Using one side more in a stereo unit pre,comp,eq, etc, will it wear out that side mor

[Recman]

If you have a stereo unit that's either a pre, comp, eq, etc. Will it wear out the side most used more and make it less likely to be matched for stereo use or make parts on that side wear out more.

Eg. like a stereo compressor where if you use it mainly for mono and the left channel, will it eventually shift the balance of stereo compression or will parts like capacitors, resisitors etc wear out more on the left channel?

[climber]

I wouldn't think so. when you turn it on the whole thing comes on, not just one side. right? I would doubt that putting signal thru it would make a significant difference.

[Recman]

Yeah but if you are using the left channel at all times. Don't the left and right channels have specific circuits for that channel. I would think that the VU meters would be one of the electronics that may show signs of overuse of one channel. How about the capacitors and that for a preamp for example. If you are always driving the left channel, wouldn't the left channels components be used more than the right channel and may give an unbalanced stereo result later on as the components on the left side deteriorate thru use?

[okydoky]

hi,

you should never, ever use any of your stereo equipment, for anything. don't even plug anything in to it [or if you plug something into it, make sure the unit is turned off and stays off].

only then can you be sure that both sides will stay balanced.


right.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by Recman

If you have a stereo unit that's either a pre, comp, eq, etc. Will it wear out the side most used more and make it less likely to be matched for stereo use or make parts on that side wear out more.

Eg. like a stereo compressor where if you use it mainly for mono and the left channel, will it eventually shift the balance of stereo compression or will parts like capacitors, resisitors etc wear out more on the left channel?

This is a joke,right??
Its GOT to be.

[desotoslo]

I've sometimes wondered the same thing. I think it's a legitimate question. But maybe the OP and I are both worriers. Could be.......

[Dean Roddey]

I guess it could be true for opto sensors, maybe?

[Fishy1500]

lol, I kinda wondered the same thing myself at one point (about my valve compressor). No idea what the answer is, but I just ended up randomly patching a channel in when doing mono (my trusty 100yen coin)

[Recman]

The reason I ask this is because I had a Jomeek SC2.2 which I bought second hand which I used for sub and stereo mix compression and had always been put off by the stereo imaging which was quiet off from center.

The original owner had been using it as a mono compressor for tracking and compressing mono signals.

I did some tests with my equipment and noticed that the SC2.2 was the only stereo unit I had that was off center in stereo imaging.

[Empire Prod]

It probably does make a difference on some level, but electronics drift out of tolerance anyways. By the time you've used it enough to make a difference, it wouldn't be much of an issue because of the age anyways. You can always service it and recap etc if you still own it in 20 years.

[betscho]

Originally Posted by Recman

The reason I ask this is because I had a Jomeek SC2.2 which I bought second hand which I used for sub and stereo mix compression and had always been put off by the stereo imaging which was quiet off from center.

The original owner had been using it as a mono compressor for tracking and compressing mono signals.

I did some tests with my equipment and noticed that the SC2.2 was the only stereo unit I had that was off center in stereo imaging.

As far as i know its always a hard thing for staying in perfect center with an optocompressor. If you link two 1176 for example, there are mostly more than over 1 db
out of center...

[A LaMere]

I don't think so.

I'm not an expert on electronics...
but I don't think that it works this way....

There's only one set of electronics in a comp that can be used in stereo, if you're using the comp in mono it runs through that set of electronics....

if you're running the comp in stereo, it runs two channels of audio through that exact same set of electronics.
I think what you are talking about would be called a multi-mono compressor.
Make sense?

I'm open to someone correcting me if I'm wrong...
It could certainly be a more unit-specific answer than I'm making it. j

But I certainly don't think so.
I'd suggest that there could be a problem with the other side of your compressor's signal chain.

[PlugHead]

IME,

The only thing that will wear more are switches, pots, DI/instr. inputs, and the like. I wouldn't expect any internal electronics to be negatively affected tho - current is current, and if both channels have power supplied, they should react identically, and consequently, wear identically too...

[eoireitum7]

I've been wondering about this lately.

Any other thoughts and/or opinions?

Thanks!!