Even if the final mix is not listened to in mono it is a fantastic mix tool. If you are not using it you are missing out.

Awesome, thanks a lot to everyone for the info.

batsbrew
i don't know anybody that listens in mono.

If you walk down the aisle of ipod docks you will see there are several mono versions available, and they sell. There are people that turn on the ipad or phone on and listen to the speaker directly. As Bapu mentioned already - many restaurants and bars have mono systems and most (if not all) 70 volt systems will be in mono (department stores, malls, elevators, etc...). FM Radio collapses to mono when the signal weakens... etc... etc...
 
However - as already mentioned by Jeff, even if your intended target is the stereo only crowd your mixes will be better if you take the time to check the mix in mono.

What I found is that while mixing in stereo, there is a wider range of fader movement where a track sounds good - perhaps as much as a 5db range might work. When I switch it to mono on the Avantone, the range becomes much smaller - you can just tell where it sits. So you mix it there and switch back to stereo and viola - there it is. Same idea with tone adjustments...

Jeff Evans
Even if the final mix is not listened to in mono it is a fantastic mix tool. If you are not using it you are missing out.

i never said i wasn't mixing in mono....
or checking in mono....
and i'm not mixing songs for folks in restaurants to listen to.....
heheh
 

ok, i just spent 5 hours at a mixing session, 
mixing in mono.
 
 
very interesting.
 
and helpful.
 
it's funny, but after mixing a bit on a song, 
especially if you do what i did, starting off in MONO.....
 
you forget it's in mono,
and find your levels using more eq than anything else.....
 
then when you throw it into stereo....
 
whoa

smallstonefan
What I found is that while mixing in stereo, there is a wider range of fader movement where a track sounds good - perhaps as much as a 5db range might work. When I switch it to mono on the Avantone, the range becomes much smaller - you can just tell where it sits. So you mix it there and switch back to stereo and viola - there it is. Same idea with tone adjustments...

 
+1, that is exactly how I experience it. My stereo mix is never compromised by the decisions I made in mono, it is better because of those decisions.
 

batsbrew
it's funny, but after mixing a bit on a song, especially if you do what i did, starting off in MONO.....
 
you forget it's in mono, and find your levels using more eq than anything else.....
 
then when you throw it into stereo....
 
whoa

 
Is that a good "whoa" or a bad "whoa"?

codamedia
 
Is that a good "whoa" or a bad "whoa"?

I was wondering that, too.

when i say 'whoa'..........
 
i mean "WHOA!!!"
 
 
LOL
 
courtesy of yosemite sam.
 
 
i mean good whoa.
 
i typically have zero phase issues going into a mix,
because i mostly track in mono.
 
if i need stereo effects, i use sub busses and sends.
 
 
occassionally, i have to tweak drum overheads for phase,
but even then, it rarely compromises a mix.
 
 
i always check mixes in mono,
because the clarity of a mono mix, forces the issues of frequency balance.
 
what might sound too far back in a stereo mix, may move forward in the mono version.
 
NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN..... for me.... it is an EQ issue, not a fader level issue.
 
 
the point i was making about saying 'nobody i know listens in mono' was really more to drive home the point that you should use the entire spread of panning available in a stereo mix,
because,
you can.
 
and it sounds good.
 
 

batsbrew
when i say 'whoa'..........
i mean "WHOA!!!"
 
LOL
 
courtesy of yosemite sam.
 
i mean good whoa.
 

 
Nothing like a looney toon quote to brighten the day
 

batsbrew
the point i was making about saying 'nobody i know listens in mono' was really more to drive home the point that you should use the entire spread of panning available in a stereo mix,
because,
you can.
 
and it sounds good.

Absolutely agree.  The end results should be a great stereo mix... A lot of people just don't realize that checking in mono helps you achieve that.