Panning Guitars: The Sweet Spot

There is no definitive answer to the question of how much guitars should be panned, as it depends on the specific song and the desired sound. However, some common techniques and guidelines can be followed to achieve a balanced and full-sounding mix. One popular technique is hard panning, where guitars are panned hard left and right to create a wider and fuller sound. This is often used for heavy electric guitars in guitar-driven music and metal, but it can also be applied to other instruments like EDM synths and saxophones. Another technique is complementary panning, where two instruments occupying similar frequencies are panned slightly to opposite sides, such as 20% left and 20% right, to create a more balanced feel. It is also important to maintain an overall balance in the mix by ensuring that the energy and drive of the guitars do not overpower other elements like the lead vocal or centre-panned parts. Additionally, it is crucial to check the mix in mono to ensure that the guitars do not lose their distinctness and that the overall mix translates well to different sound systems, such as club playback systems which are often mono or functionally mono. Ultimately, the best panning blend depends on the specific song and the desired sound, and mix engineers should use their ears and confidence to make decisions that serve the music.

Hard panning

When hard panning guitars, it is important to maintain a balance in the mix. If a primary rhythm guitar is panned to one side without a balancing element on the other, the mix will "lean" to that side, sounding amateurish and distracting. To avoid this, you can use an electronic double of the guitar and pan it to the opposite side, or use another instrument with similar energy to offset the guitar. This technique also helps to create space for vocals or other centre-panned parts.

While hard panning is a powerful tool, it may not be suitable for all listening environments. In some cases, hard panning can sound odd or extreme, especially when listening on headphones or speakers that are too close together. Additionally, hard panning can cause issues when the mix is summed to mono, as all the instruments collapse to the centre. To avoid this, each instrument must have unique EQ characteristics to maintain its identity in a mono mix.

Ultimately, the decision to hard pan or not depends on the context of the song. There are no hard and fast rules in panning, and it is an art that involves experimentation and confidence. However, by following guidelines and tips, you can achieve a wide, full-sounding mix that complements the music.

Mono compatibility

Understand Phase

Phase issues are the leading cause of poor mono compatibility. When two identical signals are hard panned left and right but are entirely out of phase with each other, they will result in silence when summed to mono. This is known as phase cancellation and needs to be considered during mixing and mastering.

Identify Phase Issues

Use a phase correlation meter to identify phase issues. This tool typically has a line with a moving dot. If the dot leans towards the "-1" side, it indicates that the signal is out of phase, whereas movement towards the "+1" side means the signal is in phase. Aim for a reading close to +1 most of the time.

Start Your Mix in Mono

Some engineers prefer to start their mix in mono, creating a solid foundation before introducing stereo effects. This approach ensures that your mix already sounds good in mono and will only improve when the stereo field is added.

Pan Elements in Mono

Panning elements in mono can help you find space for them in a dense mix. By panning the out-of-place elements across the stereo field while listening in mono, you can easily find the sweet spot where they fit neatly.

Record Multiple Takes

Recording multiple takes of the same part, such as a guitar riff, and panning them hard left and right can create a wide stereo image. However, be mindful that this approach may cause phase issues when summed to mono.

Embrace Phase Cancellation

Sometimes, it's okay to lose stereo information as long as you accommodate for it. For example, you can pan two identical signals left and right but entirely out of phase to create a broad stereo image. To ensure something is still present in mono, place a third recording of the same part dead center in your mix.

Panning Width

When panning hard left or right, the level of a mono track in the mono balance decreases by a maximum of around 3dB. This reduction in level can make it challenging for a hard-panned guitar riff to stand out against central elements like the bass, kick, snare, and lead vocal. Additionally, panning mono sources beyond 85% can be distracting when listening with headphones, as it gives the impression that the sound is coming directly next to your ear. Hence, it's recommended to pan mono sources up to 85% to retain a sense of space and blend in the mix.

