When to convert mono vs stereo
- Stereo → Mono: 50% smaller files. Better for voice recordings, podcasts, and phone-speaker playback where stereo separation is wasted.
- Mono → Stereo: Required by some upload pipelines that reject mono. Channel data is duplicated — no actual stereo info added.
How stereo-to-mono mixing works
The tool averages left and right channels: mono = (L + R) / 2. This preserves both sides equally but kills any left/right panning effects. Good for centered content like dialog; sub-optimal for music with hard-panned instruments.