Mono or Stereo?

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Joe_Stax · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:19 am Post subject: Mono or Stereo?

Okay, I don't want to argue whether stereo is superior to mono or vice versa...but in the 60's, lots of records were released in both formats.

Let's rap about some songs and which mix is, in your opinion, better.
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One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

JimENight · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 183

I've always prefered the mono mix of I'm Only Sleeping from The Beatles Revolver album - it has more backward guitar in the mix,
and the mono mix of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds from Sgt. Pepper - it has more flanging/phasing effect washing over the track.

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

Well, Joe at the risk of going off on a rant, or wavering wildly off topic on this thread...(Yes I realize that you're talking about individual songs.)
IMHO EVERY major pop and rock album released in 1967 is better in mono.
The Doors debut, "Surrealistic Pillow", "Sgt Pepper, "Are You Experienced",
"Piper" et al. All of these sound "punchier" and more cohesive in their monaural mixes.
Although Led Zeppelin managed to evade Mono, the single edit of "Whole Lotta' Love"/"Living Loving Maid" is so much better than the L.P. cuts, that it's falling down funny.
From a technical standpoint, mixing to mono is harder than trying to get balanced stereo. Of course, the dumb-ass route was to just "fold" the stereo mix.
A mono remix requires a much more critical pair of ears. What you choose to boost or bury makes a huge impact on what comes out of the speaker(s)
That control over what the listener hears and the ability to make it "jump out of the box" is what separates artists from hacks. It's a lot easier to fake it, with two channels.
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The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

Astrakhan · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 135 Location: nowhere, man

When did records stop being mixed in mono? I know that there were some records released both ways, but was there a point where mono was considered to be obsolete?

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

1969 is most often cited as the year Mono croaked.
There were specialty mixes done for D.J./promo copies through to the mid '80's or so. These were primarily "folded" mixes. (Same effect as when you push the "mono" button on home equipment.)
Mono did have some occasional resurgences, like "O My Soul" by Big Star, in the '70's. No stereo mixes of it were released.

Peace!

Rockin' Bart Simpson
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The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

Joe_Stax · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:58 am Post subject:

If I recall, the Beatles (White Album) was released as a mono version, but only in the UK. The US got only a stereo mix.

I still haven't heard the mono mix of this one, has anyone? How does it compare?
_________________
One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

There are quite a few differences between the mixes on the "White Album".
"Blackbird" has subtle variations on the bird sound effects. (Ditto, for "Piggies", with slightly different sounding snorts.) "Helter Skelter" has an entirely different ending, without Ringo screaming about his blisters. "Don't Pass Me By", is sped up considerably and has different noodlings by Jack Fallon scratching away on the fiddle towards the end.
Paul's laughter at the beginning of "Helter Skelter" is heard on both versions, contrary to popular belief. According to Mark Lewisohn, this was probably due to George Harrison holding a flaming ashtray over his head as a parody of Arthur Brown, while Paul was trying to nail the vocal overdub!
I'll sign off. letting Jim pick up the story from there. Smile

)

Peace!

-Rotten Art Lewis[/i]
_________________
The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

Joe_Stax · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:00 am Post subject:

Today I felt like listening to the Music Machine, and pulled out my cd. It's from the Collectables label.

I was ready to dig it, when it really hit me--this is the stereo version, and it's a textbook case of a bad stereo mix! It's basically split in two: music on the left, and the vocal and guitar solo on the right. It was really distracting.

To compare, I pulled my vinyl copy off the shelf. It's a mono version, and what a difference. It's all on one channel, sure, but everything sounds great. The vocals are out front without drowning out the music, and the whole album is crisp and clear, with each song perfectly balanced.

A clear case for the mono, here.
_________________
One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

Sounds like a clear case of "Twin Track".
Early Beatles albums were mastered the same way.
Interesting to note, that "Money" from "With The Beatles" is actually a Binaural recording, in it's Stereo Form. ie. two Mono mixes running in sync, one for each channel. Sounds great on headphones! Very Happy

Joe, have you tried comparing Jefferson Airplane's "Surrealistic Pillow" in the Mono and Stereo mixes?

R.A.L.
_________________
The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

JimENight · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 183

Wow, this is cool. I have never compared the mono/stereo mixes of Surrealistic Pillow, but now I can't wait...
Now HOW could I forget to mention the mono mix of Floyd's "Piper At The Gates of Dawn"? It's really simple: if you do not have access to the MONO mix of "Piper..." then do not even bother to listen to it. Yes, it's that big a-deal!
Also, I once heard a mono mix of Jimi Hendrix - "Axis Bold As Love" album, and whoa boy, it is superior. Does anyone know if this mix was released in the US and/or UK in 1968? or whut?
And speaking of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, I prefer the stereo mix of his 1968 album over the mono mix that I have heard. What say you of THAT album, RAL? Cool