How to Create a Stereo Image from a Mono Source
Home recording is a very popular hobby, especially among musicians. With the advances in technology, a small home recording "project studio" can rival the most expensive professional systems. Some instruments, including voice, are "monophonic" in nature, but there are some "tricks of the trade" for enhancing a mono instrument to give it more depth and excitement when making a stereo recording.
Things You'll Need
- Recording equipment
- Microphones
- Computer-based recording system (optional)
Instructions
-
Creating a Stereo Image
-
1
Guitar Amplifiers: Although the sound coming from a guitar amplifier is produced by a mono speaker (or several speakers), use two microphones to capture a slightly different timbre. Place one microphone slightly off-axis pointed at the outside edge of the speaker at a distance of two to three feet. Position the second microphone pointed at the same spot but about eight inches away and angled just a little differently.
-
2
Acoustic Guitars: Record the guitar using a computer-based recording system. Increase the stereo image by putting a slight delay on either the left or right channel. This can be easily done with such programs as the popular Apple Logic software. Insert effects onto the desired track, click "Delay" and then "Sample Delay." While listening back to the track you can move either the left or right sliders to increase a single delay to add fullness, but not a discrete echo.
-
-
3
Vocals: Copy the track that contains a mono vocal onto two other tracks. With the two copies, pan one to the right channel and apply a very small pitch shift above the original pitch. Pan the other track to the left channel and apply a very small pitch shift below the original pitch. Keep the original track centered.
-
4
Enhance a mono instrument's stereo image by adding heavier reverb to either the left or the right channel, but not both.
-
5
Use two microphones placed at different distances and angles when recording an instrument. Then pan one microphone to the left channel and one to the right channel. Different timbres and room acoustics will enhance the stereo image.
-
6
Placing a microphone aimed at the sound hole produces the most lows. Aim at the guitar's body between the bridge and the body's edge for enhanced mid-range tones. Aim at the neck (near the 12th fret) to capture more high frequencies.
-
1
