Commercial tracks that collapse in Mono?

[noiseflaw]

I was wodering if anyone has any examples of commercial chart tracks that really collapse in Mono.

I ask this because I had finished a mix that I was fairly self-satisfied with, then I thought, ooh I 'll just check to see how it comes acoss in mono. Ooops, sh*t! it has collapsed in the chorus.

I know exactly why too. I pushed the background vox wider than their hard left/right position with a stereo widener, that made them completely disappear when the chorus came in - and as they hugely supported the lead vox which was blended with them, I ended up with a chorus-wreck.

Anyway lesson well and truly learnt (I'm new to Pop/alternative mixing.).

I am of course re-mixing the track, there are loads of folks out there with little mono radio's and it would be a crime to allow that mix out.

I was kind of looking to ease my pain to see if there were any tracks out there that really sounded terrible n mono.

[mrface2112]

i can't answer your question with examples of commercial tracks......but i can give a piece of advice. i actually do most of my mixing in mono. then, once it's really happenin, i switch over to stereo and do my last bit of tweaks.....checking back in mono when i think i'm done.

i've found that doing this *really* helps keep "mono collapse" largely at bay.


cheers,
wade

[theblue1]

I usually had to listen to my local, once-hip college station (a certain one-time industry feeder in Santa Monica) in mono... I think I heard more mono-collapse from the underground side of things, especially a few years back. I think that stereo-expanders and "stereo enhancing" phase tricks have started getting the black eye they by and large deserve in recent years.

But I think everyone's gotta fall in that trap at least once.

[limestone]

Coldplay's 'God Put A Smile Upon My Face' Kinda collapses concerning the acoustic guitars. They practically disappear... Probably cause they're doubled 4 times or so.

That's all I can think of..

Cheers,

Louis

[noiseflaw]

Originally Posted by theblue1

I think that stereo-expanders and "stereo enhancing" phase tricks have started getting the black eye they by and large deserve in recent years.

But I think everyone's gotta fall in that trap at least once.

Using stereo widening isn't too much of a problem for some enhancing 'effects' in the music I am writing for visuals.
Now I have really learn't to avoid using this kind of 'fun' thing on important elements within a vocal led 'pop' radio friendly mix. tutt

[t.dizzle]

One of RHCP's more recent albums ('99 or so) was mixed and pressed as mono.

[the russian]

Originally Posted by t.dizzle

One of RHCP's more recent albums ('99 or so) was mixed and pressed as mono.

We were talking about that the other day, right? (By "the other day" I mean two years ago). R. Rubin is crazy for that one. I hear he's into that MANLEY hifi gear, hahaha. It doesn't sound bad. You better not be mixin' my songs it mono though, jacc.