how do i convert my recoding from stereo to mono?

GarageBand 10 only mixes to stereo output. There is no setting for mono.

Having said that. There is one hidden trick how to convert a stereo Audio Region to mono that even most Logic users don't know

• You can only mix to stereo, so do your bounce of your Project
• Now import that mixed stereo file into the same Project or a new Project
• Create two Audio Tracks and place the audio file on the first Track
• Split the Audio Region by selecting it, move the Playhead in the middle of the Audio Region and use the Split command (command+T)
• Now drag the second half of the Region to the second Audio Track. Hold the Shift key while dragging to make sure not change the horizontal position
• Now select both Audio Regions and use the Join Command (command+J)
• A Dialog Window pops up where you click on the Mono button. This mixes the stereo Audio File into a new Mono Audio File.
• Now you have to locate your Project File, open it with the "Show Package Content" from the files Shortcut Menu (Control+click on the file).
• The newly created file is inside the Media folder. Copy it to the Desktop, this is your Mono Mix

I know, it is a bit of a labor-intensive workaround, but at least it is possible.

Hope that helps

Edgar Rothermich - LogicProGEM.com

(Author of the "Graphically Enhanced Manuals")

http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/

'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'

Edgar,

This is very awesome. Thank you! It was so cool seeing the MONO button.

Curious - after I followed those steps, I then 'shared to file'. I opened it in iTunes, clicked 'get info' the selected the 'file' tab and I saw that it was still a Joint Stereo file.

My issue is that I am recording an audio book and the distributor strongly prefers a mono mp3 file.

Maybe I am misunderstanding what a joint stereo file is.

"Stereo - Mono" is a very tricky subject with a lot of misunderstanding, confusing terminology and hidden tricks.

The procedure I showed earlier is how to convert a single Audio Region (audio file) inside your Project. However, GarageBand still exports to stereo (which means two audio channels). If the source signal is a single channel mono signal, for example, one mono audio file on your Project, then you are still mixing to a two-channel (stereo) audio file, where both channels (left and right) carry the identical mono signal

Convert to Mono

There is one hidden trick in GarageBand where you can convert your entire mix into a mono mix.

Open the Smart Controls and select the Master Button. Add the Gain Plugin (listed under the Utilities menu) and select the Plugin Preset "Convert to Mono". the left and right channel of your output is now "merged" into two mono signal. Remember, GarageBand still creates a two-channel audio file

The procedure looks something like that in a signal flow diagram:

Two Channel (stereo) to One Channel (mono) conversion:

If your distributor request a single-channel mono audio file but GarageBand only produces a two-channel audio file, then you can do a simple trick in iTunes.

After you bounce your GarageBand Project to an AIFF file, use the "Create New File" command under the File Menu. Before you do that, you have to set in the iTunes Preferences the file format.

Preferences ➤ General ➤ Import Settings ➤ Settings ("Custom") ➤ Channels ("Mono")

Joint Stereo:

Compressed audio formats like mp3 provide a Stereo Mode called "Joint Stereo", In this case, the audio data of the left and right channels are analyzed and if the same frequencies appears in the left and right channel (i.e. Bass), then the codex stores the data of only one channel (with a note to apply it to both when decoding it). This is a very simplified explanation. Bottom line is, Joint Stereo could reduce the file size without compromising the sound quality.

BTW, don't confuse "Joint Stereo" with "Interleaved Stereo", different term, different tutorial.

Hope that helps

Edgar Rothermich - LogicProGEM.com

(Author of the "Graphically Enhanced Manuals")

http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/

'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'

How do we do the opposite. iMac (early 2008) with El Capitan OS X 10.11.1 & GB 10.1.0

Transferring old stereo LP (no CD available) to mp3 to create CD or iTunes file and GB only shows one waveform on each track. The tracks show the two overlapping circles in the track title bar. Tried adding one second of blank sound at end of track and use the join tracks command and get the non-contiguous audio message with create button. Not getting stereo tracks in iTunes.

Transferring using my old Tiger powerbook G4 computer with the same turntable/cables, the same LP shows two waveforms on each GB track. When opening the Tiger GB file into El Capitan GB, the bottom waveform is not visible. Might have to use the Tiger GB to split the tracks into individual song tracks with titles for iTunes & CD. Yes, my Tiger OS still works without problems since 2005.

Thanks for any help on this stereo problem.

THANK YOU!!!!! Why is it when you search mono in GB there is nothing to comes up? This is AWESOME!