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"I'm trying to simulate stereo with a live recording which is mono. Can you advise me on techniques I could try?"
There's been lively debate in the past as to whether simulated stereo is desirable or not. But if that's what you want to do, here are some tips from previous theads.
Seanbaker suggested this method:
First of all, make sure you convert your mono recording to a stereo wav file even though it will still be a mono sounding playback. Any stereo effects you achieve like pan/expand will have no effect on a mono wav file. Second, the pan/expand effect really only increases the perception of an already stereo recording. What you have to do in order to "re-channel" mono for stereo is either use some sort of delay on one channel, or else add a stereo reverb to the track and pan the reverb to one side a little. Once you have a "fake" stereo recording, then the pan/expand can manipulate it more if needed.
My favorite way to rechannel mono for stereo is to put the original version in the multi-track view in track one and then place a copy of it in the second track. To the copy I apply a reverb with a delay of 100ms depending on the type of recording and a decay of maybe 700ms also depending on the recording. Apply the reverb at 0% dry and 50% wet. Go back to multi-track view and pan the verb track about +20 and the original about -20. Make sure the reverb track is lower in volume than the original by as much as 10db. For an even better effect, leave the original at center and have two copies of the reverb, one panned left and the other right but to different degrees and volumes-you'll have to play with it until it sounds good to you. It's fake, but does the trick to some degree. Feel free to play with my numbers and change them to fit your desired effect. Some recordings demand more decay and delay, whereas others need to remain shorter. Use your ears to guide you. Increasing the amount of pan in the two tracks will increase the stereo effect, but also increase how fake it sounds. Use your best judgement.
This is an adaptation of a suggestion by Audition MD:-
Something else that you may also try is the classic Elvis/Beatles 'simul-stereo' effect.
As before, turn your mono file into a stereo file (dual channel) if it isn't already. Decide where you want certain frequencies to lie, ie, focus the bass and rhythm on the right and the Vocals and high end on the left. EQ each side accordingly, using careful boosts and cuts(you'll want to cut some highs on the side where bass is accentuated, and roll off bass on the side where the high-end is accentuated).
You now how a relatively stereo-sounding track. NOW, try applying some stereo verb (with medium decay) or a very short delay to add more depth. If you now go into Pan/Expand, I think you'll find that it will make your track sound VERY wide. It's basically playing tricks with your head, but hey, if it worked for the masters...
Maxlittlemore's suggestion was along these lines:
A technique I've used with mono electronic sounds generated on some really old Win 3.1 software was to create several versions of the file each filtered so that when mixed, the versions resemble the original. Then I convert the versions to stereo and insert a tiny amount of silence into only one of the channels, doing a kind of pseudo phase shift.
By varying the amount of silence and the channel it was applied to, the frequency bands in the filtered copies move to different positions in space. Then you just mix the copies into one file and play it.
It's not perfect, and you'd want to be really careful with the filters on acoustic sounds like the voice, but it's an interesting effect that can be combined with the above. Give it try, it might work for you.
A compilation of advice from Jonrose, and 2Bdecided
Try a very light reverb, band-limiting the effect to frequency ranges that aren't so important to the program material - likely this will give a little depth to the piece without creating the problems you might get with straight delay. And don't forget - you should always check your mixes in mono!
Also try adding the reverb signal to one channel, and an inverse of the reverb signal to the other channel. Thereby, if you want to return to the original mono file, just sum the channels, et voila - the reverb cancels out perfectly, and you have your original mono file, with no nasty stereo effects at all. Use quite subtle reverb. The result are often excellent.
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