Ella Walter
Panning drums is the process of placing a drum sound in a particular position in the left or right channel of a stereo image. This technique can make your drum sound fill an entire room and is crucial for creating a surround-sound effect. There are two main perspectives to choose from when panning drums: the audience's perspective and the drummer's perspective. The audience's perspective is often chosen for video-oriented recordings, while the drummer's perspective is typically used for audio-only recordings. The kick drum is usually placed in the centre of the stereo image, while other drums and percussion instruments like the snare, toms, cymbals, and hi-hats are panned to the sides to create a spacious and wide sound.
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What You'll Learn
- The kick drum should always be panned centrally
- The snare drum can be left unpanned or slightly off-centre
- The hi-hat can be panned from the drummer's or audience's perspective
- The tom drums can be panned to create more dynamics
- Panning from the drummer's or audience's perspective depends on the recording
The kick drum should always be panned centrally
Panning is a crucial technique for creating a full and wide drum sound. It involves placing each drum in a particular position in the stereo image, from the left to the right channel. The kick drum is typically the most impactful element in a drum mix and should always be panned centrally. This means it will be at 12 o'clock or dead centre, also referred to as 0 on the panning knob or stereo image. This is because the kick drum forms the centre line of the drum mix, providing a sense of focus and purpose to the overall sound.
When panning drums, there are two main perspectives to choose from: the drummer's perspective and the audience's perspective. The drummer's perspective involves panning the drums as they would be seen and heard by the drummer, from left to right. Many drummers prefer this style as it feels more natural to them. The audience's perspective, on the other hand, involves panning the drums as they would be heard by the audience, facing the drummer. This perspective is often chosen by audio engineers and is useful for drum covers and third-person videos as it matches the listener's viewpoint.
While the kick drum is usually panned centrally, other drums such as the snare, toms, cymbals, and hi-hats can be panned to the left or right to create a spacious and wide-sounding kit. For example, the floor tom, being the largest tom, is typically placed opposite the hi-hat, so it is often panned about 30% left. The rack toms, being smaller and mounted, can be panned 15% left and right to create a nice natural spread. The overhead microphones, which pick up the cymbals, are panned hard left and right to capture the entire kit.
It is important to note that the specific panning positions can vary depending on the number of drums in the kit and the desired sound. For example, in sparser mixes, you can add width to the kick drum by using a short reverb or delay on an auxiliary track. Additionally, the panning technique can depend on personal preference and the specific genre or aesthetic of the music. However, one rule that remains consistent is that the kick drum should always be panned centrally to provide a solid foundation for the rest of the drum mix.
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The snare drum can be left unpanned or slightly off-centre
Panning is a crucial technique to make your drum sound fill the entire room and sound massive. It involves placing a drum in a particular position in the left or right channel of your stereo image.
The kick drum is always panned in the centre of the stereo field, at 0 or 12:00, and does not require panning. The snare drum can also be left without panning, at 12:00, or in the middle of the stereo image. However, some engineers prefer to have the snare drum slightly off-centre, not exceeding +/-20% left or right (between 11:00 and 1:00).
If you want to create a bigger stereo image, you can pan the snare drum a little farther away from the centre to the right side. This will make your kit sound more spacious. For instance, you can pan the overhead mic above the snare drum 50% to the right for an ideal balance. You can also try a technique where you layer three equal drum sounds on top of each other and pan one of them close to the far right (between +80 and 90), one close to the far left (between -80 and 90), and leave one exactly in the middle. This will create a very spacious and impressive sound.
The choice of panning perspective is important when deciding where to pan the snare drum. You can pan from the listener's or audience's perspective, which is preferred for video-oriented recordings. Alternatively, you can pan from the drummer's perspective, which is the way to go for audio-only recordings.
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The hi-hat can be panned from the drummer's or audience's perspective
There are two main perspectives to consider when panning drums: the drummer's perspective and the audience's perspective. The former involves panning the drums from the drummer's point of view, while the latter involves panning from the perspective of someone watching the drummer play.
When panning from the drummer's perspective, the hi-hat is typically placed on the far right, as this is more natural to them. This style is preferred by many drummers. However, when panning from the audience's perspective, the hi-hat is kept on the right side to maintain the sound that the audience is accustomed to hearing. This perspective is often chosen by audio engineers as it provides a listening experience akin to witnessing a live band performance.
