I want to identify which tracks on a CD are mono and which are stereo for ripping purposes. Can anyone help?

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Obviously, ripping in mono in cheaper, and a lot of my CDs seem to contain mono tracks, but they arn't listed in the CD booklet. I'd like a little program that can tell me which is which, but I can't seem to find one anywhere (used all the usual suspects to search one out). Anyone got any ideas where I could find such a utility?

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Saturday, 27 December 2003 11:25 (twenty-one years ago)

This may not be very helpful but I would just listen on headphones. If you cannot detect any difference in the left and right then it's mono. When I say 'detect' I mean just listen to it carefully and try to discern any instruments that are panned off centre and also listen to the reverb/effects and again try to spot any spread to it rather than it seeming like it's all in the centre of your head. That's how I do it. It helps if you have a mono/stereo switch on your amp or mixer of course so you can flip back and forth - any differences will then be obvious.

― David (David), Saturday, 27 December 2003 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

You just need a program that can rip a CD track into a stereo WAV, then separate the channels as individual mono WAVs and, from there, can compare the two WAVs to see if they're identical. I'm not 100% certain what free programs can do this, but Exact Audio Copy is probably a good shot.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Saturday, 27 December 2003 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

EAC does have a 'compare wavs' function, I've just checked.

― David (David), Saturday, 27 December 2003 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Obviously, ripping in mono in cheaper

I don't understand this bit.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Saturday, 27 December 2003 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

this only makes sense if the plan is to rip them as data NOT audio as mono files will take up only half the space of stereo ones - mono audio on CD takes the same amount of space however, correct?

― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 27 December 2003 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, unless you record different tracks in each channel. Ornette Coleman to thread etc.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Saturday, 27 December 2003 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Ripping in mono takes up less space, sorry y'all.

I'll try and see what Exact Audio Copy does for me then. Cheers everyone!

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Sunday, 28 December 2003 10:26 (twenty-one years ago)

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