Final Cut Pro - Two Types of Audio Files

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There are two ways you can capture audio into Final Cut Pro...

There are two ways you can capture, or ingest, audio into Final Cut Pro: dual-channel mono or stereo.

Dual-channel mono (the top icon) means there is no link between the two tracks. Both tracks are panned center and the audio levels between the two clips are independent.

Stereo (the bottom icon) means there is a link between the two tracks. The top track is panned left, the bottom track is panned right and the audio levels of the two tracks are linked so that as you raise or lower on, the other moves by the same amount.

You can easily change the mode by clicking the little "cassette" icon, to toggle from one mode to the other.

You should use dual-channel mono audio for interviews, or anything where you don't care about the left-or-rightness of the sound.

You should use stereo for music, or sound effects, or in those situations where you care about the placement of sound in space.