7.1

802
Chapter 14 Audio
Stereo and Mono
A stereo signal in its original meaning reflects a spatial sound source. To create a spatial impression
between “left” and “right”, two signals have to be used. For this reason, the term “stereo” refers to a pair
of audio signals. A stereo signal understood in this sense consists of two signals that subjectively sound
the same, but create an acoustic space centrically between “left” and “right”.
A mono signal is never paired with another signal and does not create a spatial acoustic impression. The
final format decides at which audio output the signal applies, for example whether your customer wants
to have room noise and live sounds on track1 or 2 of his master tape. If the mono signal is part of a stereo
output, it can be assigned to a left or right output by means of panning.
What Belongs Where?
 In Avid Liquid, “stereo” means the following: even Source Tra c ks =right output, odd Source
Tr a c k =left output.
 “Mono” means the following: the signal is output centrically between left and right. In the case of
mono, it does not make any difference whether the Source Tr a c k number is even or odd.
When working on the Timeline, Avid Liquid initially proceeds on the assumption that a stereo signal
(e.g. a piece of music digitized from a CD) keeps its left-right assignment and is to be assigned to the
respective “left” and “right” output to create a spatial acoustic impression. In other words: what is
played-in in stereo is also played-back in stereo without you having to make any settings. The same is
true for mono signals. Mono is mono without modifying panning. Both channels create the same vol-
ume.
The primary left/right orientation of stereo clips and the central orientation of mono clips are default set-
tings.They may, of course, be changed.
Stereo/Mono Is a Clip Property
In Avid Liquid, an audio clip can be either “stereo” or “mono”. This feature is assigned to it and can also
be changed. There are three possibilities of changing this feature:
 preferably during digitizing or logging (page 110)
 or in the Audio Mode function in the clip Properties dialog box (“Tab: General” on page 283)
 or on the Timeline by means of Adjust Audio (“Global Modification of Volume and Panning
(Adjust Audio Function)” on page 855).
The stereo or mono setting can also be seen from the Detail (List) View in the Rack in the Tr a c k s column
and is characterized by an attached -S or -M (e.g. “VA1A2-S”).
In the case of imported audio files, Avid Liquid automatically recognizes stereo or mono files and labels
them accordingly.