Blackmagic Forum

Hi,

Is there a way to automatically convert Mono Sound to Stereo if dropped onto a Stero Track?
Currently, I have to RMB a sound clip and change mono to stereo in the clip attributes.

When I select multiple sound clips, I still have to change mono to stereo individually.

Is there a better workflow for this? Thank you

As they are mono, why don't you create a mono audio track and put the files onto that? The audio will still come out of both main outputs.
Mono audio will not turn into stereo by changing the clip attributes. It is still mono, just on two tracks instead of one.

Agreed, the correct way is to use a Mono track. What are you trying to accomplish? There are plugins to artificially create stereo spread from a mono source. Most of them don't sound very good.

Thanks for the response. Most of my tracks are in stereo. Some are in mono. They are mono since they were provided as mono as I downloaded them (either from Soundly or Soundtripe (SFX).

RE: mono audio track
I would love to but it would clutter my timeline. I arrange the tracks based on functionatility rather than based on mono or stereo.

RE: It is still mono, just on two tracks instead of one.
Indeed but with a mono clip in a stereo track I only hear the left side of the music rather than both.

RE: There are plugins to artificially create stereo spread from a mono source. Most of them don't sound very good.
I don't require any "artificial" processing. I just want the mono track "duplicated" so it becomes a stereo like changing the clip attributes but again in batch or so.

A mono track defaulting to the left side in a stereo track is normal behavior. You could of course use the pan control to bring the audio to the centre. If you really want to do it the clip attribute way, put all the mono clips together in their own bin, select all, right click on one of them and change the attributes. All the clips should now have changed.

OK i didn't realize clip attributes would make it work on a stereo track.

I also arrange tracks by function but also by width. So for FX I'll have mono, stereo, quad, 5.0, or 5.1 depending on need.

But the bin idea would seem to do what you want. Let us know if it works for you.

I should add that the mono audio will still be on the left only. You can alter this by either using the pan control or the Stereo Fixer plug-in, see page 2804 of the vers 16 manual.

Hi @Charles Bennett and @Will Howard

The "Select all, right click on one of them and change the attributes. All the clips should now have changed" works as expected.

Thank you

I would appreciate an option in the settings to automatically map mono to stereo if I wanted to when dragging to the timeline.

I have a big library of sound effects that I use like a morning zoo radio show. The library is always growing and is unfortunately a total mix of mono and stereo. So after adding a clip I often have to change the mapping.

I already have a lot of audio tracks to layer in the sounds+music+interviews and would rather have more screen space than add 3 duplicate mono tracks. Some might "should" me over that, but the reality is I weighed all my options and ended up clicking 200 extra times every project to keep that screen real estate. It would make me faster at my job if I didn't have to keep doing that.