... I've never had a problem as far as my own ears tell me... You might here what I do, and think, "this is horrible" LOL!! I dunno... I'm just trying to get opinions... In any event, thanks!
You're consistently one of the top CZcams channels for great tips and tutorials in music production. Great video!
i recently used this technique in my latest track and i was AMAZED with the result , i had no ear fatigue , i had better levels , better stereo image , better focus , in short it was secret weapon for me , i started my mix in mono till i finished the project , then i switched back to stereo and did final adjustment and then i rendered my track for mastering , i think i'll do it for all my tracks .
That's my method for when I do a pre-mix for all channels. Mono is key because it meshes all those sounds together and its great for kickdrum, snares and hi-hats and all types of shakers
Oho! I agree with that final point so much!
One of the reasons productions can take so long for myself and other producers I know is that we all mix our tracks in different circumstances.
For example, I've started mixing the mids and sides separately, then mixing them together in stereo, then listening back on my headphones, in the car, on my speakers, etc.
It might add an extra day, but it's well worth it to know how things will behave in those situations.
Mixing to me is so boring and tedious, but I always In The Mix because he gives you the information you need from a real professional perspective in an understandable way. Great work!
Whatever beats I have been able to create are all because of you! You are a gift to the producer community. Thank you for everything you have done and are doing! 🙏🏻💜
Thanks, Manasi!
@@inthemix which encoding simulating software would you recommend to test a mix?
Now you gotta give him royalties 🤣🤣🤣
Nailed it with your last tip. My UE Boom will immediately show me issues in my low end, while my track will show me if I have width issues. Also, just putting it on while driving casually let’s my ear pick up obvious transients like your headphone idea.
At some point it’s important to just take role of casual listener.
Theres so many videos of techniques I look into, but yours are always by far the most informative and trustworthy. Thank you for these !
Seriously???
I was just thinking about this topic and your video notification pop up!!!
Appreciate you man!❤️
He is a wizard.
@@realhuman5688 😂😂
The algorithm is getting better
Another great video! I do spend some time mixing in mono, specially when I apply EQ, but all the arguments you present are very valid and make a lot of sense. I think you nailed it when you suggested that mixing in mono is just another tool to check and not the secret for a great mix. Love the content in your channel!
Dude your content is like getting one of those expensive courses for free. It's amazing how well produced you videos are and how much effor you put on it. You can be sure you're helping a ton of people that rely on internet for education. You the true GOAT!! 🐐🔥
Great explanations! Useful stuff! Thank you for taking the time to make this video. 😎
Always with the gems 🔥🔥I would be no where near where I am without these videos
You made some great points in this video! It's not just mix in mono and everything will be alright. Thanks for your clarity and information!
You guys deserve so much more and it's all gonna reach you. Thank you!!!
Thanks for posting this video, Michael! This really helped me improve my mixing technique!
I've noticed you guys have put more work in the recent months to sperate all the parts of the videos very concisely. I know its a youtube feature but I can see you've gone the extra mile pre production to utilize it. I gotta say I appreciate it.
U said something that is correct, almost everybody preferes listen to music in stereo but i would like to add that almost nobody listen to music in perfect stereo position (except headphones). Most of the times people listen to music in unbalanced position or to far away from the 2 speakers that it almost colapse to mono, thats when a good mono mix will shine over a just just good stereo mix...
This channel drops the rarest of gems... loving the content!
This demystifies so much for me. Fabulous content and integrity as always. Thanks!
Your channel has been a game changer for me. Thank you for the content.
Been watching your work for a while and I just want to say that you are an absolute gem! Thank you for everything you've done and all the tutorials! 🙂
Thank you so much for the kind words :)
Glad to hear that you do convert your master into different formats and listen to what it would actually sound like. Sometimes, I get lazy and try to find an excuse not to do so, hence its refreshing to know that a pro actually does that.
Glad to see you again with a brand new tutorial
Thank you so much for real 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 It really helps me whenever I wanna search something, learn and know about something and find you explaining them on the spot. ❤️ Thank you again
very well explained and thoughtful taking care of strong opinions ;)
I think you showcased this topic very well, mixing in mono is probably not the best, but checking back in mono is definitely good, I will also try checking back only left and right from now on! thanks michael :)
Yo. MREZDOEZIT here!! Just here to say that i learn something everytime i watch one of your videos and to me, hands down, you are the easiest person to listen to and understand. You do great educational videos and i just wanted to commend and thank you for all your insight. I look forward to working with you in the near future. God bless.
