when you import stems in the daw

sometimes you see the kick in stereo, even though the signal is mono

and bass for example...the waveform being stereo even if its mono


does that have any use? why does it show like that in the first place

 

because the master fader is in stereo

 

1. as already mentioned, master export in stereo (should be possible in mono, though so, user fault)
2. multi track export only possible for all tracks in either mono or stereo (developers fault)
3. subtle stereo reverb (your fault, not recognized )

 

You're right to be curious, but with stems it's usually down to lazy export practice. kicks and bass are more easily handled in mono ('cept for special fx).
It is easy to check by flipping the phase on one channel, if you hear any signal, then you have a stereo recording.
You may just hear a bit of reverb or a stray studio mouse that was coughing during recording. whatever.
If you hear nothing then the two channels are exactly the same and therefore the recording is mono.
what you do with it then is up to you.
If you do hear a mouse, personally I'd make a feature of it and turn it into a star.
If the track is mono, then I'd just delete one channel and compensate for the slightly lower level.
But whatever you find, you're messin' with other people's stems man, so just please yourself. It's all good.

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2021