Mono 2 Plug-In Documentation

Welcome to Mono! A quick change of perspective can reveal a lot about your mix. Listen through one speaker, explore the Mid and Side signals, and switch back to stereo to hear how everything fits together.

This guide will help you make Mono part of your everyday mixing routine. Pick a section below to get started, and visit our Frequently Asked Questions if you need a hand.

1. How to use this plugin

Insert Mono as the last plugin on your stereo mix bus.
We recommend to leave it open on a second screen along with other metering plugins during the mixing or mastering session.
Check your mix in mono on a regular basis, especially after crucial balancing, panning or spreading decisions.

2. Signal: choose what you hear

Click Stereo, Mid or Side directly. One Signal mode is always selected; there are no dropdown menus.

Stereo: the original stereo signal when all Monitor buttons are off.
Mid: (L + R) / 2, the shared center of the stereo signal.
Side: (L − R) / 2, the difference between the channels. It is auditioned as the same signal on both outputs, not as opposite-polarity speaker feeds.

3. Monitor: choose where you hear it

Left: send the selected mono signal to the left output and mute the right.
Center: send the same mono signal to both outputs (phantom mono).
Right: send the selected mono signal to the right output and mute the left.

Click the active Monitor button again to turn routing off. With Stereo selected, this restores the original stereo signal. With Mid or Side selected, that source remains audible on both outputs.

When routing the Stereo source to a Monitor destination, Mono sums L and R with −6 dB gain compensation. Mid and Side use the half-sum and half-difference formulas above.

4. Session recall and automation

Signal and Monitor settings are saved with your session. Check the selected mode when reopening a project and return to Stereo with all Monitor buttons off before exporting a stereo mix.

You can automate the Source parameter (the Signal selection) and the Left, Center and Right Monitor parameters in your DAW. When automating speaker changes, turn the previous Monitor parameter off as you turn the next one on.

5. Download

Mono is free, only a quick registration is required.

6. Installation

Mono comes with installers for Windows and Mac. If your DAW was running during installation, restart it or start a manual plugin rescan.

7. Compatibility

Mono 2.0.0 is available as AU, VST3, AAX and CLAP on macOS, and as VST3, AAX and CLAP on 64-bit Windows. Every Mac format is a Universal Binary with native Intel and Apple silicon support.

System Requirements

Windows 10 (22H2) or later, 64-bit (x64). Windows 11 recommended.
macOS 12.0 or later (Intel and Apple silicon)
DAW with support for Audio Units / VST3 / AAX / CLAP