Ableton Forum

I have to mix down one of my own tunes properly for the first time, to get it mastered, and have run into a simple question i cant find the answer to? I know you should always have your bass line as a mono track to get even dispersion over both speakers. In Ableton can you create mono tracks? Or are they already two mono tracks side by side? Any help would be greatly appreciated

For mono/stereo tracks I think, in Live, it depends on the source ie: if you've recorded it as audio and you've selected a mono input - you'll get a mono output (even tho' 'both' meters are lit). If it's, say, a VSTi or AU instrument source it may well be bussed in as a stereo input. Either way easiest solution is to simply insert Live's Utility effect onto your bass channels and reduce the 'Width' to suit.

A more complex solution, for extra control, would be to get one of Rhythminmind's 'crossover racks':

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... highlight=

Insert the Utility onto the low end crossover and reduce the width of a specific frequency range using the macros.

Or even, if your on a PC, just get this: http://www.otiumfx.com/basslane.php

HTH

when i want to get my bass mono, i use a VST for basslines, should i just put the "Live Utility" on my bassline track and then its mono? no other settings needed?

Fhlouz wrote:when i want to get my bass mono, i use a VST for basslines, should i just put the "Live Utility" on my bassline track and then its mono? no other settings needed?

As above Fhlouz - insert the Utility and then reduce the width.

In some cases, where one 'side' of the stereo file is preferred, you can select the L or R on the Utility to give you that individual channel.

HTH

Are you getting this mastered for vinyl?

If not, then don't worry so much.

if so, then double check with your engineer.... they should be doing this for you anyway, and not just the bassline.

The best way is probably that corssover rack, as it won't Mono-ize some of the nice overtones / attack transients on your bass that might be giving it some presence in the mix.

But you can just drop the utility tool on your bass track, sure.
You might wanna do it to your kick drum track, too, if you are trying to master this yourself for Vinyl.

For CDs, iPODs, mp3s... stereo bass is not an issue. Human ears aren't good at detecting panning info from low-frequency signals... but it wont cause your CD laser to skip