In a recent video we showed how to create a mono button on the Pro Tools master buss (for lack of one as a standard feature.) We got some other suggestions on how to achieve this, so here are 4 FREE ways to check a stereo mix in mono. Check all our FREE Pro Tools plug-ins here
AIR Stereo Width
The AIR Stereo Width plug-in has numerous features for expanding your stereo image, but it can be used as a simple way to take a stereo image and make it mono as shown in the recent video.
Brainworx BX Solo
The BrainworxBX Solo is a handy little tool that offers several options including Mono/Stereo and MS. In their words “bx_solo is a nice little tool that we have designed to get you started with and used to the way we approach the M/S technique – be it for recording-, mixing- or mastering purposes. The “heart” of our M/S tools are our unique SOLO BUTTONS that allow you to actually LISTEN to all components of a stereo mix / stereo signal individually.”
Flux Stereo Tools
For a freebie this baby has a lot of bang for the buck… in their words “Stereo Tool features ultra precise control of input gain and individual pan for left and right channels. A phase inverter is available on each channel. Global stereo pan and stereo width settings are also implemented to complete the management of the stereo signal.
Stereo Tool also offers accurate visual feedback reflecting the signal content. A vector scope display, PPM meters for both inputs and outputs, and a phase correlation meter permanently monitor the signal.
Inserting our Stereo Tool after a BitterSweet II, will open your mind to new ways of controlling the stereo stage.
Like all Flux:: plug-ins it features 64 bit internal floating point processing, up to 8 FS (384 KHz).
Stereo Tool is available in native versions, AU, RTAS and VST. No dongle or registration required.”
Avid Down Mixer
Another more recent addition to the free Pro Tools collection is the Down Mixer, aimed more at those wanting to get surround mixes back to stereo but it is still able to take a stereo pair and make them mono.
The downside of using the Down Mixer is that it needs to be inserted on a sub mix before the Master out to work.
HOFA 4U Meter, Fader & MS-Pan
Another nice freebie from the HOFA team is the HOFA 4U, they say “
precise metering (peak, hold, EBU, LRA)
MS decoder
trim-, fader- and mute-function
stereo-mono switch
innovative panorama-function:this is the panner that you can also use for “more than stereo” panning
changeable plugin window size
mouse-over-tooltipps
manual onboard
works latency-free and with all common sample rates
for PC and Mac, 32 and 64 Bit DAWs
Audio Unit, VST, VST3, RTAS and AAX