When you find yourself receiving a mono signal from your microphone, it can be frustrating and confusing, especially if you were expecting a stereo signal.
Here are some reasons why you might be getting a mono signal from your microphone:
Using a Single Microphone
If you are using only one microphone to capture audio, the signal will naturally be mono. Mono signals are created when sound is captured by a single microphone and mixed down to a single channel.
- Most RØDE microphones, like the NT1 and NT2-A, are made for mono recording. If your microphone has a single 3-pin XLR connection, you can't get a stereo signal from it on your audio interface.
However, you can connect multiple microphones to your audio interface (if it has more than one XLR input) to record stereo audio from the same source.
- Some RØDE microphones, such as the NT55 or TF5, are designed for stereo recording and come in pairs, but they can also be used individually as mono microphones.
Check your Settings on your DAW
Your recording or playback device settings may be configured to receive or output audio in mono on your digital audio workstation (DAW). Make sure to check the settings on both your recording device and any software you are using to ensure they are set to stereo if you want a stereo signal.
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