stereo channels vs stereo linking

[john]

So our Hammond player just purchased an amazing digital leslie. Thus, rather than miking his real leslie and running it in mono for gigs, we now have a line level stereo signal (which sounds incredible). I use the qu-pac and am wondering if there’s any benefit in linking two regular input channels or if I get the same control by simply using one of the stereo inputs (stereo input 1 or 2).

Thanks for any insight!

[mervaka]

The main difference is in the pan knob. Two linked mono channels will inversely gang the pan, effectively giving you a width control. A stereo channel will give you a balance control.

[DoctorG]

This most likely doesn’t apply in your case, but just FYI, we use a lot of CD accompaniment, and we bring the two channels in on two un-linked channels. We also run our system in mono and seldom use the pan control.

For split-track pieces, the operator can easily mute or turn down the vocal channel using the channel mute or fader, rather than having to select the channel and use the pan control. Since the music is sent pre-fader to stage monitors, the mute button is used to mute vocals.

The disadvantage is that this requires two channels whereas using one of the stereo channels uses one fader and the pan control.

[Gordon]

Just to clarify…
If you run your house system in stereo and link two input channels together, you must remember to pan the left one hard left, (causing the right one to automatically pan itself hard right). If you don’t, you will essentially have two linked mono channels that are both panned center.

[john]

So at the gig last night, I went with the stereo 1 channel. It worked perfect. Great stereo balance that we never had before when using a single mic on a real leslie. Also, it can’t go without saying that digital technology has truly caught up with the analog music world. The qu-pac is a good example. But the Leslie midi/synth program may have been an even better example. It was a $50 program running from a cheap laptop tucked in the corner. It sounded better than the real Leslie in a live situation (incredible realism and with line-in there was obviously no mics needed, no bleed from all the other instruments on stage, and it was very easy to carve out space with EQ for bass, kick and guitars much like in a studio setting rather than a live situation). And the processing, power, sound, etc… seems to get cheaper and better by the day. love it…

[Author]

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