Stereo Guitar Rig: Worth The HASSLE? Here's Why MONO Is Better

[@VirgilMaralit]

thank you for this. I appreciate your perspective and advice

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thank you for watching!

[@markkartchner5614]

Thank you Justin you always do a great job! I meant stereo with boss GP-10-Nova delay and Oceans 12 verb. I live the sound but I could never hear it in the mono IEMs. Our sound guy does send stereo to the congregation and it sounds beautiful out there. I had to put a little mixer in my board where I mix my stereo signal with the band’s IEM send and now I’m very happy with it. 🎧

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Hi Mark, thanks for the kind words! Excellent tip, you using a little mixer to blend your stereo with the mono IEM signal! I have one lying around too, I should see if I can integrate it into the electric guitar corner on stage...

[@joemiller9856]

Great video, thanks! I use the Headrush which also has lush effects that get crushed in the house. We are a silent stage worship team. I’m going to look at implementing your suggestions to provide a wider and cleaner sound by splitting the chain, etc. blessings, Joe

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thank you for the kind words, Joe! I hope my content is useful for you! Ah, the silent stage worship team...I miss a live amp next to me every now and then, to be honest.

[@benhitcham3291]

Thanks for the vid Justin. With setting the dual delay block to trick the stereo imaging, a dumb question.. are you still running 1 cable out or still 2 cables out?

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Hi Ben, thanks for checking the video out! Oh, with the stereo enhancer trick, it assumes 2 cables running out to a stereo FOH. If you're running pure mono, I'd advise turning that stereo enhancer block off, and running one cable to FOH.

[@erickdiaz6152]

Which studio monitors do you recommend for a new user of Line 6 HX stuff. I want to keep using mono, and I want an affordable way of accurately hearing my patch sounds, in my bedroom.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Hi! I'm biased towards headphones (Sony MDR7506) which I use all the time, but I think for a live, accurate sound in the room, I'd go with FRFR speakers like the Headrush or Line 6 Power Cab.

[@JeffHendricks]

I've gone back and forth for years... listening to it in a room, stereo sounds fantastic. Recording in a studio, it works well if used sparingly. But most sanctuaries aren't set up for proper stereo imaging, and the hassles of trying to iron out phase issues, etc. means it's more trouble than it's worth.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

You’ve hit the nail in the head! Unless I’m using some extreme panning effect (like hard panned ping pong delays), I’ve always had to go mono in church sound systems.

[@wizardito7741]

Why i use stereo? (With the mimiq pedal or the new feature of double tracking in helix) because THE FINAL MIXING. but this have some problems. I always record from mixers (mine or from the sound guy) to have a take of the venue, then we analize it with my band members or we upload it. The problem is: i am the only guitarist (lead and rythm) so when i played in mono, the sound guys pan me to the center OR to one side, this have issues (in mono) with the bass, vocals and kick drum, figthing for space; and if they pan me to one side, it sounds weak, and feels empty with a lonely guitar in one side (here someone could say, hey use a delay and pan it to the other side! but that doesn't work, because 1: hass effect, 2: if i use a delay for a solo or ambience, they stack each other). So using the helix new update or the mimiq, i can bring them two xlr with separate signals, so they pan me hard L&R, final product? A much more fuller mix, full stereo, with guitars panned and plenty of space for the other instruments. BUT, the issue comes from fronter house AND monitoring. A lot of places dont have stereo PA to the audience and musicians, so using double tracking gives you phase issues, in the best case, the PA to audience is stereo, but stage monitors are mono, so neither you or your musicans can hear you beacause phase 🤷🏽‍♂️ Big dilemma is: do i play in mono, at the cost of weak, bad or odd final mix? Or do i play stereo, with monitoring problems, but great, fuller and good sounding mix?

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful perspective! And I totally relate to the dilemma. I've been ok with playing in stereo because the in-ear monitoring system in my church is pretty decent, allowing for true stereo in-ear mixes. Although, as for venues with mono sound systems, I can agree with the logic behind it: if instruments are mixed and panned like in the recording studio, with the guitars on the left or right, the audience at the opposite end is not going to be able to hear them. Getting a uniform sound for everyone to hear in a venue is a supremely tricky business.

[@ShreddingFinn]

It's a WHOLE LOT OF WORK just to hear a 1/4 delay on one side and dotted 1/8 on the other, and maybe a touch of reverb modulation. I gotta call ahead "hey do I have room to run stereo" "hey sound guy make sure I'm panned left and right" but you still have to admit when done on point it's really nice even live. That said I haven't ran stereo in a couple months at least, but I'm glad I experimented with it. I would need separate patches for stereo, if you just sum to mono with stereo delays with one cable you get extra delay artifacts.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Ah, a great tip for all: calling your sound guy before hand! I totally agree with you, and just to add to those extra delay artifacts, I get accidental phase cancellation, especially if I turn on a chorus in a non-mono optimized patch!

[@larryboeding240]

After trying stereo it’s hard to go back! I run it at our church and it works awesome in house and on live stream.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Glad to hear your sound system and crew worked to make stereo guitar possible for you! You're blessed!

[@larryboeding240]

@@AllAboutWorshipGuitar so blessed in many ways!! To God all the glory!!

[@JeffHendricks]

Another problem I've run into with stereo wet chains is some pedal brands (I'm looking at you, TC) have the jacks so close together, you have to get special cables to make them fit. Not fun.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

I can totally relate. The only cables plugs that work are those thin and skinny straight plugs, no chance of using right angled connectors like pancakes! Or they deliberately make you buy special TRS-2x TS cables (looking at you, Strymon!).

[@JeffHendricks]

@@AllAboutWorshipGuitar The struggle is real! ;)

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

I forgot to mention I have a Plethora X5, which has the exact problem you've cited, haha!

[@JeffHendricks]

@@AllAboutWorshipGuitar I have an Alter Ego and a HoF2, same problem. I had to use Ernie Ball/EBS flat cables to wire them in stereo.

[@davidfloresofficial]

All mono for pod go? Please ? Lol

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

I don't think we can choose mono or stereo versions of the blocks. Some blocks are stereo by default like the delay and reverb, unless placed in front of a mono block (like an amp) which then mono-sums the block.

[@lukewalker3905]

Luke Hendrickson wants to know your location haha

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

I'd gladly receive him in our church to train our sound crews and to work his magic on our sound system!