Re: Stereo Aux vs Mono Aux and Turning that Mono into stereo via a stereo Plugin
actually what the plugins do in mono->stereo vs Stereo->Stereo should be your bigger concern. Most "stereo" plugins aren't true stereo, especially when it comes to verb. So you are better off, in some instances, using a mono->stereo plugin. If the verb isn't true stereo, it basically mixing the left and right together inside the plugin anyway. For example, altiverb has mono->stereo, stereo, and <stereo>Stereo. The first two are identical, the third is a "true stereo" where there is a different impulse response for the left and right sides and the inputs don't get crossed/summed at all. A lot of hardware reverb units are like this too. Older lexicons and TC units that have stereo ins aren't always discrete stereo throughout. Some patches might be, others might not be.
I always try to use mono busses and mono->stereo aux plugins whenever possible because it saves on resources and in most cases, it doesn't make a difference to the plugin. Actually, sometimes I'll use Mono plugins as well for certain things like a snare verb or a small ambience or short delay on a lead vocal.
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