Split stereo audio file in two mono files

[midilance]

I've never needed to do this until now. Back in the day (1967) I recorded my band with sets on the left channel and other sets on the right. I'd like to split the file so that the left channel is a mono file as well as the right channel. Can you tell me where to look in the manual or just tell me?

[HCMarkus]

Soundbites window, "Convert Audio File," check the "non-interleaved" option. Once created, if you drag to desktop, you'll get two files.

[mikehalloran]

Soundbites window, "Convert Audio File," check the "non-interleaved" option. Once created, if you drag to desktop, you'll get two files.

There are a few ways to do this but once I found that, I stopped using other methods.

[midilance]

Worked like a charm. Thanks

[HCMarkus]

Worked like a charm. Thanks

Super!

One note for users of Apple Silicon only: DP11.1 will reliably crash if I drag a soundbite from the Tracks Window to desktop on my Mac Studio. I haven't tried dragging from Soundbites Window on my Studio. MOTU has confirmed this bug and will likely address in the next update.

[JSmith1234567]

Soundbites window, "Convert Audio File," check the "non-interleaved" option. Once created, if you drag to desktop, you'll get two files.

This is terrific!

I have tried all different ways over the years and this is by far the easiest and most elegant.

(At least till Motu build the functionality into DP to split a stereo track into two new mono tracks in the tracks-window).

I did notice that when doing this method, I don't actually have to drag the soundbites back into DP from the desktop?

I did that and it worked fine, but then I noticed that DP also created two mono files in the soundbites window, and if I drag each one to a different mono track, that works just fine?

Am I doing something wrong here?

I remember at one point that you had to change the name of the files on the desktop before you drag them back in, but this doesn't seem to be the case now?

[HCMarkus]

If the files have the .R and .L suffix, I'm pretty sure DP will import as a stereo file. Maybe this has changed, but it used to be one had to delete the .R and .L before reimporting to get two mono files.

Just tested. Yes, if you want a mono file in DP, you must remove the R or L suffix before dragging and dropping back in DP.

[bayswater]

(At least till Motu build the functionality into DP to split a stereo track into two new mono tracks in the tracks-window).

MOTU has built it, and this is it.

If it doesn’t happen in the Tracks window, that is understandable. In the DP 11 manual MOTU is a bit clearer about the purpose of the Tracks window. It is to set up and configure the tracks, not their contents, although it has a lot of leftovers.

MOTU gets it both ways: if the Track window doesn’t do something the others do, we hear that is should — if it does all the same things as the sequence windows, we wonder why we have both.

[rickorick]

Can you just record the left and right to 2 mono tracks. I’m guessing you are playing back from a tape recorder.

[mikehalloran]

Can you just record the left and right to 2 mono tracks. I’m guessing you are playing back from a tape recorder.

Of course. Set DP to mono tracks and assign your inputs to record R & L as separate tracks. Inexpensive modern interfaces no longer have built in mixers—inputs are hard-panned R or L over the USB out. DP lets you create a stereo track to combine the two signals but it would surprise me if most of us did so.

The issue for most of us is that we re often given or otherwise have to import stereo tracks. GarageBand, for example, does not allow the export of single mono tracks. Someone records a guitar and a vocal, I have them send it to me with each track hard panned R/L. If I can talk the user into spending the $200 for Logic or $400 for DP, then I can get the tracks I prefer. Those sending me a vocal only in GB are sending a stereo track and I’ll use it as-is without converting to mono.

I’ve been dealing with this every week for 2 1/2 years.