The choice between these two perspectives depends on the desired outcome. If the goal is to create a surround sound experience that makes the listener feel like they are in the room with the drums, panning from the audience's perspective might be more suitable. On the other hand, if the goal is to provide an immersive listening experience from the drummer's point of view, the drummer's perspective would be preferred.
It is worth noting that there is no industry standard for panning drums, and the decision may ultimately come down to personal preference. Some engineers prefer to pan the drums in a way that matches the on-screen drum positioning in music videos or concert visuals. Additionally, the positioning of the drum kit pieces can vary among drummers, so there can be no rigid rule about the side of the hi-hat.
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The tom drums can be panned to create more dynamics
Panning drums is a crucial technique to make your drum sound fill the entire room and give it a professional, open sound. The kick drum and snare drum are usually placed in the centre of the sound, so they do not require panning. However, tom drums, cymbals, and other percussion instruments can be panned to either side of the stereo image to create more dynamics and a spacious sound.
When panning tom drums, it is important to consider the perspective you are panning from. You can pan from the audience's perspective, which means the drums will be panned in the direction of how the audience would hear the sounds if the drummer is playing in front of them. This is the preferred method for audio-visual content, as it matches the perspective of the viewer.
Alternatively, you can pan from the drummer's perspective, which is panning from left to right as the drummer sees it. This is the preferred method for audio-only recordings, as it is more natural for the drummer and can create a more immersive listening experience.
The amount of panning applied to the tom drums can vary depending on the desired sound. For example, the floor tom, which is the largest tom that sits on the ground, can be placed around 30% left or right, while the rack toms, which are medium-sized and mounted on the kit, can be placed at 15% left and right. This creates a nice, natural spread when all the toms are played in succession.
Additionally, the overhead microphones can be panned hard left and right to capture the cymbals and add further depth to the stereo image.
Ultimately, the panning technique for tom drums depends on personal preference and the desired sound. It is important to experiment with different panning positions to find the best fit for your specific drum kit and musical context.
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Panning from the drummer's or audience's perspective depends on the recording
Panning drums is a crucial technique to make the drum sound fill the entire room. There are two perspectives to pan drums: the audience's perspective and the drummer's perspective. There is no right or wrong way to pan drums, and it depends on the recording and the sonic portrait being painted with the mix.
Drummer's Perspective
When panning from the drummer's perspective, the drums are placed in the left or right channel of the stereo image, as seen from the drummer's point of view. Many drummers prefer this style since it's more natural to them. For example, if you want to pan a hi-hat from the drummer's perspective, you can place it on the far right. Additionally, some engineers prefer to pan from this perspective as it would be more like listening to the band live for the listener.
Audience's Perspective
Panning from the audience's perspective involves placing the drums in the left or right channel of the stereo image, as if the audience is watching the drummer play in front of them. This perspective is often chosen by audio engineers as it creates a more natural feel for the listener. For example, if you are panning a hi-hat from the audience's perspective, you would place it on the right side to match what the audience typically hears.
Factors Affecting Panning Perspective
The choice of panning perspective depends on the desired sonic portrait and the type of recording. For instance, if the goal is to create a virtual garage or stage where the listener is in the middle of the band, panning from the drummer's perspective might be preferred. On the other hand, if the intention is to build a soundscape where the listener is in a large space with the band at a distance, panning from the audience's perspective may be more suitable. Additionally, the panning perspective can vary depending on the song and the drummer's setup, such as left-handed or non-traditional configurations.
In conclusion, panning from the drummer's or audience's perspective depends on the recording, the desired sound, and the specific requirements of each song. Both perspectives have their advantages and can be creatively and effectively utilised to enhance the overall drum sound and the listener's experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Panning drums means placing them in a particular position in the left or right channel of your stereo image.
The kick drum should always be panned to the centre (12:00 or 0 on the stereo image) as it forms the core of your beat.
The snare drum is typically also panned to the centre, but some engineers prefer to have it slightly off centre (between 11:00 and 1:00).
The hi-hat can be panned from the drummer's perspective (left) or the audience's perspective (right). For a right-handed drummer, the hi-hat is often placed around 30% to the right, but it can be moved further right or to the left to balance the mix.
