M-Audio: recording in mono (need stereo)

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 7:33 pm

Ok, so I am new at this, and I am only in the beginning stages of recording.

Today I purchased an M-audio Firewire Solo preamp device for a fair price of $150 (they usually go for at least $200). Here are the specs: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FirewireSolo/ I also purhased an instrument mic so that I could record music through it into my PC at decent quality using Sonar Cakewalk 4. But it's only recording on the left speaker (mono). Is there any way to make it record on both speakers (Left and right)? And no matter what settings I change, it doesn't make any difference. How do I get it to record in stereo? This really makes no sense and almost defeats the purpose of spending all this money on recording equipment if it's only going to record mono! Geeze!

Anyone that can help me, I would be greatly appreciative, as I have been trying to fix this all day to no avail.

THANKS!!!

Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 1:30 am

If you want to record in stereo, you need two mics. With only one mic, you have a mono source. So pan that channel center and all should be good.

Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 10:43 pm

metalcrusade, ahhhhhh ha! You are now starting to realize that most stereo recordings are comprised of many mono sources! Isn't that amazing?! Remarkable! What a concept! And of course, if you really want to record something in stereo, you're gunna' have to buy a second microphone that might actually come close to matching your other microphone? That's not absolutely necessary as any 2 microphones will provide differences in phase and frequency response yielding a stereo recording.

Most often with orchestral and choral work, we'll mostly use matched stereo pairs for their similarity and consistency. So I think you'll find that you spent your money wisely? A good entry-level recording system. Of course you'll have to invest another whopping $25 for a quality instrument mic from Radio Shaft. NOT!

One other little thing that you should know, mono is good. "Is there any way to make it record on both speakers?" The answer to that is NO, you cannot record on speakers. (unless you're talking about the Yamaha bass drum microphone that utilizes a 4 inch speaker?) You can however adjust your "Pan" control to place that single microphone into both left and right stereo mixdown output channels. That's how it's done. That's what we all do. That's what you need to do. So, you think that $200 was a big investment? I've spent well over $100,000 for a bunch of recording junk. What's that button do???

Now I will also share with you the greatest secret to making fine recordings. It's called the directions to Carnegie Hall. What? You don't know the directions to Carnegie Hall?? The directions are, "Practice Practice Practice".

You're almost there!
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 11:56 am

Hope you are using XP(SP2)? Solo(According to online manual) won't work with anything else...

TG

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:34 am

Hi I am also having the same problems. I have centred the mono mic channel in the solos mixer window but still Im only getting sound from one headphone. Also I play back tracks in cubase sx3 which I recorded using a cheap sound card which I know are stereo and they are only coming out of one headphone side although actually both left and right channels are coming out of the one side.

Any ideas?

I can't see any way that I can setup the i/o differently to make it work.

Thanks in advance

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:52 am

2 channels CAN make a stereo track, if they're not identical. 2 identical tracks on left and right will make a MONO track.

The M-audio has a nifty audio panel where input/output can be controlled. Open up the input panel and select the source channel (on the M-audio microphone is connected on input-1) and pan it dead center, make sure both output faders are up and panned left and right (you can even use the link button). You might wanna click the "monitor" (or what was it called again?) button to route that channel through the direct monitor. Check your output on the M-audio for a MONO output using both channels.

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:06 am

thanks, I found the reason for my problem in the end, a broken headphone convertor only played one side. lol all good now

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