I NEEDED TO HEAR THIS VERY SUBJECT! You're my hero! 🔥
That is one the best music production channels on CZcams. This video was so insightful!
One thing I do not like in mixing in mono is that some producers have extremely wide sounds, like basses sounds very (tbh way too much) wide and when listening in mono 80% of those sounds dissapears.
So would say to all producers out there to be carefull with sound design and pre-mixing, do not abuse of widener even tho this sounds like ear candy on certain sounds. You do not want to get your sounds off on some audio supports.
Great video, just realized I've been watching your videos for a while and never subscribed, so now done and thanks for all that content !
Greetings
Absolutely the best teacher I've ever heard.
Bravissimo!
Wonderful input about mono, esp. the headphones on table trick! A very balanced tutorial; thanks Michael. More sound design please😍
I find that turning the stereo width knob on the master track only part way to full mono gives the most useful results. Full mono is mostly a thing of the past, but this method gives more of a sense of what less perfectly stereo situations might sound like.
For mixing, I still like just turning the volume down very low to hear if anything is sticking out too much, or too inaudible.
Makes sense - thanks for sharing
Yo same thought I was the only one, only something like compression to hear the tweaking correctly is something I have to turn up to hear better
@@thestreetdisciple3955 Yeah, as I'm aware the volume down approach is pretty well-known, although now that ya mention it, I don't hear it mentioned much ... . Either way, it works like a charm. Really helps take me out of the loud=good state of mind and focus on the mix.
@@TheSwircle987 so right, I guess from watching people I really picked up from a few engineers methods working with the gear or in the box. I'm not in school so I gotta really watch closely (and listen) as much as I can lol.
Excellent video.
You Rock, Man
You've added so much value to my understanding of Mixing.
I've found that inserting a Patcher (which I use to EQ mid and side, or stereo, information separately) on the master track removes the "summing" of the audio information and makes mixes come out more clear and cohesive in the full stereo mix.
The quick version is, you split the audio into mono-only and stereo-only signals with a stereo separator. Then, when you mix, turn off the stereo signal in patcher by right-clicking the signal "cord" going to your stereo EQ.
You'll hear the center information minus the stereo.
Get levels close to where you want, then turn off the mono and turn on the stereo signals. Here you'll be fine tuning your mix, so you need a good ear. The benefit is that you hear all of (and only) your stereo signal, but IN mono.
I've found it much easier to mix the levels properly this way. If you, for instance, add more stereo separation to an element, it will just get louder in the stereo signal, and won't push signal to the left and right.
Adjust the level to get the sound near where you started, then turn the mono signal back on.
Now, added with the mono, the full stereo mix will sound cleaner and more full, with better sounding levels.
It's definitely a more advanced technique, but if we're talking about making mono-mixing beneficial, this is the best way I know.
Woah! I've been struggling with making the bass and kick both pop in the mix of one of my songs. I tried reversing the polarity of the kick, which I had never thought to have done before, and it sounds so much better. Thank you!
Wow! This was incredibly insightful!
An audio newbie here… I have watched dozens of vids on this particular topic (mixing in mono vs stereo) and this is the ONLY vid that I can follow all the way and understand. I love your delivery and clear explanation without using too many professional terms.
Appreciate you keeping it legit man!
Great stuff and well explained 👍🏿
Brilliant explanation of this whole stereo/mono setup.
Great video as always :D
Thanks for explaining this! It used to drive me mad when my hard panned rhythm guitars disappeared in mono! In time, I started to simply not worry about it, but now I know what the reason for this "problem" was.
Seriously, I learn a lot from your videos and the results are fantastic thank you for everything
And I promise one day you will host me on 1 of your videos 😊❤️
i have been watching every video for years thanks for all that help, much love
I was thinking to search about mono mixing ..and as i open CZcams and got your video notification ..love u your work bro..❤❤❤
The only channel that trains, informs and empowers for free. Thanks #Michael
Great content as always, I tried mixing in mono once but it took some of the fun away from the process so I went back to stereo, probably not the best reason but my reason.
Really clarified, thank you so much Michael!!
Thank you for the information! opened an entire new world of mixing for me!
Ive been producing for a year now, and learning something new, something like this is awesome, never tought of this, thanks to youtube I got this recommended !
One thing I have noticed a lot when checking in mono, is how it effects reverb, reverb can sound lush in stereo but a lot more dry in mono, if not mixed properly. I think its a good idea to constantly switch between mono and stereo when mixing. When I listen to pro mixed audio it always sounds just as good in mono.
