Most common way to connect a mic directly for stereo sound?

[curtiscee]

I know people use different configurations for different needs, but in general, what is the “ideal” or “typical” way to connect a microphone directly to the Korg Kronos X to achieve stereo sound?

a) Plug a single mono XLR microphone into the 1 and 2 inputs of the Kronos using a cable splitter?

b) Plug two mono XLR microphones into the 1 and 2 inputs of the Kronos?

c) Plug a single stereo XLR microphone into the 1 and 2 inputs of the Kronos?

d) Plug a single XLR microphone into either the 1/2 input of the Kronos using an internal setting to split the signal?

e) Something else altogether different?

I believe I can enable/disable internal effects on the fly within Kronos for great flexibility when recording; however, my goal is to also record dry vocals and guitar so that I maintain the same flexibility during mix-down when adding external TC Helicon Voicelive 2 Extreme vocal effects for complex harmonies etc.

[napalm matt]

Set it up as a split signal would be the easiest

[curtiscee]

Set it up as a split signal would be the easiest

How do you yourself currently record stereo audio into your Kronos?

[curtiscee]

What a dumb question I just asked. If I record on line 1 to track 1, and then just copy track 1 to track 2, wouldn't I effectively have stereo? I'd just prefer to hear the audio in stereo.

[SanderXpander]

Stereo is more than just twice the same signal, it implies that there is a (usually subtle) difference between the left and right signal, because two mics were used capturing two different sounds from the instrument, usually left and right. Many synths create a fake stereo sound by doubling a mono sound and putting a tiny delay on it, or even a slight detuning, an effect similar to using chorus. You can hear a true stereo sound in the Kronos by listening to one of the SGX1 grands, where the left side of the sound is definitely different from the right side. This becomes especially apparent as you play all the way to the left or right on the keyboard.

So the main reason for all this is to ask you; why do you want stereo? What are you recording? It's not particularly useful to record in stereo for small sound sources such as vocals or saxophone, or arguably guitar. In fact it can create all sorts of problems due to relative mic placing. If all you want is to have the sound come out of the left and right outputs you needn't worry; the Kronos will play center-panned mono tracks as dual mono over both outputs.

[curtiscee]

If all you want is to have the sound come out of the left and right outputs you needn't worry; the Kronos will play center-panned mono tracks as dual mono over both outputs.

Ahhh! I'm obviously "ucking-fup" my understanding of stereo theory. My microphone is currently only coming out of the left speaker. It sounds like all I need to do is pan it center. The left and right inputs are likely by default panned left and right, logically; so that's what sent me down this wrong rabbit hole.

Thanks!

[ronnfigg]

Sander is right. if you had 16 tracks of audio all panned dead center and no effects or anything else you would basically have a mono recording. your microphone coming out of the left channel actually was stereo. just the left half.

[curtiscee]

Sander is right. if you had 16 tracks of audio all panned dead center and no effects or anything else you would basically have a mono recording. your microphone coming out of the left channel actually was stereo. just the left half.

So then rather than pan center, what I truly need is simply a second mic for the other stereo half, right?

Do most people record vocals in mono here? I assumed that most people must use two mics for stereo recording or another stereo solution, and that what we hear on the radio and anywhere else are stereo mic recordings of vocals. I almost sense that recording stereo dry vocals is not the norm here for later remixing etc.

[apex]

What a dumb question I just asked. If I record on line 1 to track 1, and then just copy track 1 to track 2, wouldn't I effectively have stereo? I'd just prefer to hear the audio in stereo.

no that's not stereo, that's just a copy of what was on track 1...

[apex]

Stereo is more than just twice the same signal, it implies that there is a (usually subtle) difference between the left and right signal, because two mics were used capturing two different sounds from the instrument, usually left and right. Many synths create a fake stereo sound by doubling a mono sound and putting a tiny delay on it, or even a slight detuning, an effect similar to using chorus. You can hear a true stereo sound in the Kronos by listening to one of the SGX1 grands, where the left side of the sound is definitely different from the right side. This becomes especially apparent as you play all the way to the left or right on the keyboard.

So the main reason for all this is to ask you; why do you want stereo? What are you recording? It's not particularly useful to record in stereo for small sound sources such as vocals or saxophone, or arguably guitar. In fact it can create all sorts of problems due to relative mic placing. If all you want is to have the sound come out of the left and right outputs you needn't worry; the Kronos will play center-panned mono tracks as dual mono over both outputs.

+1

[curtiscee]

Okay, I'll go the two-microphone route. Thanks!

[SanderXpander]

Umm no I think you misunderstood. Vocals are always recorded mono. However you pan them later during playback has nothing to do with if your sound source was originally stereo. There is simply no good reason to capture vocals with a left and right mic.

EDIT: in other words, like you said before, just pan center. Save recording in stereo for instruments where it is useful, like piano.