When to use stereo plugins versus mono?

[XilburQost]

I'm using plugins from Waves audio and many of them come in both mono and stereo versions. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find an explanation for when I would use one versus another.

For example, I'm trying out Waves Renaissance Bass plugin on my Reaper bass MIDI track. Do I use the stereo version or mono? (There's no reference to the differences in the Renaissance Bass manual.)

Thanks.

[hopi]

pretty simple

if you have mono audio you can use the mono plugin

if stereo use the stereo version

some waves have what they call a mono\stereo version as well

[XilburQost]

Simpler than I thought. Thanks hopi!

[karbomusic]

Never use mono plugs in my opinion, reaper uses 2 channels regardless and if you throw a mono plugin on a track and then put that track in a folder or buss it will break panning on the folder/buss unless the mono plugin sends the same signal to 1/2 - IIRC that is.

[Larry Kriz]

https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=480970

[ashcat_lt]

Originally Posted by karbomusic

Never use mono plugs in my opinion

Yeah that. Technically, this would use up to almost twice as much processing as really necessary, but unless you really think it’s killing your CPU, just use the stereo ones. You CAN usually manipulate the routing pins to make mono ones work, but that’s more messing around than it’s worth most of the time.

Course, the actual correct answer is “Fuck Waves!”

[Judders]

Yeah, if you don't sort out your routing pins then mono plugins will process the left channel and pass unprocessed audio on the right.

Brainworx consoles are the only plugins I bother with mono versions of, because of their randomised channel properties thing.



All Waves plugins get used in stereo versions only here.