Editing Stereo Track Issue

[Swix76]

I have a keyboard track that were recorded to two separate tracks left and right respectively so two mono tracks. I figured out how to combine those two mono track to a stereo track.

The issue is once a make a copy and paste and then try to adjust the length of the item, one of the sides of the track disappears and only one side plays. Also if I adjust the boundaries of the items before of after it collapses to a mono item. I will include three images below one showing before and two after trying to adjust the boundary of the pasted item.

[Fabian]

Originally Posted by Swix76

I have a keyboard track that were recorded to two separate tracks left and right respectively so two mono tracks. I figured out how to combine those two mono track to a stereo track.

How do you make it into a single stereo track?

I guess that what you want is to create a stereo item from two mono items, not? You can do that by selecting both items, right-click on one of them and choose Item processing > Implode items across track into one item on one track. Be sure to have item mix behavior set to always mix.

What you get is then a single stereo item that you can copy-paste, move around, adjust borders etc.

And welcome to the forum

[Swix76]

Thanks for the response.

The only place I could find "Item mix behavior" is by double left clicking on an item and its within the Media Item Properties pop-up window.

Is it located anywhere else?

[bolgwrad]

I believe you're talking about converting two mono items to a single stereo item. That's a direct edit on an audio source that Reaper, as a non-destructive application, doesn't do unless you render the items and insert the render into the project.

If you want one mono item on the right, one on the left, put them both (ie implode to one track as Fabian describes) on one track in Free Item Positioning mode (note the little tab on the bottom of each item), and use 'Item Properties to pan them left and right. For tandem editing fade-wise, etc, group them.





You can have them on separate tracks sent to the L/R channels of a parent track otherwise.

[Swix76]

Bolgwrad thanks! After some more research, I did end up figuring it out on my own. But you did describe exactly what needed to be done.

Issue resolved.

[mat chat]

Hello, the easiest way to transform 2 monos in one stereo that I found and that I use everyday(just one selection and one shortcut) is to use the script from ClaudiohbSantos: CS_Implode two monos into stereo.lua

you can import claudio's scripts by pasting this url in Reapack/importrepositories/ :
url=https://github.com/Claudiohbsantos/Claudiohbsantos-Scripts/raw/master/index.xml
it creates a new file in stereo, you just have to have the 2 files exactly the same size for it to work.
Can you do some item volume automations on the two items left and right at the same time afterwards with bolgwrad solution? To my recollection you cannot.

[serr]

There may be and probably are some scripts that will render a stereo item from selected tracks/items. The standard way to produce ANY new output from a non-destructive DAW is to render a new file.

It's probably intuitive to look for some menu command for something that seems trivial like this... But it's really a render job like everything else.

Try to go with the wind and avoid extra work by recording to interleaved files for multichannel items when convenient.

[skylar_battles]

I usually do this:

1. On each track pan the items hard left and right at the item level. Not on the track!
2. Implode onto one track with offset media items overlapping enabled so you can see both items
3. Toggle phase of of one item to hear if it sounds better
4. Glue 2 hard panned mono items with consideration of phase to one stereo item. Done!

[mat chat]

Originally Posted by skylar_battles

I usually do this:

1. On each track pan the items hard left and right at the item level. Not on the track!
2. Implode onto one track with offset media items overlapping enabled so you can see both items
3. Toggle phase of of one item to hear if it sounds better
4. Glue 2 hard panned mono items with consideration of phase to one stereo item. Done!

It works but the operation is at least 12 clicks you can do the same withe claudio's script with one click.

[skylar_battles]

But how can the script check for phase and listen for what sounds better?

[serr]

Originally Posted by skylar_battles

But how can the script check for phase and listen for what sounds better?

That would be a production decision upstream. A polarity decision of one side of a stereo render isn't just a trivial standard thing to check before rendering! Such a decision usually comes with restoration work and there would be a lot of other things going on.

Rendering two files to a single stereo interleaved file with a button click suggests already finished files with no question. Certainly not a question over correct polarity of one of them!

If something is going on with a decision over polarity of one side of a stereo recording or some other phase anomaly between channels of a stereo recording, THAT would be the bigger question and task here! This isn't just an issue of putting 2 mono files to stereo interleaved!

[skylar_battles]

Makes sense!

I imagine I could use the suggested action and then use JS: Polarity control, as an item fx and glue later