Hello All,
 
This is one of those problems that isn't a problem on all the other songs I've been recording lately.
 
I recorded vocals using MOTU micro book which is a mono signal in.  To hear the vocals in both speakers I uncheck the interleave (bowtie thing) in the audio track strip.  Normally I can then pan left and right.  It works in all other cases but on this one particular project it doesn't.  I even tried turning off the delay and reverb busses to see if they were having an effect and listend just to the dry vocals.  Still no panning effect.  I check other projects and can't seem to see any settings that are different.  For the needs of this project it really isn't important (It's just a vocal track for choir members to learn their individual parts) but it really bothers me that what has always works suddenly doesn't.
 
PS.  Finally got Scot Garrigus's book!
 
Thanks,
 
Michael

If you had to uncheck the interleave then the implication is that you recorded it in stereo and have only picked up one half of the stereo signal.

When you insert a track for Sonar to record on, and it's a mono source, you must select the correct input options on the channel (Channel 1 - Left for example). This action will automatically select the correct interleave.

Try doing a bounce to track and select tracks as your source and a new mono track as your destination.

In my DAW.... and all the cake platforms I use....

When I set up an audio track for recording, it always defaults to STEREO. I normally have my guitar and vocal mic in the audio input for the left side. 

If I let it roll like that I end up with the exact scenario you are describing. Sound on one side only. 

I must go into the track input selection and choose the LEFT side. This selection ensures the track is looking at the left input only and it then places the audio in the "center" of the track. I am able to pan it right or left. It's still only mono, but that is OK.... because it is pannable to the right or left by any degree. 


It matters not if you use the right or the left input. Either will get you mono source "centered" in the track and it will be pannable.

Hi, what you both have said makes sense but what confuses me is why it is only on this track that I  can't pan on this project but the other seemingly identical projects it works.  Very odd.

What you are describing can be easily explained like this:

You have your vocal track routed to a mono bus.

YOur vocal track could be mono or stereo, it doesn't matter. You have its' output feeding a mono bus. This makes it so that no matter how you pan your vocal track, it will remain dead-center because it is routed through a mono bus that is panned center.

Hold down your ALT key, then select your vocal track, then let go. Then look at your busses to see which one is highlighted. I bet that you will find it is a mono bus.

I thought all busses in Sonar were stereo?

Just bounce the stereo vocal track to a mono track and it will pan. 

Bristol_Jonesey


I thought all busses in Sonar were stereo?

No, you can change them to mono just like tracks. This is very useful. I use mono busses a lot. For example, return your Sonitus delay in mono and pan it to taste. Or return a reverb in mono. Or for a group of backing vocals, use a send to a mono bus, use different EQ settings, pan to one side and return it to mix with the group of tracks that are panned differently. 

No, you can change them to mono just like tracks. This is very useful. I use mono busses a lot. For example, return your Sonitus delay in mono and pan it to taste. Or return a reverb in mono. Or for a group of backing vocals, use a send to a mono bus, use different EQ settings, pan to one side and return it to mix with the group of tracks that are panned differently.

 
For whatever reason I *never* think of setting busses to mono.   Nice one!
 

daveny5


Just bounce the stereo vocal track to a mono track and it will pan. 

This is not the OP's issue at all. And even if it were, bouncing a stereo vocal to mono just to pan would not be a good solution. You could use Channel tools or something instead.


Anyway, the reason he is not hearing the results of panning, is because his track is feeding a bus that is set to mono. He could pan the mono bus, or he could change the bus back to stereo. Either way, that will fix the problem.


OP, can you confirm?


Thanks,
-Charles