Vocals and any direct instrument (e.g. bass, electric guitar, keyboard) are typically recorded in mono. But you can still achieve a wider stereo effect on something you recorded in mono. To do this, you can record the same part twice on two different tracks and then move them left and right.
Mono tracks send only one channel to all speakers, while stereo tracks send one channel to the left speaker and a slightly different channel to the right speaker. This creates a broader, more detailed and realistic sound. The vocals are always in the center of the track. Mono is best for frequencies below 250 Hz, such as special effects on shipments.
As the name suggests, mono is single-channel audio, while stereo is a two-channel audio system. Mono recording can make vocals sound more powerful and clear, while stereo recording makes vocals sound bigger, wider and softer. To give you a simple answer, if you're recording a singer's voice in a booth, you should record in mono. However, when you record the vocals of more than one singer and instrument, you must record in stereo.
If you want to record the vocals as part of the environment, you might want to record in stereo, since it's difficult to reproduce that feeling of space, direction, volume and proximity with effects or accessories. Depending on the type of voice you're trying to record and the final effect you're trying to achieve, they'll determine whether you're recording in mono or stereo. But don't get me wrong: some instruments (and vocals in some cases) are better when recorded in mono. So it's important to configure your recording software to record in mono if you're recording a mono sound source. However, if this setting were used in the main vocal channel, there would be too much high-level presence and would ruin the balance. When I do backup vocals, I usually put them in stereo because I want to create width and let the power of the lead vocals highlight.
For the beginning home recorder, I would recommend recording in mono and then adding effects to your DAW. Since stereo reverb simulates the feeling of space, I usually set the reverberation of my voice to stereo as it helps create a realistic sound. Some people believe that if they have a mono recording they can convert it to stereo simply by duplicating the track, but that doesn't make it stereo. In addition, vocals are a fundamental part of a song and if you record them poorly, you may find it difficult to mix the tracks. By using an auxiliary channel, I can dial the amount I want and mix it with the most natural sound of the vocal channel. Listen to the reference track in mono through a speaker and focus on the volume of the voice in the mix.
The second method involves recording two mono sound sources in a DAW and then mixing them together within the audio recording software. To sum up: when it comes to recording vocals or any other instrument for that matter, it's important to understand how mono and stereo work together. Mono recordings are great for capturing powerful sounds with clarity while stereo recordings provide more depth and realism. Depending on what type of sound you're trying to capture and what effect you're trying to achieve will determine whether you should record in mono or stereo.
