Ableton Forum

kanuck wrote: If you're processing the left and right channels differently then you're going to have a very messed up stereo image.

The only manipulation I'm doing is with the gains to balance it out, and it's usually only a db or 2. It's not unheard of to vary the reverb a bit from left to right, but I choose not to go down that path.

kanuck wrote: I don't understand how panning 2 tracks hard left and right would sound better than a single stereo track.

Quite simply, it sounds more like the way that I hear myself.

kmaaj wrote:

kanuck wrote: I don't understand how panning 2 tracks hard left and right would sound better than a single stereo track.

Quite simply, it sounds more like the way that I hear myself.

what kind of stereo micing techniques are you using? Most techniques have both the left and right channels with equal levels.

These are 5 pretty standard stereo micing techniques:
http://www.homestudiocorner.com/stereo-mic-techniques/

kmaaj wrote:

kanuck wrote: I don't understand how panning 2 tracks hard left and right would sound better than a single stereo track.

Quite simply, it sounds more like the way that I hear myself.

An ultra wide stereo image that doesn't sound remotely natural?

Also panning hard left & right is a way to disguise phase issues caused by using more than one microphone in a non-stereo setup.

I am at fault at this as we've gotten far off the original topic. The point is if you have the same source recorded on 2 separate tracks you cannot group and edit them together.

kanuck wrote:These are 5 pretty standard stereo micing techniques:
http://www.homestudiocorner.com/stereo-mic-techniques/

great read, thanks!

now I want to buy a bunch of microphones.

kanuck wrote:

kmaaj wrote:Quite simply, it sounds more like the way that I hear myself.

what kind of stereo micing techniques are you using? Most techniques have both the left and right channels with equal levels.

I experimented with several configurations and then narrowed it down to four. Spaced 18" apart 3 feet away at waist height is what sounds the best in my room.

Here, You guys tell me:

https://soundcloud.com/ken-whisler

Do you hear any phase issues in any of the 4 takes? Any issues at all for that matter? #4 is where I begin to hear the inadequacies of a lightly treated room.

kanuck wrote:I am at fault at this as we've gotten far off the original topic. The point is if you have the same source recorded on 2 separate tracks you cannot group and edit them together.

Ok, I now know more about editing in Ableton than I did when I worded the op, and I am in the process of pulling my size 12 foot out of my mouth. Bottom line: if I wish to stick to my original notion of only one DAW on my laptop, then I need to record to one stereo channel. After the editing is done, can the channels be split into two separate tracks if I felt the need to tweak gains individually or experiment with different amounts of reverb in each, etc.?

kmaaj wrote:

kanuck wrote:I am at fault at this as we've gotten far off the original topic. The point is if you have the same source recorded on 2 separate tracks you cannot group and edit them together.

Ok, I now know more about editing in Ableton than I did when I worded the op, and I am in the process of pulling my size 12 foot out of my mouth. Bottom line: if I wish to stick to my original notion of only one DAW on my laptop, then I need to record to one stereo channel. After the editing is done, can the channels be split into two separate tracks if I felt the need to tweak gains individually or experiment with different amounts of reverb in each, etc.?

You sure can. Create 2 separate tracks and change the I/O settings so their both receiving from the stereo track. Then pan one track left and the other right.