Interleave - what does it really do?

Hi,
 
I always thought that interleave had to be set to stereo on tracks that contained stereo files until
yesterday when I was explaining some basics of X1 to a friend.
 
To my surprise I realized that it doesn't seem to make a difference on what we ear regardless of the settings of the interleave. I search the help but I haven't found an explanation on what it does.
 
So, what it the impact on a stereo track if it is set to mono?
 
 
M

John


Pan.
 
I actually have no impact on the pan wheher or not it is set to stereo or mono on stereo or mono tracks (I have just tried to confirm this)
But I finally found the right words to use to search the  file....daaaaah! and found that it seems to have an impact when softsynth and/or effects are used but as usual (the same is true for the majority of the help file from any company) the useful information (other than telling us the button is used to set to mono or stereo....daaaah!) on what it
really does is nebulous.....at least for me.
 
I can see it could be important when effects that are true stereo are used or when a mono only effect (compressor) is used on a stereo track but that's about it.

mike_mccue


The stereo interleave button allows the contents of a mono track to return from any stereo effects inserted in the EFX bin as a stereo track.

This allows stereo effects to be passed further as stereo.

If you leave the interleave button as mono than any stereo effect that the mono track is treated with will be collapsed back to mono before being passed along to a bus.


It is easy to hear the difference if you have a stereo effect patched up and switch between the two choices.


best regards,
mike

Ya, that's how and why I'd normally use it but the OP's question was.

So, what it the impact on a stereo track if it is set to mono?

I think none as far as I can remember.

I'll have to revisit that to confirm.

Oh yes, I see now... one answer is obvious.

As you switch the interleave button the various pan laws will respond with respective changes in level which will effect the panning somewhat.

So, in some regards, the results will depend on what pan law you are running.

best regards,
mike

mario

I always thought that interleave had to be set to stereo on tracks that contained stereo files until
yesterday when I was explaining some basics of X1 to a friend.
 
To my surprise I realized that it doesn't seem to make a difference on what we ear regardless of the settings of the interleave. I search the help but I haven't found an explanation on what it does.
 
So, what it the impact on a stereo track if it is set to mono?

If you have a 'Stereo' track and change Interleave to 'Mono', the output of your 'Stereo' track will now be in 'Mono'. What probably happened was, you probably recorded a mono input such as a guitar, in stereo (which is the default Input setting) and therefor heard no difference when you changed your interleave setting.

Now, keep in mind, if you throw Guitar Rig on the track and your Interleave setting is still set to Mono ... Guitar Rig will be in Mono. Interleave effects the output of FX in the FX Bin. This was never a big deal in previous versions of Sonar because Interleave and Phase were right on the track header and you could see and easily change it. Now it's hidden in the Inspector and is easily forgotten about.

Also, Sonar changes Interleave automatically depending on what you set your Input Source to. And again, this was no big deal when Interleave was right next to the Input Source drop down box on the track because you could see Interleave change to mono and you could quickly put it back to Stereo. You can't do that now with it hidden ...

Go ahead and try it. Load up a new project, make sure the Inspector is not collapsed and Interleave is visible, then change a tracks Input setting. You'll see Interleave change on it's own.

Pan is not effected in any way by 'Interleave'.

mario

Bub

mario

Bub,
 
Now, when you mentionned that leaving interleave to mono on a stereo file do
you know if the mono output is the sum of the Left and Right channel or does it focus on the left channel only?

It is the sum of the left and right channel.