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How to Split a Stereo Track into Mono in Pro Tools

The following tutorial shows the user how to split a Stereo Track into Mono in Pro Tools.

CLICK HERE to learn Avid Pro Tools one on one with a digital  audio professional at OBEDIA.

 

A very common technique when applying mix procedures for creative purposes, is to process the left and right channels of a stereo track individually, perhaps by using different EQ or compression parameters to alter the overall tone and stereo image of the track. In order to make this possible, the user must be able to split a stereo track into two mono tracks. Once they are split, it is possible to process them independently.

The following tutorial shows a step-by-step guide on how to split a Stereo Track into Mono in Pro Tools.

 

1. Open or create a new Pro Tools session. For the purpose of this tutorial we have a session with a single stereo track labeled as “MUSIC”:

How to Split a Stereo Track into Mono in Pro Tools
The picture above shows the Edit window of a Pro Tools session with a single stereo audio track.

 

2. In order to split the Stereo Track into Mono, right click on top of the track’s name and then click on “Split into Mono”:

How to Split a Stereo Track into Mono in Pro Tools

 

3. The Pro Tools session will now show the original stereo track, as well as the two new mono tracks with the suffix “.L” and “.R” that stand for “Left” and “Right”.

How to Split a Stereo Track into Mono in Pro Tools

 

Note how the mono tracks have been panned hard left and hard right to give the sense of “stereo” when they are played-back at the same time.

At this point it is optional for the user to mute the original stereo track so that the only tracks playing audio information are the two mono tracks. Each mono track has now a dedicated channel strip so that processing can be applied independently. The user is also encouraged to experiment with the panning of the tracks, level, mute, solo, sends, and all the possible operations that can be applied to individual tracks.

 

At this point the user has learned how to split Stereo Tracks into Mono Pro Tools. The tutorial has now finished.

 

CLICK HERE to learn Avid Pro Tools one on one with a digital  audio professional at OBEDIA.

 

 

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