2 mono = stereo?

[amnesia]

i have bought a Thermionic Culture Rooster and am a bit confused. it says it is dual mono, but one guy claims it is stereo. As I do not have it yet my thinking is that dual mono does not equal stereo. If I pan the 2 channels left and right this wont be stereo will it?

[Ben M]

the controls are independent of each other therefore dual mono. Just pan the output signal left and right and you have stereo.
:)

[ChrisW]

It's two channel.
I'm guessing 'stereo' implies one set of controls that effect both channels.
The Rooster (from the Thermionic website) looks to have two channels.
So if you have a stereo source signal you can use the channels as left and right, alternatively you can also process two different signals, or treat each side of a stereo as separate entities.

In essence, it's just like using two channels on a console. 'Stereo' sound would very much depend on the source material.

[heathen]

Yeah dual mono is stereo, you just need to make sure both sides are set identically, so you can either use it for 2 mono sources and do different setting on each channel or identical settings for say a stereo mix.

Most units that have 2 channels are dual mono operation like this, true stereo operation units have 1 set of controls for both sides. So when it comes to dual mon units they can be harder to set identically so this is where switched controls are easier to set identically on both sides.

Anyway just set it the same on both sides and run some test tones and noise through it to make sure both side give an equal RMS level on the same settings, then you will know whether the controls are marked correctly and if you need to compensate L or R levels at all. Even if they are a 0.1 db or something off you can still find the right setting this way.

[amnesia]

great news i got confused because the Culture Vulture is stereo and has same left right controls...for some reason my mind thought i would be loosing the centre sounds?? maybe its my flu head

[Sammas]

For an additional, somewhat useless reply... in this case, dual mono can work as stereo.


If it were a compressor, dual mono would just be dual mono... not stereo.

[jkhuri44]

If it were a compressor, dual mono would just be dual mono... not stereo.

it would be stereo, just not "linked stereo" ??

ie. less pumping over all, as each channel's thresholds would only activate when the signal goes above.

thats my understanding anyway.

[Sammas]

If it were a compressor, dual mono would just be dual mono... not stereo.

it would be stereo, just not "linked stereo" ??

ie. less pumping over all, as each channel's thresholds would only activate when the signal goes above.

thats my understanding anyway.

Then how does 'unlinked' stereo differ from dual mono?

[jkhuri44]

If it were a compressor, dual mono would just be dual mono... not stereo.

it would be stereo, just not "linked stereo" ??

ie. less pumping over all, as each channel's thresholds would only activate when the signal goes above.

thats my understanding anyway.

Then how does 'unlinked' stereo differ from dual mono?

unlinked uses the same controlls/settings for each channel, however ach channel reacts only when the threshold is above what is set. as opposed to making 2 different threshold, attack, release settings.

[jkhuri44]

hope im not adding confusion.

using dual mono with exact settings on each channel on stereo material is the same as unlinked stereo.

[Sammas]

hope im not adding confusion.

using dual mono with exact settings on each channel on stereo material is the same as unlinked stereo.

It seems a little like semantics. In this scenario are you treating the left and right channels as independent mono channels. You
could even do two passes (one left, one right) through the one mono compressor straight to 'tape' and get the same result. Hence
the reason I'm a little confused by the "unlinked stereo" title. By anyway... it's certainly not the end of the world because of it :lol:

I'm curious to know why one would do this? Perhaps it's not a big problem if you are recording a solo instrument in stereo, as
the transient content will be more or less the same in both channels but surely it's going to shift the center panned mono sounds
in a busy mix?

[heathen]

Some compressors such as the Smart C2 narrow the stereo image somewhat in linked mode, whereas the Pendulum ES8 for some reason never does, some comps like the API 2500 you can link 25%, 50%, 75 and 100%, still only has 1 set of controls though and the compression threshold reacts independently for each channel in unlinked mode.

i always run my C2 in dual mono, sounds way better.

[Ben M]

Some compressors such as the Smart C2 narrow the stereo image somewhat in linked mode, whereas the Pendulum ES8 for some reason never does, some comps like the API 2500 you can link 25%, 50%, 75 and 100%, still only has 1 set of controls though and the compression threshold reacts independently for each channel in unlinked mode.

i always run my C2 in dual mono, sounds way better.

That's interesting Heath. I've always just run my C2 in stereo mode on stereo busses. Silly me!
I'm going to give it a go and see if mine sounds wider in dual mono. cheers :)

[heathen]

No worries, guarantee you notice the difference, back the threshold off a bit to match what the meter is doing in linked mode though.

[Ben M]

Hey Heath, it's a bewdy!
I found it was wider and had more energy. Stereo mode now sounds like I pushed the mono button on the console or like I took some life out of the mix. I've always just gone for the stereo mode on the main buss because.... well......(pause)..........that's what you do for ease of control and control symmetry (it is there for that function). Great tip of the day Heath.
I'm converted, hallelujah brother!

[rick]

hey but who told heath ! :)

[heathen]

hey but who told heath ! :)

I'm pretty sure you did Rick. :)

Glad it worked Ben, now you'll probably find 1 side is 0.1 or 0.2 db different in level, mine is but I just move the output gain knob real slowly and I can get it to sit perfectly in between steps, I think this is pretty common with C2's.

Now the only thing a C2 really needs is variable crush, would be a great mod.

[Ben M]

hey but who told heath ! :)[/quote
Now the only thing a C2 really needs is variable crush, would be a great mod.

I hear you man.


I just did the L/R adjustment with the oscillator on the desk and then tweak to taste.
A/B is very different.

Thanks for the tip Rick..... through Heath. Credit where credit is due and all that.

What about a "tip of the day" subject in the main index? We can all share techniques for experiment.

This outcome was so simple but so effective. Just like in life?@*%.....mostly

:)