Hack your stereo patches to mono or vice versa.

[SaschaFranck]

I wanted to post this quite a while ago already but only got reminded of it right now through a post on TGP.

 

Fwiw: I forgot about posting it because basically my way to convert stereo to mono and the other way around is to simply use the stereo versions (as long as CPU power allows for it) and add some mono block (gain uses the least ressources) behind it. On a sidenote: That's also a great idea if you want to check your patches for mono compatibility through headphones because unlike what's done when using just the left TRS/XLR outs, namely merging L/R into a mono signal, this isn't an option on the headphone out (I actually wish there was such an option, should be super trivial to program).

 

Anyhow, here's how to do it for individual blocks (note: this will only work in case the blocks are actually providing mono and stereo operation, which some don't. Amps and such are always mono, the legacy reverb/delays are always stereo, just as some examples).

- Export the patch to your computer.

- Open the file with a plain text editor (any should do).

- In the text file, search for "stereo". You may find some lines looking like this:

"@model" : "HD2_DelayModChorusEcho",
 "@stereo" : true,

- Replace the word "true" with "false" and save the file.

- Load the file via HX Edit, done.

 

Ok, why would you do this? Easy: When you change any block from stereo to mono (or vice versa), the settings will be lost and replaced with the block's default settings. All snapshot controls will be lost, too. With the text file "hack", these will be preserved.

 

Maybe that's useful to some of you.

 

Fwiw: This is something that should be adressed by Line 6. If all that is required to change a block from stereo to mono while retaining its settings is a such a simple modification, this should be absolutely trivial to implement straight in HX Edit.

Fwiw #2: For me personally, preserved settings would make even more sense when changing a block from "Amp+Cab" to just "Amp". In fact, that's something I often do, as I like to start out with A+C but often find myself replacing the cab with an IR or using the same cab for two different amps. I may have a look whether that is "hackable" through a text editor as well. But we shouldn't have to go through such hoops.