Panning conventions

For example, the kick, snare, bass, and vocals often sit in the middle of a mix (referred to as C or 0 in most DAWs). Snare drums usually appear in the centre image, even though they are not centred on a drum kit. The same is true for the bass guitar and the kick drum. Placing these elements off-centre will immediately draw attention to them in an eccentric way.

Another convention is to hard pan doubled instruments, such as heavy electric guitars, EDM synths, and saxophones. This means placing them at 100% volume on opposite sides of the stereo field. This creates a fuller-sounding mix and is a common technique in guitar-driven hard rock and metal music.

If you have two instruments occupying similar frequencies, try panning them opposite to one another (e.g. 20% left and 20% right). This will create a more balanced feel and allow each instrument to be heard clearly.

Balance and contrast

Panning is a pivotal part of modern music production, creating a dynamic and engaging sonic experience. It is the process of distributing a sound signal into a stereo or multichannel sound field, placing sounds in a panoramic field, and enabling listeners to perceive audio from various directions.

When it comes to balance and contrast in panning guitars, there are a few key techniques to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to maintain an overall balance in the mix. Panning a primary rhythm guitar part to one side without another part to balance it out will cause the mix to "lean" to one side, making the music sound amateurish and distracting. To avoid this, you can either pan another guitar part with similar energy to the opposite side or use an electronic double of the original guitar part and pan it to the opposite side. This will also prevent the guitar from conflicting with the lead vocal or other centre-panned parts.

Another technique to create balance and contrast is to utilise complementary panning. If you have two instruments occupying similar frequencies, try panning them opposite to each other. For example, if you have an electric guitar and a saxophone playing similar parts, panning them slightly to the left and right can create a more balanced feel and prevent them from clashing.

Additionally, you can use hard panning to create contrast and add dimension to your mix. Hard panning involves placing a sound completely in either the left or right channel. This technique is often used for heavy electric guitars, backing vocals, auxiliary percussion, or atmospheric sounds.

It is also important to consider the frequency range of the guitars when panning. Lower-frequency instruments like bass guitars are usually kept at the centre, while mid to high-frequency instruments can be panned to create a wider stereo image.

Remember, there are no hard and fast rules in audio panning. Experimentation is key, so feel free to try out different panning positions and trust your ears to find what works best for your mix.

Frequency manipulation

Frequency-based panning, also known as spectral panning, is a powerful technique for creating a sense of space while preserving balance and weight in a mix. It allows you to divide a signal into frequency bands and pan these bands individually, which is especially useful when dealing with bass-heavy instruments or multiple similar instruments, such as guitars.

For example, with spectral panning, you can keep the low-frequency portion of a guitar in the centre and pan the high-frequency part to the left or right in the stereo panorama. This will result in a wide stereo image and a rich, exciting mix. Spectral panning helps to avoid the issue of low frequencies pulling the weight of the mix in one direction, which is noticeable when listening with headphones.

There are several plugins that offer spectral panning capabilities, such as MSpectralPan by MeldaProduction, Goodhertz's Panpot, Stereoplacer by Nugen Audio, bx_panEQ by Brainworx, and Monofilter by Nugen Audio. These tools enable you to manipulate the stereo image of your mix by individually panning different frequency bands, ensuring a balanced and immersive listening experience.

When panning guitars, it's important to consider not only frequency-based panning but also the overall panning scheme. Hard panning (100% left or right) is a common technique for electric guitars, especially in heavy music genres. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and the best approach depends on the specific mix and the desired effect. For instance, panning guitars around 70% left and right can create a sense of separation while still allowing other instruments to shine.

Ultimately, the "correct" amount of panning depends on the context of the song and your artistic vision. Trust your ears and experiment with different panning positions to find what works best for your mix. Remember to check your mix in mono to ensure it translates well and doesn't lose impact when summed to mono. Additionally, consider checking your mix on different sound systems, such as headphones and car stereos, to ensure it sounds balanced and immersive across various listening environments.

Frequently asked questions