Folks:

Can someone explain whether (and how) the selection of stereo versus mono interleave on a track affects the track once a multi-track project is bounced down to a single stereo track?

In other words, I record in audio, all mono, and end up with, say 15 tracks. Some of them simply "sound" better with the stereo interleave button lit up, for example, if I want to widen the acoustic guitar.

I assume - but have no idea whether - the stereo interleave "sound" is bounced down when I render the project to a single stereo track, so that one would hear a discernable difference between the guitar on a bounced-down stereo track FROM a project in which the guitar's interleave was on "stereo" versus one in which it was on "mono."

Is that correct?

If so/not, what is the purpose of interleave and/or how is it normally used?

I seem to be getting fine results, it's just an annoyance that I've never really understood it's purpose - other than it apparently can take a mono track (again, like a guitar) and make it "sound" in stereo? - or is it actually somehow 'converting' it to stereo? And does it matter?

Also note the strong corellation between what you can do with Channel Tools depending on whether interleave is set to stereo or mono(?)

Thanks!

Take a look at this thread Here. It may answer some questions.

Greetings Chris,

Open up the help file and look for the signal flow diagram. You will see the Phase/Interleave switches just below the volume trim. The Interleave switch controls whether the signal path is stereo (with interleave on) or mono (with interleave off) from this point to the stereo pan.

If you have a stereo effect in the effect bin, then you need to have the interleave on, and yes, this will have a dramatic affect on the sound.

Regards,
David

P.s., This diagram will answer a lot of SONAR questions.

Greetings Chris,

Continuing …

The interleave has a huge affect on mono tracks that have stereo reverb applied to the effects bin. See if you can figure it out and describe it in 1000 words or less.

Regards,
David

ORIGINAL: dcastle

Greetings Chris,

Continuing …

The interleave has a huge affect on mono tracks that have stereo reverb applied to the effects bin. See if you can figure it out and describe it in 1000 words or less.

Regards,
David

1000 words or less? Since I charge by the hour, they will be very LOOOOOONG words, written V E R Y S L O W L Y...

I could answer better if I had a question that I could deal with. What you ask in your first post is based on the idea that a mono recorded track doesn't sound as good as a stereo track to you. You mention width as a reason. I am not sure how you got width from simply changing the interleave.

I am not sure how you got width from simply changing the interleave.

Unless there is a stereo effect, like reverb in the effects bin...

John - my question was not very specific, you are correct - the reason being that I didn't know enough to ask a better question. I apologize.

Since booting up Sonar and checking the help files (and the signal flow chart...) I have learned the answer to what I was trying to ask, which is that the interleave button simply determines whether the a track's "signal enters an effect or chain of effects as mono or stereo, regardless of the nature of the track" (quoting Sonar 8PE Help File, "Changing Track Settings" page).

As to my "width" comment, I was saying that a track sometimes sounds wider when interleave select is on "stereo" as opposed to mono. But that's probably because I likely had a stereo effect in the bin (e.g., S1, Channel Tools) and, therefore, the track (effect, actually) was working better with interleave set to stereo.

Thanks very much

Good job! High five to you!

[edit]BTW, this was in response to "Since booting up Sonar and checking the help files (and the signal flow chart...) I have learned the answer to what I was trying to ask"

John - my question was not very specific, you are correct - the reason being that I didn't know enough to ask a better question. I apologize.

You apologise? That's not good enuogh. Beg for forgiveness. More guilt...more guilt!

jj