3 Effective and Easy Solutions to Convert Stereo to Mono

Q1: I have a lot of songs with different parts of a song in the left and right. In headphones, I lose half the song. This is particularly when I need to keep one ear free and cannot use both headphones. How do I change a stereo track to mono? Is there any way to change them to mono without making the quality deteriorated?

Q2: I have a Gemmy lightshow outside for Christmas entertaining and the lights don't work right with stereo songs on my MP3s. How do I switch them to mono? Is there a setting on my computer to do it?

Nowadays, most of the audio files downloaded from internet are stereo, which creates an illusion of a multi-directional audible perspective. However, there are still a great number of people who are in need of converting stereo files to mono for various purposes as described above. If you have run into the same troubles, this post compiles 3 simple solutions. Let's jump in how to change stereo to mono without hassles. Read on.

Audacity is a popular and free multiple-platform audio editor, which can also be used to switch stereo tracks to mono. Specific operation guide is as follows:

Step 1: Open the stereo to mono converter – Audacity. Click “File” and then click “Open” on the drop-down menu to import a stereo audio file into Audacity.

Step 2: Click the "Track" menu on the top, select "Mix" and then choose "Mix Stereo Down to Mono" option.

Step 3: At last, click “File” on the upper left corner and choose Export > Audio to save the converted mono audio on your PC.

Also Read: Isolate Vocals from a Song | Split Tracks in Audacity | Record YouTube with Audacity

Beyond the two options mentioned above, if you don’t like to install any software on your PC, you can choose a stereo to mono converter online. Here I recommend you use a useful and reliable online converter - Audio.online-convert.

Specific guide on converting stereo track to mono with Audio.online-convert:

Stereo (Stereophonic sound) uses two or more independent audio channels through a configuration of two or more loudspeakers to create an illusion of multi-directional audible perspective. To record stereo videos, professional technology and devices are required. Stereo audio is widely adopted in Movies, Television, Music players, FM radio stations, etc.

Mono (also known as Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction) has audio in a single channel and only one loudspeaker is needed. With basic recording equipment, mono audio files can be recorded. Mono audio is commonly used in public address system, radio talk shows, hearing aid, telephone and mobile communication, some AM radio stations and so forth.