{"id":188748,"date":"2022-04-14T08:28:01","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T06:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=188748"},"modified":"2025-07-01T20:48:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T03:48:55","slug":"how-to-mix-multi-channel-input-device-down-to-mono","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/how-to-mix-multi-channel-input-device-down-to-mono\/","title":{"rendered":"How to mix multi-channel input device and down to mono"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A multi-channel recording<\/strong> is recording more than two channels of audio <\/strong>on the same computer simultaneously. It requires specific drivers, hardware, and recording software for the platform you\u2019re using, for instance, Windows 10, macOS, or Linux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most audio you hear is in stereo, but you can get your computer to mix sounds from different channels to mono<\/strong> so that you can play the combined sound through both speakers or in one speaker if you prefer, for example, if you have trouble with your hearing in one ear. Here’s a quick guide for what you’ll need to mix multi-channel input devices and down to mono<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hardware<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To do multi-channel recording, you\u2019ll need a sound card or external audio interface<\/strong> with sufficient Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs)<\/strong>. You might have to replace your sound card if it has only one pair of stereo ADCs to switch between when recording different audio inputs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drivers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your drivers might be a problem because most computer sound interfaces<\/strong> were designed before multi-channel recording was possible. Your driver must allow you to record more than two channels simultaneously<\/strong>, so you might need a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applications<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The application you record with must be able to support recording multiple channels<\/strong> of audio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Successive Windows versions came out with different sound interfaces:
Windows MME (Multi-Media Extensions) <\/strong>came with Windows 3.1. But it\u2019s not suitable for multi-channel recording<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DirectSound <\/strong>was introduced after Windows 95. It allows multi-channel recording<\/strong> on some devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASIO <\/strong>was introduced by Steinberg to improve audio playback. It bypassed MME, but only one application can use its audio interface at a time<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASAPI <\/strong>application programming interface (API) was introduced with Windows Vista. It allows a few multi-channel devices<\/strong> to work. But direct hardware access is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to multi-mix input channels on different platforms<\/h2>\n\n\n

  1. Windows 10<\/h2>\"How

    Windows 10<\/strong>\u00a0can mix multi-channel inputs to mono<\/strong>. You can play everything combined through both speakers or use one earbud. The mono audio option is built into<\/strong> Windows 10 settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

    To find this option, click the Start<\/em> button and select <\/span>Settings<\/b><\/em>. Then, click <\/span>Ease of Access<\/b><\/em> in Settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Click <\/span>Other option<\/em><\/strong>s<\/em> <\/strong>in the sidebar. On newer versions of Windows 10, select <\/span>Audio <\/b><\/em>under <\/span>Hearing<\/b><\/em> in the sidebar. Scroll down, and you\u2019ll find <\/span>Mono audio<\/b><\/em> under <\/span>Audio options<\/b>. Turn it <\/span>On. <\/b>Turn it off if you want to disable this and go back to standard stereo audio. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  2. Windows 7 and 8<\/h2>\"How

    Older versions of Windows, including Windows 7 and 8<\/strong>, can\u2019t mix both stereo tracks to mono<\/strong> without third-party software<\/strong>. You can use <\/span>VoiceMeeter<\/b><\/a> free on any Windows version. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  3. macOS<\/h2>\"How

    macOS<\/strong> is standardized on the <\/span>Core Audio <\/b>sound interface.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Another way to do multi-channel recordings is to set up an <\/span>Aggregate Device<\/b>. It will allow you to use audio inputs and outputs from different devices simultaneously with <\/span>Logic Pro, GarageBand, MainStage<\/b>, and other Core Audio-compliant applications. An Aggregate Device combines inputs and outputs from multiple devices<\/strong>, so they appear as a single device in an app. One way to set it up is with <\/span>Soundflower<\/b><\/a>, <\/b>Audio MIDI<\/b>,<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Audacity<\/b><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 1\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Go to <\/span>System Preferences<\/em> -> Sound<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

    You can use the internal mic as your input and headphones as your output to record.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 2<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Start Soundflower.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Click the menu bar, and choose <\/span>Audio Setup<\/i><\/b> from the popup menu. You\u2019ll need a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) application<\/strong> for multi-channel recording. We installed <\/span>Ardour<\/b>. Download and open it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    You will then see the <\/span>Audio MIDI<\/b> setup application. From here, create an Aggregate Device<\/strong> by clicking on the + icon on the bottom left.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 3<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Set your input<\/strong> as your Aggregate Device, and pass that as output to Soundflower (2 Ch).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 4<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Start Audacity<\/strong> and select <\/span>Soundflower<\/span><\/i> as the input. This should move your audio inputs into Audacity, where you can funnel multi-channel audio to mono. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  4. Linux<\/h2>\"How

    Most new development for Linux uses ALSA<\/strong> as a sound interface rather than the older OSS. You can also do a multi-channel recording with a DAW<\/strong> (Digital Audio Workstation) application like <\/span>Ardour<\/b> in <\/span>Linux Mint<\/b>. You must connect your miniDSP device via USB.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    To start Ardour, find it in <\/span>Sound & Video<\/b> in the main menu (your version of Linux may differ). When Ardour starts, set the following parameters.<\/span><\/p>\n

    On the next screen, type 8<\/em> for <\/span>Create Tracks <\/b>and click OK<\/em>.<\/span> <\/b>Press the record and play buttons<\/em>.<\/span> <\/b>Ardour will record all 8 input channels. Mix and export it in mono.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ol><\/div>