M-Audio Firewire 1814 Issues

AdmB102386 · Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Texas

Ok.... well this may be a boneheaded question, but I'm trying to record vocals with the firewire 1814 into nuendo 3.... and cannot record in true stereo with one microphone. Microphone input 1 only comes through on the left side, and mic input two only on the right. I want to be able to record in true stereo using only one of the inputs, but cannot figure out how to change it. Any suggestions would appreciated greatly. Thanks!

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject:

True stereo with one microphone? Shocked

I guess you mean you want to smack the mono signal into 2 channels in your DAW? But do you really need to do that? You can do like the rest of us and pan the mono channel in the mix. Very Happy

AdmB102386 · Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Texas

so.... i'm guessing that recording in mono will not lose quality? i was under the impression that recording in stereo would always be a better idea. but the person who told me that could quite possibly be just as ignorant as me...

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:56 pm Post subject:

Don´t worry about the noobieness. You will have fun learning. Very Happy

The stereo/mono business isn´t as obvious at it may seem.
When you make a recording and produce a track you are building a complex structure. Some stuff is cool to record in stereo, but you are primarily building content for your mix. Some of the sources will sound better in mono or at least mix better when in mono. Your end result will probably be at least a stereo mix.

Trivia: It is however not unusual that many sources will be recorded using far more than 2 microphones. ( Mixing all these together into a stereo mix can be diffcult though because of phase issues. )

Stereo is in fashion basically because it provides some sort of 3D soundstage and stereo playback equipment is pretty inexpensive and also easy to set up. Mono is of course still extremely hot, but this is kinda not well known to consumers. Laughing

Most stereo mixes are done with attention to how it will sound in mono..

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:01 pm Post subject:

AdmB102386 · Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Texas

thanks for your help man.... it is really appreciated..

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:43 pm Post subject:

Keep posting questions.

One suggeestion:
Do get some books on recording techniques. You might as well pick up some early 80s books, because not much has really changed and the hardset stuff to learn is the old basic analog stuff. Understanding how they did it before Fruity Loops and Nuendo is a must.
Then you should listen to various recordings and try to figure out how it was done.

Also: Check out the Sound On Sound website. http://www.soundonsound.com/
They have a series of articles about how classic songs and albums were produced. You might pick up interesting info there.