Feel dumb asking. Dual mono / "stereo" track vs single mono 3db difference, and more

Cubase
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So kick and bass typically you want mono (I understand there are exceptions to this, but generally speaking). Not sure why but when I use the built in drum machines and render that it typically puts my kick/snare/etc samples into a stereo track. Fine. So, what I have done in the past to make those rendered tracks mono again is click the little circle buttons at the bottom left of the mixer channel from 2 circles to 1 circle. This does work and I can tell the levels are both dead even with each other and no pan law is in effect. From my understanding what I am doing at that point is basically making a dual mono track onto 1 fader combined.
The other day I was watching a video where Chris whatever was showing the way to convert stereo files to mono is via the pool. So for fun I went in the pool and converted the same samples to mono and had them replace the current “stereo” ones. Worked, fine; however, I noticed almost a 3db loss in signal at least for those tracks I converted to mono via the pool vs converting to dual mono via the circle button on the faders.

Long way to ask:

  1. am I messing up and phasing issues by using dual mono (circle buttons) on a kick/bass vs. single mono (via conversion in the pool)?
  2. why would I not use dual mono?
  3. seems like the circle buttons are a lot easier to use than searching for the said samples in the pool
  4. why do the circle buttons not work on the main Stereo Out channel (master)? I see them but they don’t do anything when you click on them. Right now I am having to enable mono on my master fader by using the stereo enhancer plug in and clicking the mono button inside of it.

Sorry for the long and semi dumb question. I Have the feeling the answer is “well dipshit you are effectively doubling your signal (dual mono) and thus you are getting the 3db gain because of that, just like if you duplicated any mono track.

Thanks,

Comb

2
  1. Not sure if you meant that you go from a stereo track (two circles) to mono (one circle). While you have a stereo track as you pointed out it might be “dual mono”, depending on the source. But either way, switching to mono regardless of if you’re doing it in the pool or changing the track would probably give you equal result regarding phase - meaning either there is a problem or there isn’t. I don’t think it matters if you change the track or do it in the pool.
  2. You mean actually dual mono channels in a stereo track, or do you mean changing the track to mono? One reason to switch to mono could be to save on processing resources, and another if you think it’s more practical to deal with the track that way. But apart from that, no reason. I mixed plenty of VSTs recorded onto stereo tracks where the instrument (like kicks and snares) were mono sources - i.e. dual mono / same signal left and right. The one benefit with staying dual mono on a stereo track is if you at some point change your mind and add a stereo-izer plugin or something to widen the sound.
  3. I agree.
  4. Once you get to group tracks and output buses you should probably just think of it all in the older more traditional sense of mixing. Once you have the width of the path set you generally want to keep it that way. It doesn’t really make sense to swap back and forth between stereo an dmono. If you want to just audition your mix in mono then Control Room would be a good option. It has a separate path that is separate from the mixer and can automatically downmix to mono. It’s a great feature of Cubase.
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I think you meant “facing issues”.

This is important, because “phasing issues” can also be a topic with DAWs. :wink:

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Here is the hot take: Spare yourself all trouble and just leave the stereo channels the way they are.
Please note: there is a difference between the channel configuration and the content of the actual audio signal. The channel can remain configured to stereo while the content of the signal is monophonic. For anybody not doing surround or, even more so, immersive mixes (Dolby Atmos) mono channels in Cubase are basically superfluous. Especially in Cubase Pro, which offers the Stereo Combined Panner.

So, again, save yourself the unnecessary steps and the trouble.

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Thanks everyone.. I appreciate the info.

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When your drum machine render down your kick and snare to a stereo track it will send the same signal left and right… When converting these from the Pool to mono, the 2 channels will add together (sum down) and therefore be raised by 3 dB.

When using the mono to stereo knob within Cubase, it will take into account the Pan Law settings (which is 3 dB by default, if memory serves me right), and will not raise the level.

That said… some good advice above here. Its all about workflow I guess.

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