pros/cons of mono vs. stereo PA

[dannydigital]

what are the pros and cons of running mono vs. stereo? im running my setup now stereo because i dont really know of any cons... teh flexability is there for stereo fx, cds, etc.. is that the way to go?

[fossil]

For a practice situation (which I think you stated is how you are currently using your setup?) I think it can work well. I like being able to pan the vocals or guitar to seperate them slightly for practicing purposes. For gigging stereo imaging is lost on most of your audience because only so may people can be in a good spot to benifit from the stereo imaging. Generally mono is considered the better option.

[dannydigital]

makes sense.. hrm well im doing sound for a local show in a couple weeks, nothing fancy.

its my mixer into the QSCrmx850 into our 15" MTXs with an aux out on the mixer into a powered mixer's power amp input driving some smaller PA cabs as monitors. i wonder if briding the QSC (about 400watts on each of our PA cabs) would kill the cabs..

wow i just got an idea, i can run one channel to our cabs and one to teh monitors then i can eliminate the powered mixer.. genius.

i wonder if thatd be loud enough tho. hrmm i wish my PA cabs were more sensitive.. the 95db/watt is starting to bug me

[Brad Harris]

All but 2 of the rigs I use are stereo capable (the other two: one is stricktly mono, other mono w/delay)

I have never used it as true stereo, just a dual zone mono (read up at prosoundweb.com).

Then again, I generally just use the subs as sends to remotes (booths, trucks, recordings), as the aux's are all used up. So by panning, I loose alot.

Just 1 opinion, but there are many good articles debating stero/mono/dzm out there on the web.

[ratthedd]

In my amateur opinion, the only thing stereo is really good for in live sound is for reverb/chorus effects. I believe the term is call dual mono or something. Is that right?

[flanc]

Most cover bands I know that do small/mid club work just run mono. As mentioned earlier, a stereo image is only good for a select few who happend to be located in a good spot...the rest (majority) of the listeners have a "poorer-than-mono" mix.

[abzurd]

This topic comes up a few times a year. Do a search and you'll find more info. Pretty much boils down to 90% of people agreeing that stereo is a waste for the typical live sound at most venues. Most rooms are not only NOT designed to sound good, but are impossible to get to sound even acceptable everywhere in the room no matter what you do. Adding stereo is one more variable for an already less than optimal situation.