Tillie Doyle
Panning audio in Studio One is a fundamental part of building a mix and can be used creatively to give listeners the impression of width. By panning hard left and right, you can create stereo width, and automation can be used to do some interesting things with the audio. However, some users have reported issues with panning when transforming a stereo track to audio, where the panning does not maintain or print, and default settings need to be adjusted. To fix this, you can use an auto panning plugin, or use X-Trem and switch the mode from Trem to Pan.
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What You'll Learn
Using automation
Panning can be a very useful tool when combined with automation, which can be found by right-clicking the panner in Studio One. By panning instruments hard left and right, you can create stereo width.
To automate panning in Studio One, you can program the behaviour of the associated pan potentiometer. This is especially useful during the mixing stage when the engineer might need to modify the relative position of each element on the stereo field for aesthetic purposes.
To do this, first, note the light green line on top of the track's waveform. This line is the pan automation line. You can then automate the position of the pan pot by modifying this line as needed. For example, you can edit the pan automation line by using the paint tool from the top tool menu.
Additionally, you can use an auto-panning plugin to automate the process. Cableguys offer a free plugin that can be used for this purpose.
Another method is to use X-Trem and switch the mode from Trem to Pan. This will allow you to create a "sweep" effect, where the audio track moves from one side to the other in a steady fashion.
It is important to note that when transforming a stereo track to audio, printing from one stereo track's output to another, or bouncing to a new track, the panning may not maintain or print correctly. This has been a reported issue by some users.
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Panning hard left and right
To achieve this, first set the levels in your mix. Then, start placing individual instruments or audio channels to the far left ("L") or far right ("R") in the stereo field. This technique gives the impression of width and can be creatively used to build an engaging mix.
For example, in a mix featuring two acoustic guitar tracks, you can pan one track hard left and the other hard right. This creates a sense of stereo width, with each guitar occupying its own distinct space in the stereo image.
However, it's important to note that some users have reported issues with hard panning in Studio One, claiming that the audio is still faintly audible on the opposite side, resulting in a "muddy" sound. This issue may be caused by various factors, including the use of certain effects, adapters, or plugins. In such cases, adjusting settings or removing problematic elements may be necessary to achieve a proper hard pan.
By understanding the basics of panning hard left and right, you can create a sense of width and depth in your mixes, enhancing the overall listening experience for your audience.
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Troubleshooting panning issues
Identify the Issue
Start by identifying the specific problem you're facing. Are your stereo tracks not being recognized by the software and are suddenly appearing as mono tracks? Or are you unable to pan your tracks at all, even with the basic panning options on the mixing console? Understanding the specific problem is the first step to finding a solution.
Check Your Plugins
The issue might lie with the plugins you're using. If you're utilizing Waves plugins, ensure that you're using the stereo versions. The mono versions of these plugins can cause your channels to collapse into mono, resulting in the loss of stereo panning.
Sample Project Testing
If the problem persists, try creating a new project and testing the panning on a sample project. Copy one of the affected tracks from your original project into the new one and observe whether the issue persists. If the panning works in the new project, it could indicate a configuration issue with your original project.
Configuration File Edit
In some cases, configuration hiccups can cause issues with panning. For example, your software may keep reverting to 44.1 kHz instead of the desired 48 kHz. To fix this, you may need to manually edit a configuration file.
Start a New Project
If all else fails, you may need to start a new project and manually copy and paste each track from the old project, then redo all the settings. While this can be time-consuming, it has been reported by some users as a successful workaround when other methods have failed.
Remember to always check the basics, such as ensuring you're using the correct buffer sizes and that your software is up to date. If issues persist, consider reaching out to Studio One's official support channels or community forums for further assistance.
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Using plugins
Studio One comes with a variety of proprietary plugins that can help users mix music productions. One of the most-used processors that come with Studio One is the Dual Pan, which works as a fully variable stereo panner with parameters for input balance control, switchable pan law, and independent left/right panning. The Input Bal knob adjusts the balance of the input signal from full left to full right. The Pan Law drop-down list lets the user select the desired pan law, with options such as -6 dB Linear, -3 dB Constant Power Sin/Cos, and 0 dB Balance Sin/Cos. The Left knob adjusts the pan of the left input signal from full left to full right.
Another plugin that can be used is the Binaural Pan plugin, which has a knob that adjusts the stereo width of the stereo track. It is variable from 0 (mono) to 200% (double the stereo width). The Pan knob adjusts the balance between the left and right channels of the stereo track, from 100% left to 100% right.
Circular panning is a method of simulating two-dimensional spatial placement of sources in two-channel audio. With a panner and reverb on the source channel, both left-right and front-back mechanisms are in place. To get them under the control of an X-Y pad, click the Channel Editor button for the channel on which the panner and reverb have been instantiated. The Channel Editor should open directly to the macro controls window. If you see a row of knobs but no X-Y pads, click the triangle at the bottom of the window to access the X-Y pads. The Macro Controls window provides multi-parameter control over plugins. The X-Y pad at the lower left is configured for circular panning. To configure the pad, click on the wrench icon in the upper-left corner of the macro controls window. The knobs will give way to three columns: macro controls on the left, plug-in parameters on the right, and the middle column will display the mapping of the X axis to the pan parameter.
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Adjusting input balance
To adjust the input balance in Studio One, you must first open the Console by clicking the [Mix] button or pressing F3 on your keyboard. This is where mixing in Studio One primarily takes place. Each channel of audio in your song will be represented by a Channel in the Console.
The top of each Input Channel has controls for Input Gain and Polarity Invert. The Input Gain controls allow you to adjust the input gain for the signal before it is sent anywhere else. The range is from -24.0 dB to +24.0 dB in increments of 0.1 dB. You can adjust this by clicking and dragging the volume fader vertically.
For stereo channels, there will be two of each control, whereas mono channels will have one. The Polarity Invert (indicated by a Ø symbol) button inverts the polarity of the signal for that Input Channel. When the button is lit, the polarity has been inverted. The buttons are independent for stereo Input Channels. Clicking either Ø icon will invert the phase polarity on both sides of a stereo input, while shift-clicking will invert the phase of the left/right channels independently.
To adjust the panning interface and balance, click and drag the panner horizontally to position the audio for each Channel left or right in the stereo field. Right-clicking the panner will bring up a contextual menu of panning options, including the default Balance mode, which allows you to position the Channel's signal left to right in the stereo image.
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Frequently asked questions
After setting levels in your mix, place instruments left or right in the stereo field. This gives listeners the impression of width and can make for an interesting listen.
Pan instruments hard left and right.
Right-click on the panner in Studio One to access automation.
Center panned elements are in the middle of the stereo field, while hard left and right panned elements are on opposite ends of the stereo field.
You can use an auto panning plugin like X-Trem or Soundtoys Panman to automate this effect.
