Of course, today it is extremely difficult to find sound material recorded using the mono mode (perhaps, some old digitized recordings). However, do not forget that in the studios the same vocal parts are often recorded in the “dry” version precisely in mono mode, and only then additional effects and processing are added to them. But let's see how to make stereo from mono, if such a need arose. As examples, take audio editing programs and specialized sequencers. Despite the fact that you can use all kinds of converters, converters, they work on the same principles.
Is it possible to make full stereo from mono?
To begin with, a few words about whether it is possible to convert sound material from mono to stereo at all? Alas, in the understanding of the term “stereo” itself, when instruments or recorded parts and effects are distributed across different channels (in a panorama), you won’t be able to get stereo sound from an ordinary monotrack without overwriting all parts, no matter how you try. But to achieve the effect of the so-called pseudo stereo can be quite simple.
How to make a two-channel recording from a single-channel recording: examples of using audio editors
To begin with, suppose you have a track that is actually recorded in mono mode and on only one channel. Having opened such a sound file in any audio editor, this can be seen firsthand. How to make stereo from mono?
Select all the material on one channel and simply copy it to another. This method is inconvenient in that the result is duplication, and even the appearance of the chorus effect, which causes distortion, is not ruled out. In such a situation, it makes sense to process each channel with an equalizer in order to cut or add certain frequencies that can overlap each other. But in order to produce harmonious processing, you need to have a subtle ear.
Therefore, in some applications (for example, in the Audacity editor), you can use the built-in tools like Split stereo track and Make stereo track, resulting in two-channel sound.
However, today monotracks are usually recorded in such a way that the programs sound the same on both channels. To get a stereo effect, for example, in the program Cool Edit Pro (current Adobe Audition), being in the multitrack mode, you can put the same material on different tracks, and then slightly “shift” one of the tracks in time.
To do this, you must first scatter the tracks in the panorama by 100% (one is completely to the left, the other is completely to the right), then increase the horizontal zoom (scale) and move one track along the timeline (how much to shift, you will have to determine by ear).
How to make stereo from mono in music sequencers?
In sequencers, duplication of tracks can also be used. But some programs have quite interesting features. For example, in FL Studio, you can change the panorama not only in the step sequencer, but also on the mixing console, after associating the selected track with a specific mixer channel. But why perform such meaningless actions if you can use ready-made tools (by the way, this also applies to audio editors). So, how to make stereo from mono by manipulating exclusively with one track?
To do this, first expose the track to the selected channel of the remote control, then apply the built-in stereo expander effect (Stereo Enhancer) to it, and set the desired preset. The “For strings” extension mode is very popular. If desired, you can manually edit the set pan offset values or create a Send effect.
Additional signal processing effects
However, you can take advantage of other effects. So, for example, it creates a good panorama of the delay effect (Stereo Delay), for which it is desirable to set the minimum levels so that the result does not differ much from the original sound.
Reverb (Reverb) is a good fit . You can also experiment with choruses, flangers, equalizers, etc. In general, there are many options. It remains only to give vent to imagination, but not to get carried away by overestimated parameters that can cause distortions or even contribute to the disappearance of some sound frequency ranges.