I just noticed that most of the plugins I've been have been in their stereo form, although most have the option for mono also. In FL studio, all tracks are defaulted to stereo, so I've been using the stereo versions of plugins, even on low end and other tracks that I've made mono. Should I not do this, and would using the stereo version of a VST on a mono channel and vice versa negativity effect my mix?

I've some people say use mono with mono etc, and others said it doesn't matter, so I'm curious about what you guys think.

 

The general rule is as mentioned, mono w/mono, stereo w/stereo.

If converting a mono source to stereo, do all processing first. The conversion is not true stereo.

 

Can you go into a little more detail on what happens to the sound when using a mono vst with a stereo sound or vice versa? Possible negatives?

 

It wastes CPU to calculate in stereo if you only use mono down the line, so feel free to get rid of stereo where you don't use it.

Remember that mono is not worse than stereo fidelity-wise, in any way. It is its own thing and sounds a certain way, and mono channels are often very useful as an ingredient in a stereo mix.

 

Good to know, thanks.
Also, I'm wondering if there are any benefits to using combined 32 + 64 bit VSTs over ones that aren't. Or if there even are any benefits for that matter.

 

Right on. I noticed that some are mono - stereo. When would it be useful to use that version?

 

saw this one yesterday, seems this is relevant to this thread.

 

32/64 bit is all about how the plugin code is compiled (basically what type of CPUs do best running it), and it has no effect on the sound at all.

So on a modern CPU you might want to prefer 64bit and just go for that when you can, and when you can't because there isn't any 64bit version of the plug, then go for 32 bit. Sound-wise it does not make any difference, but performance might be better on 64 bit and it can use way more RAM if it needs to.

 

Last edited: Jun 9, 2019

Thank you all!

 

So about the low end, which you asked about. I want my lowend mono, but I do not trust that I am not getting stereo information down there by plugins I am using in stereo with low frequencies. Or maybe in Logic, I want to eq/effects process mid/sides first you have to change the channel to dual mono for those options to appear in stock plugins. How/why it happens is immaterial, because it does.

This is what a mono maker plugin is for. Because of what is available on Mac, my goto is Sonalksis Stereo Tools. But there are plenty of others. You set a specific frequency you want to use, so for me this is 100hz. Everything below that threshold frequency is converted to mono. There is a good Brainworx one also from PA that many people use for it also. Also, the stock Logic Gain utility plugin has an option to convert any Stereo channel you add it to, to Mono. Your DAW probably has something similar. Being concerned with, and going out of your way over this is "much ado about nothing". It's Best Practices to do it right, certainly. But in the greater scheme of things, it's no big deal unless you are hawking a Youtube video.