Stereo to mono
A stereo to mono converter: the left and the right channel are mixed into one. That is enough for speech, a recording with sound on one side only then plays on both, and a mono WAV is half the size. You can change the sample rate in the same step. Nothing is uploaded: your browser does the work.
How to convert stereo to mono
- 1Drop an audio file in, or click to choose one
- 2Check "Channels": it is already set to "Mono (one channel)"
- 3Pick a sample rate and a format if you want to change those too
- 4Click "Convert" and save the result
- One channel instead of two, saved to your device
What happens to your files
- Nothing is uploaded.Your file is read and processed by your browser, on your own device
- Left and right, averaged.Mono is the average of the two channels, so the sound of both sides is in it
- Half the size as WAV.A mono WAV is half as large as the same recording in stereo
What you can do
- Mix a stereo file down to one channel. The tool opens with "Channels" set to "Mono (one channel)"
- Change the sample rate in the same run: 8, 16, 22.05, 32, 44.1 or 48 kHz, or leave it as it is
- Read the plan before you start: from which channels and sample rate to which, and the format the file is saved in
- Save in the format the file already has, or as MP3, M4A (AAC), WAV or OGG (Opus)
- Open MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG, OPUS, FLAC and WebM files, and the sound of MP4, MOV and MKV videos
Good to know
- A mono MP3 or M4A needs about half the bitrate for the same quality. "Same as the original" keeps the bitrate the file had, so the file does not shrink by itself. For a smaller file use Compress audio file
- Mono is the average of left and right. A recording that had sound on one side only therefore comes out quieter. Change volume makes it louder again
- If the file is already mono and you change nothing else, the tool says so and does nothing
- The sound is decoded and encoded again. A FLAC is saved as WAV, which is lossless too. OGG (Opus) is always written at 48 kHz
- It works best in desktop Chrome or Edge
Questions
How do I convert a stereo MP3 to mono?
Drop the MP3 in and click "Convert". "Channels" is already on "Mono (one channel)". The mono MP3 is saved to your device.
Does mono make the file smaller?
A WAV, yes: half the size. An MP3 or M4A is as large as its bitrate makes it, and "Same as the original" keeps that bitrate. Mono needs only about half of it for the same quality, so you can go lower with Compress audio file.
Do I lose anything when I go from stereo to mono?
The sound of both channels stays, but where it sat between left and right is gone. For speech, such as a podcast, a lecture or a dictation, that rarely matters.
Can I turn the mono file back into stereo later?
Mono to stereo puts the same sound on both channels, for players and editors that expect stereo. The old difference between left and right does not come back, so keep the original if you may need it.
Is my audio file uploaded?
No. Nothing is uploaded. The file is read and processed by your browser, on your own device.
More tools in Video & audio
That page doesn't exist. Search or drop a file below to find the tool you need.
One site for every file job. What’s yours?
Stop hopping between converter sites. Pick from 410+ tools, or a recipe that chains several.
- Files Stay On Your Device
- No watermark
- Works offline
Drop a file here
A pasted file works too.
or search for a tool
Open an app
From “ugh, this file” to done, in three steps.
- Drop it, or pick a task
No file? Search for what you need. Files are processed on your device, not uploaded for processing.
- Pick what you want
Smaller, another format, signed, merged. One click, no settings to study first.
- Make it a recipe
Need three steps in a row every week? Chain them once and run the same recipe next time.
One approved toolbox for the whole team.
In offices, on building sites and in agencies, teams handle sensitive files all day. ToolRecipe gives everyone the same tools and the same recipes, and the files are processed on each person's own computer.
- Files are processed on the employee's device
- Company recipes everyone runs the same way
- One place instead of ten converter sites