Mono vs. stereo export output

• May 17, 2020 - 17:26

I'm creating scores and then exporting them as .WAV files to be loaded into a Tascam DP-006 Portastudio for fun (mostly overdubbing and some rudimentary mixing). The Tascam only works with .WAV files. I have noticed that .WAV files exported from Muse Score come out as stereo, requiring me to either send it to one of the stereo channels on the device or to tie up two mono channels. Is there an option to export tracks as mono (I have a sound file converter so the output wouldn't necessarily have to be .WAV)? Thanks!


Comments

@KevinFay wrote > I have noticed that .WAV files exported from Muse Score come out as stereo ... Is there an option to export tracks as mono?

I'm surprised mono file export was not an option since audio export became an option. The need for mono tracks seems so basic.

Nearly five years since this post, now in MuseScore Studio 4.5.1, I don't see an option a Part/Staff to a mono WAV file. That would be essential in efficiently moving audio into a DAW—no need to tote around an extra channel with a mono file will suffice.

I looked in the v4 handbook and the word mono does not appear on this page:

https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/file-export#WAV

In reply to by TheHutch

I'm a little rusty on the concepts but I'm pretty sure Balance Pan is pertains only to stereo tracks.
(So then, another question: What MuseScore instruments differ in their right and left channels?)

Here's my general understanding on Balance vs. Stereo Pan:

• A "Balance" knob on a stereo track works like two volume sliders—one for the Left channel and one for the Right. Turning the balance knob leftward simply lowers the volume of the channel's right track, and thus creates the illusion of leftward positioned audio. Conversely a balance knob turned right it lowers the volume of the channel's the left track. In either case the audio in the lowered channel it "lost."

• In contrast, "Stereo pan" is like having separate pan knobs for a stereo track's left and right channels, meaning you can move some (or all) of either channel to the left or to the right ... so you have the option of hard panning a stereo track without losing any audio.

I think the difference is well explained here:

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZufOIbB6i2o

Here's another take:

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF3rjrPzQus&t=41s

The same person sums up the Balance Pan concept here:

     https://youtu.be/sF3rjrPzQus?si=TLQhuDRuF9Vb8roM&t=312

Why am I wondering about this? Recently I was surprised (in MuseScore 4.5.1) at the result of panning a track that had a small amount of Aux reverb:

   • panned centered the instrument sounds as I'd expect
   • when panned right, to my surprise, the sense of "placement" doesn't change much
   • when panned left, the dry Right channel signal disappears (as expected) and I hear what seems like only reverb in the left channel.

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