What instruments do you record in stereo and which in Mono?

[artale]

For instance:

Main Vocals
BKG Vocals
Kit
ELectric Bass
Rythmn Guitar
Solo Guitar
Piano
Horns
Strings
Pads
Percussion

I guessing that certain instruments should be in mono and
others should be in stereo. I am new to recording in stereo and wanted
to hear opinions about seperation, panning mono and stereo tracks and
how to best come up with a plan.

What is the rule not the exception.

THanks for your help!

Artale

 

[Holly]

I think this can't be answered in general, but my main thoughts on it:

• everything that is only one instrument (or voice) -> mono[/*:muwsud7l]
• string sections, brass sections, choirs, etc -> stereo[/*:muwsud7l]
• keyboards and other electronical instruments with effects on it and stereo outs -> stereo[/*:muwsud7l]

Generally, think of it like: \"does it make sense to record it in stereo?\" What sense does it make to record one electric bass guitar in stereo? :roll:

Just my € 0,02!

Holly

 

[brian]

I suggest:

Main Vocals Mono
BKG Vocals Stereo
Kit Well mono close-mics, stereo overheads, mono room mic
ELectric Bass Mono
Rythmn Guitar Mono
Solo Guitar Mono
Piano Stereo, I like the player's perspective
Horns Mono if they are solo
Strings Stereo
Pads Stereo, but watch that they don't hog mix space
Percussion Mono

On most keyboards or synths/pads it can sound better to take a mono input and make it \"fake\" stereo yourself with some very short delays (less than 25ms) or chorus effects. You usually don't want each synth track taking up the entire stereo width. Use a stereo pan controller if you return keyboards in stereo and set the width to be narrow, or whatever is appropriate based on available mix space.

Another trick to make mono bass parts sound more stereo is to send the signal to a high-pass filter set at around 150Hz to remove the bottom. Then patch in a chorus device, so that only the mids are chorused. This can really spread bass guitars or synths out nicely.

Also...really experiment with returning reverbs in mono, this can open up lots of stereo space. You can usually find the best place to pan them after all the instruments are panned out. Sometimes they sound great panned opposite to the effected instrument, sometimes right next to it, and sometimes right up the center. Experiment! Stereo is prety fun...

 

[artale]

Thank you all for your input!


These forums are a blessing. I wanted to get a feel
for what other engineers are doing.

I dont have hardly any interaction with other engineers and
to get this kind of feedback is extemely valuable.

thanks again!!

 

[Holly]

...you're welcome! :wink:

Holly

 

[Ronnie Wibbley]

How do people feel about recording acoustic guitars in stereo, with one mic picking up the regular \"where the body meets the neck\" spot and the other pointing slightly more towards the player's left hand (assuming it's a RH guitarist)? It's something I've been doing lately for my own poppier recordings, but I'm well aware that it could just be overkill for a rhythm part that has to compete with the usual racket from the rest of the instruments.

Makes me happy, though...

 

[J-Mac!]

Hey this is GREAT information. I've been struggling with this question, and trying to find the best way to mix where all instruments have their space in the mix. Now my question would be, what would be some great panning suggestions?

J-Mac!

 

[Tarekith]

Lately I've been doing my Kicks, snares and basslines in mono, though it can change depending on the song. If I use a snare sample with a lot of room ambience on it, I might leave it in stereo.

 

[Soundawg]

Acording to the man Bob Katz, http://www.digido.com, all should be in sterio! Read his book... \"Mastering Audio the art and the science\", I'm reading it for the 10th time and starting to understand 1/10th of it! LOL This guy is in another league! By the way, one thing I have picked up from the book, is that a lot of opinions on this forum and others seem to be Bob Katz 'regurgitations'. For the record... if anyone reading this post is one of the 'regurgitators' you should mention where you got 'your opinion' from. After all Bob has no problem giving credit where credit is due - I guess that is part of what makes him one of the best.

 

[sangha]

How do people feel about recording acoustic guitars in stereo, with one mic picking up the regular "where the body meets the neck" spot and the other pointing slightly more towards the player's left hand (assuming it's a RH guitarist)? It's something I've been doing lately for my own poppier recordings, but I'm well aware that it could just be overkill for a rhythm part that has to compete with the usual racket from the rest of the instruments.

Makes me happy, though...

That's not really "stereo". You mic ac gtrs like that to capture/record the varying characteristics of an ac gtr which puts out different sounds at different points on the gtrs body and neck unlike a true stereo recording which is meant to record the sound as it is heard by two ears.