Stereo Panning In Logic Pro X: A Guide

Panning in Logic Pro X is a feature that allows you to position audio tracks in a virtual space, giving the impression that different tracks are coming from different areas around the listener's head. This effect is particularly noticeable when using stereo headphones. Logic Pro offers three types of panning: stereo pan, balance, and binaural pan. The default setting is balance, which is used for mono tracks with a single audio signal. Stereo pan, on the other hand, takes into account both channels of audio on stereo tracks, making it useful for stereo-recorded instruments like keyboards. The third option, binaural pan, allows for three-dimensional positioning of audio sources.

Stereo Pan vs Balance

The Logic Pro X Stereo Pan feature gives your mixes the width they deserve. The Stereo Pan feature is used for stereo tracks, which are two signals. The Balance feature, on the other hand, is used for mono tracks, which are single audio signals.

Balance

The Balance feature is the default setting for stereo tracks in Logic Pro X. When you adjust the balance knob, you are choosing how much of the left or right signal you want to keep. For example, turning the knob all the way to the left mutes the right side, rather than panning both sides to the left. Balance is perfect for mono sources and stereo if you want to leave the part untouched.

Stereo Pan

The Stereo Pan feature allows you to place the position of the stereo signal across the stereo field. You can adjust the width of the stereo signal, making it wider or thinner. Stereo Pan is similar to having two pan pots, allowing you to truly pan a source in stereo from left to right.

When to Use Each Feature

Both features are useful and it is up to the user to decide which one to use. However, there are some cases where one feature may be preferred over the other. For example, if you don't want to have phase issues, the Balance feature is preferred as the Stereo Pan feature can create phase issues when panning left. Additionally, if you have a sound that has one channel that is too loud, the Balance feature is more useful as it allows you to decrease the volume on that channel. On the other hand, if you have a stereo recorded keyboard, the Stereo Pan feature can be very useful.

Stereo panning mono tracks

When working with mono tracks in Logic Pro X, the pan knob behaves differently compared to stereo tracks. While the knob may look identical for both mono and stereo tracks, its functionality is distinct for each type.

For mono tracks, the pan knob allows you to place instruments left, right, or anywhere in between, a process known as panning. This gives you the ability to expand the stereo width of your mix and creatively position elements within the stereo field.

To access the panning feature for mono tracks, right-click on the panner above the fader in the mixer window. This will open a box with three options: "stereo pan", "balance", and "binaural pan". Select "balance", as this is the appropriate setting for mono tracks with a single audio signal.

By adjusting the balance knob, you can control the balance between the left and right channels. Turning the knob all the way to the left mutes the right side, while turning it to the right mutes the left side. This allows you to pan mono tracks effectively within the stereo field.

It is important to note that the behaviour of the pan knob in Logic Pro X has changed with version 10.3. In previous versions, Logic users had to rely on plugins like the Direction Mixer to achieve true stereo panning. However, with the latest update, a true stereo pan knob is now available within a stereo track's channel strip.

To access the true stereo panning feature, simply Control-click on the pan knob to reveal three new options: "Stereo Pan", "Balance", and "Binaural Pan". Select "Stereo Pan" to achieve the desired panning effect for your mono tracks.

With the Stereo Pan option, you can now intuitively adjust the panning and stereo width of your mono tracks using the pan knob and its handles. This provides a more streamlined and user-friendly experience compared to the previous workarounds.

Tips for Effective Panning

• Experiment with different panning positions for instruments to add interest and creativity to your mixes.
• For hard-panned rhythm guitars or percussion, consider panning complementary sounds in the same frequency range to the opposite side of the stereo spectrum.
• When working with stereo bass sounds, consider converting them to mono and keeping the pan knobs centred to maintain focus and compatibility with mono listening systems.
• For stereo tracks that you wish to keep in stereo, centre the stereo pan knob to avoid phasing issues and ensure mono compatibility.

Stereo panning stereo tracks

Stereo panning in Logic Pro X is a little different from mono panning. While the pan knob looks identical for both mono and stereo tracks, they function differently.

The pan knob for a mono track will pan the track from left to right. However, the default function of the pan knob for a stereo track is to balance the levels of the left and right channels. So, turning the knob all the way to the left will mute the right channel, rather than panning both channels to the left.

To achieve true stereo panning on a stereo track, you need to use the Direction Mixer plugin. The Direction knob will give you true stereo panning, allowing you to tilt both the left and right channels to the left or right. The Stereo Spread knob allows you to adjust the stereo width of the track, making it wider or tighter.

With the release of Logic Pro X 10.3, a true stereo pan knob was added to the stereo track's Channel Strip. To access it, Control-click the Pan knob to reveal three options: Balance (the default), Stereo Pan, and Binaural Pan. With Stereo Pan selected, you can now use the Pan knob to achieve true stereo panning, and adjust the stereo width using the left and right-most handles.

To invert the left and right channels, Command-click the Stereo Pan dial—the ring will turn orange. To move both white handles by the same amount, drag vertically on the green ring.

Binaural panning

To set up binaural panning for a track, go to the Stereo Out box in the Inspector window and select Binaural Pan instead of Pan or Balance. You will then see a tiny binaural panner that indicates both pan direction and stereo width. You can also adjust the distance of the sound source from the listener by moving a green dot or puck closer to or further from the centre of the circle.

The Mode selector in the binaural panning window defaults to Planar, which means the panner moves the sound over the surface of an imaginary disc centred at the listener. If you select Spherical instead, the sound will move over the surface of an imaginary sphere centred on the listener, with the distance parameter changing the diameter of the sphere.

In addition to the usual left and right panning, binaural panning in Logic Pro X also allows you to pan sounds forward, backward, up, and down. This is achieved through the use of tilt and offset parameters, which reflect the height of the sound source. You can also adjust the stereo width to make the sound source appear wider or more focused.

While binaural panning can create a more immersive soundscape, it is important to note that it works best with headphones. Reflections from a room can ruin the effect when played over speakers, as high frequencies are bounced back to the listener's ears, spoiling the illusion of sounds coming from behind. Therefore, it is recommended to use standard left/right panning for the main parts of your track and utilise binaural panning for ambient textures, subtle percussion, and delay trails that will only be noticed by headphone listeners.

Panning and stereo width

The Stereo Pan feature allows you to place the position of the stereo signal across the stereo field, providing more control over the stereo image. You can adjust the width of the stereo signal, making it wider or thinner, by clicking inside the green bar and dragging it up or down. This is especially useful for stereo-recorded instruments, such as a keyboard.

The default "Balance" option is suitable for mono tracks with a single audio signal. It allows you to decide how much of the left or right signal you want to keep. Turning the Stereo Balance knob to the left mutes the right side, rather than panning both sides to the left.

For more complex panning arrangements, the "Binaural Pan" option is available, although this is best experienced with headphones.

To access these panning options in Logic Pro X, right-click or ctrl-click on the pan pot you want to work with in the channel strip.

With these panning options, you can get creative with your placement of elements in the stereo field, adding interest and uniqueness to your mixes.

Frequently asked questions