Sum both outs to one speaker. Surprisingly different than listening to both speakers. (more focus)

I'd take this a step futher & do it with an Auratone, or your 2-track speaker. This will give you an idea what your stuff sounds like coming out of an alarm clock, t.v., etc.
Sometimes you'll think everything sounds nice & wide- hit the mono button & 1/2 your track get phase cancelled out. (check the rhodes part on Good Lovin' on Blackstreet's Another Level record in Mono & then in stereo).

Thanks for your tips guys. This may sound a little stupid but how do I sum both outputs to one speaker in the best way?

e-cue: I'm not familual with the Auratone, not a 2-track speaker either... What do they do?

So when you are mixing and checking for phase problems do you always listen in one speaker instead of just using the mono button? Any advantages to using the mono button?

And how do you generally deal with mono compability when mixing , like do you mix it all to work good in mono first, then spread it out with panning or do you use panning from the beginning and check it in mono from time to time? Alot of questions at once :)

I have no idea of how to sum both outputs to one speaker...but the way I do it with drums is to either: pan all the drums to the left, or hit the mono button and disconnect one of the two speakers [usually the right speaker as I have more confidence in my left ear].

Your mileage may vary.

Some power amps have level controls on the front. So I hit the mono botton on the board and turn one speaker down.

Thanks! That was easier to understand..

Fletcher, I also have more confidense in my left ear, but now my tinnitus is way louder on the left side... I'm fucked :(

a well..
;)

e-cue: I'm not familual with the Auratone, not a 2-track speaker either... What do they do?

Auratones (aka Horrortones) are small speakers that are supposed to be used to check your mixes in 'real world' conditions. Not everyone can afford a $10,000+ sound system at their house. A lot of 1/2' 2-track machines have a cheap-ass mono speaker built in for monitoring purposes. If your mix, esspecially low-end, sounds good on these it will probably sound good on any source your mix is being played...

e-cue: Thanks for the explanation. Though I'm currently mixing on a pc and don't own any of the devices you mentioned, its always nice to learn new techniques.

Peter