live sound - mono or stereo?

[Mike Stranks]

The pro's are in stereo, no matter the venue size these days.

Really? And your evidence is...?

... and who is Denny Mack?

[Hugh Robjohns]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/denny-mack-23288910/

[Wonks]

J...which always made me wonder how exactly my home stereo sounded really good with EXACTLY the same separation...

Fine if you are sitting halfway between the speakers some distance back as home stereo systems are designed to be listened to. But a far less encompassing experience if you are sitting right by one speaker that's 50 feet away from the other and listening at a high volume to say a Beatles album with very distinct left/right panning.

[Hugh Robjohns]

He must have a bloomin' big lounge if his stereo hi-fi setup is 'EXACTLY' the same as a live sound rig...

Sweeping generalisations aren't very helpful here. Some systems are run entirely in mono, some with some elements in stereo... it all depends on the situation and instrumentation.

I don't do live sound very often, but when I do I tend to work in mono most of the time unless there's a specific reason for panning a source or using a stereo spread. For example, I like to run a Leslie effect with some stereo width if possible as it can sound very flat in mono. But a wide stereo panning effect on an electric piano can easily become distracting...

[Sam Spoons]

I'm not on Linkdein, so who is Denny Mack (The King Of Sound)?

I pretty much always run a PA in dual mono and rarely pan anything but I'm very much at the 'grass roots' end of the market.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I'm not on Linkdein, so who is Denny Mack (The King Of Sound)?

Denny Mack
Production Manager / MME World Classic Rockers
Orange County, California Area

The World Classic Rockers
Production Manager / MME
Nov 2003 – Present
The World Classic Rockers (http://www.wcr.com), is an all star rock and roll band featuring former members of Steppenwolf, Santana, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kansas, Journey and Boston.

The Crazy Horse Saloon
Production Manager
Oct 1992 – Nov 2010
The Crazy Horse garnered seven awards from the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and one SRO award from The Country Music Association (CMA) as the # 1 night club in the nation.

Mel Torme' / Johnny Lee / Zaca Creek
Audio Engineer / Production Manager
Jun 1986 – Dec 1998
Mel Tormé, Peter Nero and Leslie Uggams, MME: "The Great Gershwin Tour"​.

...

[Wonks]

Well, Hugh's the King of Sound on Sound.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Only a Prince, or maybe a gallant Knight... PW is The King!

[Drew Stephenson]

I'm not on Linkdein, so who is Denny Mack (The King Of Sound)?

Denny Mack
Production Manager / MME World Classic Rockers
Orange County, California Area

The World Classic Rockers
Production Manager / MME
Nov 2003 – Present
The World Classic Rockers (http://www.wcr.com), is an all star rock and roll band featuring former members of Steppenwolf, Santana, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kansas, Journey and Boston.

The Crazy Horse Saloon
Production Manager
Oct 1992 – Nov 2010
The Crazy Horse garnered seven awards from the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and one SRO award from The Country Music Association (CMA) as the # 1 night club in the nation.

Mel Torme' / Johnny Lee / Zaca Creek
Audio Engineer / Production Manager
Jun 1986 – Dec 1998
Mel Tormé, Peter Nero and Leslie Uggams, MME: "The Great Gershwin Tour"​.

...

To be fair, that is quite a resumé...

I think the only time I've ever done live sound in stereo was when doing a gig for three singing guitarists. Adding a bit of L and R panning gave a little bit of separation and helped show who was playing what. Well, it did for the central third of the audience, not sure how much difference it made to the rest.

[Wonks]

Only a Prince, or maybe a gallant Knight... PW is The King!

But it doesn't work in the context of the thread (and he's never on the forums and your reviews are betterer). Go on, just run with it for the moment, Your Majesty.

[Mike Stranks]

Only a Prince, or maybe a gallant Knight... PW is The King!

But it doesn't work in the context of the thread (and he's never on the forums and your reviews are betterer). Go on, just run with it for the moment, Your Majesty.

[Sam Spoons]

I'm not on Linkdein, so who is Denny Mack (The King Of Sound)?

Denny Mack
Production Manager / MME World Classic Rockers
Orange County, California Area

The World Classic Rockers
Production Manager / MME
Nov 2003 – Present
The World Classic Rockers (http://www.wcr.com), is an all star rock and roll band featuring former members of Steppenwolf, Santana, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kansas, Journey and Boston.

The Crazy Horse Saloon
Production Manager
Oct 1992 – Nov 2010
The Crazy Horse garnered seven awards from the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and one SRO award from The Country Music Association (CMA) as the # 1 night club in the nation.

Mel Torme' / Johnny Lee / Zaca Creek
Audio Engineer / Production Manager
Jun 1986 – Dec 1998
Mel Tormé, Peter Nero and Leslie Uggams, MME: "The Great Gershwin Tour"​.

...

To be fair, that is quite a resumé...

Yup, guess he knows his Ahhh's from his Elbow then.

[Mike Monte]

In bars/small venues I usually go mono.

When I tech a stage for larger outdoor events I will set up the rig in stereo but will mix it in mono (all pans at 12 o'clock).....however, I do like to take a "lead guitarists" sound and bring it to the other side of the stage (via the PA) as guitar amps are "beamy".

[The Elf]

I have never played a gig in mono!

[dennymack]

Sorry for being late in the game friends. Michael, thanks for the accolade. I can only hope to remain worthy of that. For further info on my long and checkered career, please Google “Denny Mack sound” for some articles and live interviews. Wishing you all the best, and getting back to making noise.

[Martin Walker]

Hi Denny, and a belated welcome to the SOS Forums!

Better late than never in this thread

Martin

[Sun Production]

I set up the PA in stereo but usually mix the inputs in mono, with a few exceptions. Example - if a guitarist on stage right has a loud amp I might pan it to the left side to balance it out. If the keys have a stereo out i wire them up in stereo and "half-pan" or full pan them, depending on the sound coming out and the room. I usually do tracks and effects in stereo with a partial or full pan. I also prefer a stereo PA because singers with wireless mics like to jump off the stage and walk around, and stand right in front of one of the main stacks. I pan the mic to the other side to avoid feedback. Same with corporate AV with the podium on the far laft or right side of the stage, if they are right next to the speakers.