Simple Explanation

Sound that comes from one speaker or channel instead of multiple.

Concise Technical Definition

A single-channel audio format in which all sound signals are mixed into one path and played through a single speaker or identical signal to multiple speakers.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Like everyone at a concert singing in unison from the same spot instead of spread out across a stage.

Industry Usage Summary

Used in older recordings, phone calls, some PA systems, and for summing stereo signals. Mono ensures consistent sound across all listening positions but lacks spatial imaging.

Engineering Shortcut

One audio channel, no spatial separation.

Full Technical Explanation

Mono, short for monophonic, refers to an audio format where all sound elements are combined into a single channel and played through one speaker or duplicated across multiple speakers without any spatial separation. Unlike stereo or surround formats, mono does not provide directionality or imaging. It was the standard for early recordings and is still used today in telephony, AM radio, voiceover recording, and public address systems where clarity and intelligibility are more important than spatial realism. In modern systems, mono compatibility is also important to ensure phase coherence when stereo signals are summed.