I was recently trying out the idea of EQ'ing different frequency ranges on the entire Master Out channel to hear if certain parts are clashing and or a bit too loud. Seems to work well, nothing wrong with just trying many things as long as it works
Man your music sounds so soothing, your mixes are precise and I honestly can't imagine how long it's going to take me to get to this level. I literally know ALL your videos and it's just so hard for me to grasp... but giving up is not an option, especially when you live in South Africa. I love you Michael, no homo. You're amazing and what I've learned from you is A LOT. big ups man.
Big up fellow Azanian 🇿🇦
Incredibly helpful! Thanks 🙏🏾
Nice thank you for sharing this technique. A lot of producers and sound engineers really need this.🔥
Super informative
Definitely check in mono! Especially to check the bass
Checking the phase of the bass range has definitely improved my mixes
Thank you, very informative as usual 👍👍
Who needs college when you have In The Mix. Another awesome video friend. I cannot tell you how valuable some of your videos are for a beginner like me just trying to make some good sounding tasty jams. Keep up the great work
The hand signals help so much - Love your videos!!! ❤
Love your videos. They help a lot. Lots of love man
I really love the way you teach I have learned a lot from you,keep up 💯
Thanks for showing us a demonstration with your hands 🙌🏽 and how mono works, what it does and what happens when it’s in stereo 💯
Thanks for all the helpful content!
Thank you! The mix mono skill remained a myth to me, this video is giving me a much clearer sense ❤
I think you explained this topic very well. Since I started working with a DAW only a few months ago, its still very hard for me to understand most of the stuff teached in videos. But I could totally follow you and I understood everything, so thank you :)
My advice is to keep the tutorials you think relevant on a playlist, that way you can look at them again when you reach certain stages in your "audio engineering development". This has helped me a lot. Although I watched the tutorials a couple of months ago when I got the interface and started recording at home, as you know, they don't all sink in at once. Once you reach certain points in the process, you can watch the tutorials on the specific subject you need help with at the time and you'll get much more out of them, you can't learn everything at once!
Great advice
always so happy to follow you
This is the most comprehensive video on this topic.
aaah thanks Eduard Cullen!!! help-me a lot!
Great video 💯
great tips sir 👍🏻
Been missing my laptop but videos like these have enlighten me
Thank you for the tips ❤️
Needed this! Thanks brother
Great advice - especially using different quality versions of MP3 compression to check the quality.
This is one channel where I like the video even before starting watching
Thank You bro 🙌🙌 Very Helpful Video🔥🔥.
Thank you for sharing this!
Very useful as always! What I often think when listening to classic tunes from the 50s, 60s or 70s where engineers didn't have all those tools in place we have at our disposal today: Just an analog console and outboard gear and those mixes still translate to every sound system today - from crappy mono speakers to high-end stereo systems that hadn't even been around at the time the song had been recorded and mixed in the first place.
I totally agree with your benefits
Because I'm used to listen with a mono speaker and I've gotten better with the quality in the mix
Thank you very much for this information
❤❤❤❤
This is pretty much spot on, when I'm mixing I do the bulk of it in stereo but will quickly switch to mono to check for any phase cancellation issues, once I've dealt with that I go back to stereo
The other thing I do a lot is mid/side eqing so that everything below about 150-200hz is mono in my final mix
Youre a awesome dude, so many of us would be lost without you 🤣
I like your stuff =) I've been producing for 4 years and your videos are helping me a lot =) I appreciate it and Greetings from Perú
Very helpful 🙏
Great vídeo. Thanks man!
This channel is my bible for music production...I swear I've been recommending your channel to almost everyone .. *-*
You can get a similar result mixing with pink noise in terms of levelling. However you lose the masking benefit that mixing in mono would give.
You so truein your teaching given knowledge that need fee just for free building the community.
Thanks much I will be nothing at production without you.
Awesome advice
one thing I need to point out (or add on) is that there are many "pan laws" in your DAW, different pan laws give you different reduction on overall level when you pan an instrument. from my knowledge, Logic Pro has such feature to choose which pan law you want to go. some pan laws is measured by level and others might be measured by other factors.
my point is that such pan law differences might change how you perceive a stereo mix in mono.
my advice (though might be ignorant and lacking of profession) is firstly try different pan laws see how they go, and then compare the mono mix to the stereo specifically for the panned tracks
Very helpful tip! So we should and do minimal or no pan first during mixing, then decide on panning only after for a nice stereo sound :)
Just waiting for your content sir🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️
Finally this is being discussed. I was wondering if someone would ever try to explain to people that mixing in mono all the time won't exactly help. but even then I end up not using it that much because I have a template where my instrument busses are easily replaced in other sides of the mix.