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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: Cheesecadet on November 22, 2018, 11:41:16 PM

Title: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: Cheesecadet on November 22, 2018, 11:41:16 PM
Basically considering mixpre vs  mixpreM . MixpreM is $100 less but only does mono files, AAC, and stereo render whatever that means.

I assume if mono files only I could just enter into DAW as a stereo files and edit from there?
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: heathen on November 22, 2018, 11:47:43 PM
Quote from: Cheesecadet on November 22, 2018, 11:41:16 PM
I assume if mono files only I could just enter into DAW as a stereo files and edit from there?

Yeah.  It would add only a matter of seconds to your workflow, probably. 
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: Twenty8 on November 24, 2018, 05:24:15 AM
I'm also curious about the differences from a taper perspective.  Next recorder purchase will be a Sound Devices, but the 6M stats are throwing me a curve.  Still leaning toward Pre6 rather than 6M.
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: fsulloway on November 24, 2018, 08:27:40 AM
FWIW, I know of quite a few folks who record in mono instead of a stereo pair as a matter of preference.
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: Walstib62 on November 25, 2018, 07:54:59 PM
I record in mono. You get twice the runtime before the files reach the 2GB split point. Also, I prefer to post process in mono and then export to either stereo or 5.1.
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: tim in jersey on November 25, 2018, 08:38:23 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 25, 2018, 07:54:59 PM
I record in mono. You get twice the runtime before the files reach the 2GB split point.

This. Especially when doing 4+ tracks.
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: opsopcopolis on November 25, 2018, 10:31:33 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 25, 2018, 07:54:59 PM
Also, I prefer to post process in mono and then export to either stereo or 5.1.

Why is this? I understand the tracking part, but I would want to process in stereo because I don't really want my channels to be processed independently
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: Walstib62 on November 27, 2018, 05:23:44 PM
Quote from: opsopcopolis on November 25, 2018, 10:31:33 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 25, 2018, 07:54:59 PM
Also, I prefer to post process in mono and then export to either stereo or 5.1.

Why is this? I understand the tracking part, but I would want to process in stereo because I don't really want my channels to be processed independently

I almost always record multitrack. I need the flexibility available with processing mono tracks.
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: opsopcopolis on November 27, 2018, 09:31:20 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 27, 2018, 05:23:44 PM
Quote from: opsopcopolis on November 25, 2018, 10:31:33 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 25, 2018, 07:54:59 PM
Also, I prefer to post process in mono and then export to either stereo or 5.1.

Why is this? I understand the tracking part, but I would want to process in stereo because I don't really want my channels to be processed independently

I almost always record multitrack. I need the flexibility available with processing mono tracks.

You mic-ing individual instruments? Honestly just curious. If I'm doing full multis obviously I'll do everything mono, but if I'm doing stereo pairs in a concert setting I don't feel the need
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: noahbickart on November 27, 2018, 10:51:28 PM
I own a mixpre6 which records in polywave files of up to 8 tracks.

I never remove the sd card from the machine and use a usb-c cable to see the data on the card through my macbook pro.

Using the wave agent application I can manipulate the polywaves into whatever configuration of files I want. 1, 2, 4, etc track files are easily created from the data on the card.

I just don't understand why anyone has a problem with polywaves. 
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: morst on November 28, 2018, 12:54:36 PM
Quote from: noahbickart on November 27, 2018, 10:51:28 PM
I just don't understand why anyone has a problem with polywaves.


Can't FLAC them directly.
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: Walstib62 on November 28, 2018, 08:16:06 PM
Quote from: opsopcopolis on November 27, 2018, 09:31:20 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 27, 2018, 05:23:44 PM
Quote from: opsopcopolis on November 25, 2018, 10:31:33 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 25, 2018, 07:54:59 PM
Also, I prefer to post process in mono and then export to either stereo or 5.1.

Why is this? I understand the tracking part, but I would want to process in stereo because I don't really want my channels to be processed independently

I almost always record multitrack. I need the flexibility available with processing mono tracks.

You mic-ing individual instruments? Honestly just curious. If I'm doing full multis obviously I'll do everything mono, but if I'm doing stereo pairs in a concert setting I don't feel the need


This is clearly much ado about nothing. If one is only recording a stereo pair,  then the choice to process as 2 mono tracks or as a stereo file generally makes no difference. When I record 2 channels only, I usually process the stereo file as is without splitting it to mono.  There would be a number of reasons why 1 of the stereo tracks would need to be processed separately, but that is another topic entirely.
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: opsopcopolis on November 28, 2018, 11:54:57 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 28, 2018, 08:16:06 PM
Quote from: opsopcopolis on November 27, 2018, 09:31:20 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 27, 2018, 05:23:44 PM
Quote from: opsopcopolis on November 25, 2018, 10:31:33 PM
Quote from: Walstib62 on November 25, 2018, 07:54:59 PM
Also, I prefer to post process in mono and then export to either stereo or 5.1.

Why is this? I understand the tracking part, but I would want to process in stereo because I don't really want my channels to be processed independently

I almost always record multitrack. I need the flexibility available with processing mono tracks.

You mic-ing individual instruments? Honestly just curious. If I'm doing full multis obviously I'll do everything mono, but if I'm doing stereo pairs in a concert setting I don't feel the need


This is clearly much ado about nothing. If one is only recording a stereo pair,  then the choice to process as 2 mono tracks or as a stereo file generally makes no difference. When I record 2 channels only, I usually process the stereo file as is without splitting it to mono.  There would be a number of reasons why 1 of the stereo tracks would need to be processed separately, but that is another topic entirely.

That's what I was getting at, thanks. On the same page. I usually assume discussions on this board are about stereo tapes and multis
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: aaronji on November 29, 2018, 04:07:39 AM
Quote from: morst on November 28, 2018, 12:54:36 PM
Quote from: noahbickart on November 27, 2018, 10:51:28 PM
I just don't understand why anyone has a problem with polywaves.

Can't FLAC them directly.

Not in TLH, but you can with the FLAC command line tool.  Many of the editing software packages support it also.

Quote from: Cheesecadet on November 22, 2018, 11:41:16 PM
Basically considering mixpre vs  mixpreM .

If I recall correctly, one feature that is not supported on the M versions is the Wingman remote control app, if that is important to you. 
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: Cheesecadet on November 29, 2018, 10:05:15 AM
For this reason I will be likely getting the Mixpre3.  Rarely do I ever take board feeds and I like making 3 channel recordings.

Does anyone know of a PFA style XLR connector that terminates in a microdot connector?  My hope is to run a Center channel Omni in addition to whatever pair of mics I will be running for outdoor festivals
Title: Re: Pros/Cons of poly was vs mono files?
Post by: Gutbucket on November 29, 2018, 10:37:46 AM
I typically record to 2ch stereo files (recorder writing 2, 3 or 4 of them for 4, 6 or 8 channels total) simply because I can listen directly to each pair in stereo via a software player without having to loading them into an editor.  Sometimes if I want to avoid file splits I'll switch to recording mono files to double the record time before the auto-split, mostly just for easier file management at a fests where it's nice to have only a single file set for each act, and some of the acts might be doing 2hr+ sets.