Need Help From the Classical Guys

[k.online]

On Wednesday night I will be recording my first classical music, a piano and cello in a very nice, small performance hall. I will be using a Blumlein configuration and recording into Logic at 24/96. My question is do you prefer to record two mono tracks panned left and right or an interleaved stereo track?

[rumleymusic]

I usually record a stereo track for the mains, seems to make things easier when controling the image afterward (if needed). But everyone is different and it is really up to how you like to work.

[k.online]

Thanks. I've never done recording like this but have always wanted to. Very excited. Seems to me that a stereo track is probably easier when it comes to editing... and probably harder for me to screw up.

On Thursday or Friday I will post a 24/96 sample here and I would appreciate feedback.

[digitalolive]

It may depend on the DAW you are using. I use DP and used to record to one stereo track with excellent results. After trying it with two mono tracks panned hard left and right, I never went back. The stereo image was much improved and if I ever needed to narrow it, I have that option.

[JonesH]

What are you saying, that if you put your left channel on a mono channel panned left and your right vice versa, compared to using a stereo track that sends them straight left & right you percieve a difference in stereo separation?
Off the top of my head (which as it happens has spent the last hours in a sauna, so maybe I'm all buggered up in the old brainpan) this sounds mighty weird. No DAW should differentiate between dual mono and stereo interleaved.

[Corran]

Actually I noticed one day that if I split a stereo track into L and R it would sound different from the original. What it was actually was the pan law that I had. Once I changed the pan law it was identical.

So I think it should be the same if you have just a flat pan law?

[rumleymusic]

So I think it should be the same if you have just a flat pan law?

You use Sonar right? I didn't think it had separate pan laws for stereo tracks. I'll have to check that out.

[Corran]

Yeah Sonar, I mean the pan law changes the panning on the mono tracks, which then sounded identical to the stereo interleaved track (checked by inverting phase).

[rumleymusic]

Yeah Sonar, I mean the pan law changes the panning on the mono tracks

Yes, but I figured the panning law would affect both mono and interleaved tracks, since a stereo track is just 2 mono tracks panned hard left and right. Maybe that is not the case...

[Corran]

I guess not, though I didn't check really. All I know is it cancelled so I left the pan law there and have preferred that setting.

[kstrauss]

Yikes! You guys need to do a little reading or something. First, there is no difference in stereo separation (or anything else for that matter) between interleaved stereo and dual mono files. If you are hearing a difference it is either user error or something is wrong with your DAW. Second, whatever pan law you choose, it will make no difference when a track is panned hard left or right, it will be at 0 dB and the opposite channel will be at - infinity. The pan law is usually defined as dB down when panned center, generally -3, -4.5, or -6.

To the original poster, interleaved stereo files are more convenient, a single file rather than two. So if your DAW supports it I would recommend interleaved.

[Corran]

There was no user error or problem with Sonar. It cancelled with one pan law and didn't on any of the others after importing a stereo file and then importing the same stereo file on two mono tracks. The specific law I change it to is "0db center, balance control."

To be fair I would agree with you in principle (that there should be no difference) but the proof is in the pudding, and that pudding was a completely nulled file only on that pan law.

[pkautzsch]

Originally Posted by rumleymusic

Yes, but I figured the panning law would affect both mono and interleaved tracks, since a stereo track is just 2 mono tracks panned hard left and right. Maybe that is not the case...

Maybe it's not "panned", but "assigned", and the DAW induces some kind of difference here?

Originally Posted by Corran

There was no user error or problem with Sonar. It cancelled with one pan law and didn't on any of the others after importing a stereo file and then importing the same stereo file on two mono tracks. The specific law I change it to is "0db center, balance control."

To be fair I would agree with you in principle (that there should be no difference) but the proof is in the pudding, and that pudding was a completely nulled file only on that pan law.

I think it would be worth including into this test a dual mono file on two tracks ASSIGNED to only the left / only the right output bus. If there is any difference between hard panned and assigned, the pans are a bit weird, I guess.
Did you run the audio through any plug-ins?

[rumleymusic]

Maybe it's not "panned", but "assigned", and the DAW induces some kind of difference here?

I never thought of that. I don't see how it is very likely, but it is not an impossible assumption. I think I will to a null test to see if there is a difference between the two, if so, it is something to bring up with Cakewalk.

Corran, which version do you use? I am using 8PE, which has a new audio engine, so I don't know if would be the same as 7 or before.

[Corran]

I'm still on 6 here. I don't think it assigns it to L or R, but I'm not 100% sure.

[ohmoka]

Originally Posted by k.online

On Wednesday night I will be recording my first classical music, a piano and cello in a very nice, small performance hall. I will be using a Blumlein configuration and recording into Logic at 24/96. My question is do you prefer to record two mono tracks panned left and right or an interleaved stereo track?

It does not matter....
I use 2 monos 100% L and 100% R... personal preference.

[k.online]

Just to follow up, the recording went very, very well. I really broke from convention in my equipment choices and got pretty much what I wanted. I used a Royer SF12 through a Chandler TG2 into an Apogee Ensemble at 24/96. I have always been a fan of Ken Christianson's recordings, very warm yet detailed but I have no desire to go back to analog tape, and I feel I get many of the qualities that I love about those recordings.

Unfortunately, the pieces recorded are original compositions and the artist has asked that I not share samples at this time.

Overall, the experience was very positive and I look forward to doing more.