Here's a simple example on how you can create very high quality Stereo AIFF files by using Virtual Composer's "Mix Mono to Stereo..." file command.
If you save your final piece as an AIFF file, you will notice the QuickTime dialog that allows you to specify the output options for the file. These are, the File Use (mono/stereo), the Sample Size (8 bits/16 bits) and the Sample Rate (44.1kHz, etc)
Due to the fact that VC puts all the music into one QuickTime track, the stereo option creates a stereo AIFF file, but both left and right channels (speakers) contain identical data. So the file is, in effect mono.
There are two ways to create a true stereo file from output by VC:
1) Open an example file, say "Fugue XX". It has 4 logical voices/channels. First we need to decide which logical channel (in music) will go into which physical channel (speaker). Stereo AIFF files have 2 physical channels (corresponding to left/right speakers on the Mac). So, let us assume that we want logical channels 1, 2 and 3 from the fugue to go into the right physical channel, and logical channels 2, 3 and 4 to go into the left physical channel.
2) Goto "Play->Activate Channel-n" menu, and uncheck channel 4. This will leave only the logical channels 1, 2 and 3 active.
3) Select "File->Save As..." and for the format, select "AIFF". Name this AIFF file, Fugue XX_ch1+2+3.aif". Click "Save". VC will begin the process of creating the AIFF file.
4) At the end of the creation process, you will see the QuickTime File Option Dialog. Select "mono" for use, and "16-bits" for sample size and leave the sample rate as is, then click OK.
5) After the file is created, (it may take a while) go back to "Play->Activate Channel->n" and check channel 1, after you uncheck channel 4.
6) Select "File->Save As..." and for the format, select "AIFF". Name the second AIFF file, Fugue XX_ch2+3+4.aif". Click "Save". VC will begin the process of creating the AIFF file.
7) Again, at the end of the creation process, you will see again the QuickTime File Option Dialog. Select "mono" for use, and "16-bits" for sample size and leave the sample rate as is, then click OK.
Now you have two options: Use an AIFF editing program such as Felt Tip Sound Studio <http://www.felttip.com/products/soundstudio> to create a new stereo AIFF file and to copy/paste the contents of the two output AIFFs by VC into the corresponding channels of the Stereo AIFF, using the fact that Felt Tip Sound Studio has the capability to edit the two channels independently. However, this assumes that you have Sound Studio at your disposal, so I don't consider it a neat solution. I sat forth, therefore, and created a simple mini mono->stereo mixer for AIFF files, that does exactly that, for your convienience.
So the second option is of course far easier:
8) After the second file is created, (it may take a while), goto "Play->Mix Mono to Stereo..." and you will be prompted for two AIFF files. Select the two files that you created: "Fugue XX_ch1+2+3.aif" and "Fugue XX_ch2+3+4.aif".
9) The program will start converting the two mono AIFFs into a single stereo AIFF of double the size of the originals.
10) When the process ends, you can listen to the newly created stereo file, by selecting "Play->AIFF/AIFC".
That's it. It's that simple. Note, that I selected channels 1, 2 and 3 to go into the right speaker and channels 2, 3 and 4 to go into the left speaker. You don't really need to abide by those rules! You can put ANY logical channel into any physical channel you want. For example, you can activate channels 1 and 3 to go into the right speaker, and channels 2 and 4 to go into the left speaker. The combinations are too many to list here. You can even include a logical channel in both speakers, by leaving it activated in both the AIFFs you create. This will make this particular channel a bit more audible. Try the instructions above on the 5 voice fugue "Fugue XXII" and select a strange combination like channels 1, 3 and 5 into right speaker, and channels 2, 3 and 4 into the left speaker. The Fughetta is also impressive in Stereo. Try channels 1+2 into the right channel and channels 2+3 into the left. On Fugue V, try channels 1+2+3 on the right speaker and 2+3+4 on the left.
Note that you can reverse the speaker channels, by reversing the order of file selection in the subsequent dialogs of the "Play->Mix Mono to Stereo" command. This means that the file you pick first, will go to the right speaker. The second file will go to the left. Reversing the order, -i.e. picking the second file first- will naturally reverse the speaker order.
