Topmusicanswers
Use mono for clarity. Since pads can take up a lot of stereo space, folding them down to mono and panning them to one side can help to improve clarity in a busy mix. If your pad is overshadowing the vocal or keyboards, give this a shot.
What sounds should be in mono or stereo?
Stereo isn't necessarily better than mono. Stereo sounds wider, more detailed, and more realistic. However, depending on where it's played, stereo sometimes creates phase cancellation issues that make it sound hollow, empty, and weird. Stereo is recommended when your listening environment is normal.
