Mono vs. Stereo in Music Production: When (and Why) to Use Each One

MakeUseOf

By Bill Gonzaler

Published Dec 9, 2023

While the notions of mono and stereo audio may ring a bell, do you know when to use which in your track mixing sessions?

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Mono audio eliminates the sense of direction, and is best for vocals and bass guitars recorded with one microphone.
Stereo audio creates a more organic sound by emitting different levels of audio information to the left and right. Making it ideal for drum overheads and room microphones.
Mixing in mono first allows for better balancing and identification of sonic issues, ensuring mono compatibility and a higher-quality overall mix.