Blackmagic Forum

Hi I know that we can use Mono for VoiceOver but can I use MONO (changing Stereo Music to Mono) for Background Music? I want to use the same exact music for both channels?

You can try right-clicking on your audio track, then choose Clip Attributes. Change to the Audio tab and change both channels to Embedded Channel 1.

In the Pan control you can also fully rotate the Spread control to the left, so it shows PNT (point), to get the audio in mono.

I'd say most of the time background music is multichannel, not mono. I think it would be reasonable to ask yourself if there's a reason to make it mono, and if you can't come up with one then keep it multichannel.

Mattias Murhagen wrote:I'd say most of the time background music is multichannel, not mono. I think it would be reasonable to ask yourself if there's a reason to make it mono, and if you can't come up with one then keep it multichannel.

Thank u, but as far as I know Stereo (two channels) is used if u want to give the listener a sense of LEFT AND RIGHT in the music, that's why we use Mono for Voice-Over. By the same token why not use Mono for background music, bcoz not all music varies much in both channels. Why should I use Stereo Music when I can listen to both channels/earphone/left-right with Mono Background Music (if the music has almost the same sound in both channels). My knowledge is limited in sound.

There's no rules to say you can't, but most music at least in the form it was mixed in has some stereo information in it and will sound grander or more impressive or some other such description in stereo. Also if the music is is mono, it's all coming out the centre same as the Voice over/dialogue, and will compete with it more.
Play around with it and see what the difference is...make two tracks, one with the music mono and one with it stereo and switch between them. Even a track with a small amount of stereo info in it will likely sound better, at least it does to me. Also keep in mind that a track habing 2 channels doesn't necessarily mean it is stereo - it could be that both channels have exactly the same info in them. The only real way to tell is with your ears.

drkfuture1 wrote:as far as I know Stereo (two channels) is used if u want to give the listener a sense of LEFT AND RIGHT in the music, that's why we use Mono for Voice-Over. By the same token why not use Mono for background music, bcoz not all music varies much in both channels. Why should I use Stereo Music when I can listen to both channels/earphone/left-right with Mono Background Music (if the music has almost the same sound in both channels). My knowledge is limited in sound.

Just generally speaking your best approach is to keep music as it was mixed, and if you want to deviate from that then you should have a good reason for it. I'm not a video guy, I do sound, so you'll just have to trust me on that.

If your music functions as source music (diegetic) then it still depends. Background music in a pub or nightclub? I'd almost always make that stereo with reverb. The music from the pub leaking onto the street through a semi-open door? Mono. Someone listening to music on laptop speakers with the laptop on a table? Mono. Music on a cellphone lying on a table? Mono. TV in living room? Mono, probably. And so on.

If your music is background music (non-diegetic) supporting voiceover/narration and dialog in a commercial? Stereo. Documentary? Stereo unless you're trying to fake reality (diegetic again). And so on.

And I totally agree with Andy that it's almost always better to leave space for dialog/narration/VO by allowing the music to be stereo. I also agree with him that stereo music just sounds better than mono from center-panned stereo. As a matter of fact I'd go as far as saying that it can sound remarkably different for reasons we can talk about later (has to do with phase etc).

And lastly I'd just say that if you're delivering this to other people there's a fair chance that someone might comment on that it's mono instead of stereo, because we're so used to it being stereo. And if it's a commercial project there's also the risk that QC will reject mono music (many specs specifically state it has to be stereo music).

Like Andy said you can just try it. And you could share a couple of clips with people and ask them what they prefer - without telling them what the difference is. And then you can make a decision based on that.

PS: Sorry for not answering your actual questions directly, but I thought this was one of those things that are worth pointing out for people new to this because it's such an easy thing to... 'get right'... if you know what I mean.

Thank you very very much guys, so kind of you. Very informative.