Use a mono hardware insert on a "stereo" Kontakt instrument?

Hi, I’m using a Kontakt instance of Scarbee Bass on a project, and I’d like it to be mono. I have a handful of outboard compressors in my studio setup as an external effect, and when I go to add a mono/single channel compressor on that track, I obviously only hear the effect in one speaker.

Inside Kontakt’s output settings I changed it to a mono channel but Cubase is still treating this like a stereo track when I add the hardware insert, and I cannot switch the channel over to mono.

Of course I could render in place to a new mono audio track, but I like to have the ability to tweak midi up until the end.

What I’ve done is added a utility after the hardware insert which sums the entire track to mono so it sounds right, but technically that means it’s summing a processed and unprocessed signal together. I’m not noticing any phase issues but still not what I’m going for. Curious if it’s possible? Thank you!

Perhaps you can route it to a group channel, and make the group channel mono. This will allow you to add plugins and sends in mono. Another way is to put the Cubase stereo enhancer plug in on the track and set it to zero/ use the mono button.

Good idea. A mono group channel is the way because it sums everything to mono before the compressor which is exactly what I was going for. Tested and sounds great. Thanks!