Stereo Setup - Atomic Neo FRFR/Mixer

[Chris Tilly]

Hey all,

Was enjoying a Leon Todd tone this week, super saturated with stereo effects. Went to try the tone on the FM3 and it fell flat. Question i have is what is the best setup to use to avoid losing that stereo sound, now the obvious answer is run left and right to two separate FRFRs but i only have one and can only transport one so that is not an option. Normal setup is Output 1 to FRFR, FRFR out to Mixing Desk. The Neo has two channels, can i run Left and Right to Channel 1 and 2, thus creating a stereo effect with only one speaker? Or do i run Left/Right to the desk and Output 2 to FRFR, but how do i retain the saturation that seems to get lost when running mono..

Hope this makes, looking for answers..

 

[Rex]

The CLR is just one speaker, so it can only ever run mono. If you can only take one speaker to the gig, you’ll be running in mono, no matter what you do.

Yes, your CLR has two inputs. In you use them both, your stereo signal will be mixed down into a single mono channel. You can accomplish the same mixdown in your FM3, in which case you’ll only have to run one cable to your CLR.

I’m not sure what you mean by “saturation.” Saturation shouldn’t be affected by mono vs. stereo. But a wide stereo signal will lose its width when collapsed to mono.

 

[warlockII]

As well as phasing issues can alter your tone when collapsing to mono. Yep, stereo to FOH(assuming it's stereo) otherwise just give them one of your XLR's from output 1 and One XLR from output 2 to your CLR.

 

[marsonic]

can i run Left and Right to Channel 1 and 2, thus creating a stereo effect with only one speaker?

No, you can't. The sources have to be physically separated to create stereo. In order for it to be correct stereo, they and you have to be in an equilateral triangle with reasonable length sides. E.g., a stereo-wired 2x12 isn't actually stereo unless your nose is touching the grill cloth...and even then it won't really be right. (It might sound cool, though.)

The "easy" way to do it is:

1. Run stereo XLRs to FOH, assuming that they run a stereo PA system (which isn't as common as you might think...because even if there are some positional effects, there is literally 1 place even in an amphitheater where the stereo image is actually correct)
2. Run stereo IEMs. Technically, this is binaural, not stereo. Most people have never heard good-enough stereo to really notice. And there are headphone amps and plugins that do HRTF crossfeed to give you a stereo presentation from binaural IEMs or headphones. Either way, you'll get at least most of the interesting spatial effects.
3. If necessary, you can use a mono (perhaps even a dry version, depending on where your wet effects are) wedge for the acoustic interaction and gain enhancement that comes from stage volume, even though no one is actually listening to it other than your guitar.