Skip to main content

I think this might really be a mastering question - only in reverse.

A client brought in a split track CD and wanted me to adjust the level of the vocal track relative to the music track. Piece of cake in the DAW.

However, when I tried to copy the music track (which is obviously mono), delay it and pan it to get a pseudo-stereo sound, one side was quite a bit louder than the other.

Questions are:

1)Any ideas why this happened?

2)Does the ME do a special mastering job specifically for a split-track CD, or is that something that is done during the final mixing/editing phase at the studio? (I realize that you can't "un-mix" the vocals and pan them, I'm just wondering if the ME treats a split-track CD any differently than a normal CD.)

3)What would be the correct way to "undo" this disc and make the mono music track sound at least somewhat stereo (assuming that I did it wrong...)?

(Is this an M/S thing?)

Thanks for the insight...

Comments

joe lambert Mon, 05/12/2003 - 10:33

Jeff,

You have a mono vocal and a mono track.

I would double the mono track so you have a left and right. I wouldn't mess with the delay thing. It doesn't really work the way you might think. Put a stereo reverb on the vocal track put the vocal in the center, the verb hard left and right maybe try a different reverb on the track to give you some stereo info. Mix it all together.

It should be a lot better than what you started with.

Then master it!

doulos21 Fri, 05/30/2003 - 22:35

sounds like you screwed up to me its mono how could a channel sound louder? i think your stero prossing had a m s switch engaged that would make the left louder of a "mono" track i second the idea of steroing the mono tracks but as far as the vocals i wouldnt pan them hard right hard left id find a place where they sat better in the mix you can really make those vocals tight if you play with it awhile good luck

x

User login