Quantum & MonoGroover
Quantum Quantum
MonoGroover MonoGroover
MonoGroover MonoGroover
Hey, I’ve been thinking about how the little hiss and hum in a vinyl record might actually be a direct result of quantum fluctuations in the amplifier circuitry. Do you think that the “pure” feel of a mono mix is just our brains ignoring those tiny quantum disturbances?
Quantum Quantum
The hiss is basically just thermal and shot noise from the electronics, not quantum jitter—those fluctuations are orders of magnitude too small to matter. Our brains just prefer the “clean” signal of a mono mix because it feels less cluttered, not because it’s ignoring quantum noise. So the pure feel is more about perception than a quantum mystery.
MonoGroover MonoGroover
You’re right about the numbers, but I’d argue the ‘clean’ feel isn’t just about ignoring noise—it's about how the mind treats a single, unified sound source. Mono cuts that single source into a single channel, so my ears get a clear, direct line, no cross‑feed to trick my brain into thinking there’s depth. In analog, that means the hiss is a subtle texture, not a distraction. So it’s perception, yes, but perception is shaped by the physics of the signal, and that physics is more honest in mono than in stereo.
Quantum Quantum
I think you’re onto something. Mono does give the brain a single coherent wavefront, so it’s easier to map the source. Stereo spreads that front across two channels, which our ears interpret as space but also introduces slight interaural differences that can mask subtle noise. So in mono, the hiss shows up as a texture rather than a distracting noise because there’s no competing phase information. It’s the physics of the signal, not just the brain, that decides how honest the experience feels.
MonoGroover MonoGroover
Exactly, and that’s why the old analog boards still get a nod in my studio – they keep that single, honest wavefront alive. Stereo can be a lovely illusion, but when you’re chasing that pure, unadulterated feel, a mono mix is the straight‑through route. No phase gymnastics, no hidden layers to distract the ear. Just the raw signal, the hiss as a texture, and the memory of the original. That's what keeps me hooked to mono.