ableton keeps exporting in mono

[dk1187]

i have a mix all done, then when i exported it i noticed the sound quality was a lot different in the exported file. at first i didn't know why but then i exported the file with "convert to mono" on and it sounds the same in mono, so i figure it's because ableton is exporting in mono for some reason. all other times i had convert to mono off, i even exported at full bitrate/depth with no dithering and it keeps sounding like it's in mono. when i listen to the mix in ableton it's in stereo all the way out to the master bus, so there's no routing or plugin issue that's making it mono. is there a setting in ableton that i might have enabled somewhere along the line that is making it export this mix in mono? how can i get it to export normally?

[luddy]

hmm, 'convert to mono' is the only thing that should cause a mono file to be produced AFAIK. Is it possible that you somehow didn't overwrite the original exported file when you did the second (stereo) export?

-Luddy

[dk1187]

no, i've done several exports in stereo and mono, deleting the originals and they all sound the same, they're all in mono. i've even put a mono utility at the end of the master bus to see if it sounds that way actually playing in ableton in mono, and it does, so ableton is definitely exporting in mono for some reason. the exported files say they're stereo when being played, they just sound mono.

[kleine]

What happens if you resample the master output on a new track instead of the render/export function?
Same results?

best,
Christian

[chrk]

the exported files say they're stereo when being played, they just sound mono.

With what software or device are you listening to the exported files? - Any chance the mono output happens there?

Have you tried a) draging the exported files back into Live (fresh set) or b) opening them with an audio editor? - What do they look like (mono, stereo, dual mono)?

[dk1187]

the exported files say they're stereo when being played, they just sound mono.

With what software or device are you listening to the exported files? - Any chance the mono output happens there?

duh, i forgot that i left the "downmix channels to mono" DSP enabled in foobar from a previous use, should have thought of that, lol! now the exported files sound how they should. anyway, thanks for the input everyone.