Used an XLR input on EX1 for shotgun mic and also recorded the internal sound from the camera. When importing I selected the 'split mono and grouped stereo option' thinking that the audio would be split the two separate channel when in FCPX. If I select a clip and look at the audio properties the Channel Config is Stereo. I can however select dual mono and that gives me the two separate mono channels. Why doesn't it default to dual mono?

Also if I edit a clip into the Storyline and select detach audio it gives me a single audio containing clip and its only until I then select 'break apart audio' that it gives me the two separate audio channels. I take it that just the way it is having an audio compound clip (but not a compound clip) that contains any audio linked to the clip?

Since both mics record the same audio, FCP X will see them as a stereo pair. It will only make them dual mono if they have different audio on each channel, as in the wave forms don't match at all.

In the Inspector, Audio tab, go down to the bottom in the "Channel Configuration" section, you can configure the channels as you wish, even disabling one of them if you'd like. But you can't pan dual mono in the Inspector, which I've filled out the feedback page about. For that you need to make them dual mono, drop into a Timeline, the break it apart, and you'll get the two mono audio clips right away.

There was different audio on each channel. First scenario was internal mic & Sennheiser G3 transmitter and receiver (two separate sources) second, internal & separate NT2 into XLR input.
That is why I thought it odd that in the Inspector they came in as being labelled Stereo.

I could like we both have mentioned then change the Channel Config to dual mono.

Yeah, if you have two different people talking separately on each channel, FCPX should analyze that (when the option is checked) and configure it as dual mono.

It didn't hence the post.

I selected the split mono tracks before importing to. It's not a massive deal but another little annoyance.