Cody Casey
Apple's Logic Pro is a popular digital audio workstation (DAW) with a wide range of tools and features. One of its key functionalities is the ability to control pan variation in audio tracks, allowing users to create dynamic and immersive sound experiences. By utilising panning tools, users can position audio tracks in a virtual three-dimensional space, giving the impression of sound sources coming from different areas around the listener. This effect is particularly noticeable when using stereo headphones. Logic Pro offers both simple and advanced options for pan control, catering to different track types, goals, and personal preferences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Adjust panning for sends independently | Choose Independent Pan for a send, then set the send to Sends on Faders mode. |
| Copy pan settings | Choose Copy Pan to Send from the Send pop-up menu. |
| Automation | Press 'A' or click the 'Automation' icon in the header of the window. |
| Binaural Panning | Control-click the pan/balance knob from the inspector menu or the mixer window and select Binaural Panning. |
| Stereo Pan | Change the pan/balance knob to Stereo Pan. |
| Balance | Change the pan/balance knob to Balance. |
| Haas effect | Use the Haas effect, and/or combine with a stereo-flip on another instrument. |
| Phase inversion | Invert the phase on one side. |
| Ozone 5's imager | Assign different delays to specific bands. |
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What You'll Learn
- Using the Binaural Panning tool to adjust the position of your track
- Using the Pan knob to control pan type and position
- Using the Copy Pan to Send command to copy pan settings from a channel strip
- Using the Sends on Faders mode to control the volume and pan type
- Using automation techniques to move signals and create interesting dynamics
Using the Binaural Panning tool to adjust the position of your track
Binaural panning is a powerful technique used to emulate human hearing by positioning the direction of a signal source so that our ears register the sound from coming from either the left, right, above, below, in front, or behind. This allows the listener to be immersed within the audio as if it was happening around them.
In Logic Pro X, the Binaural panner allows the user to extend panning abilities beyond the standard L and R, creating a deeper spatial range of audio for the listener. By changing Logic's pan option to binaural, the original pan control button on the channel strip changes to a 360-degree toggle. You can then move the green dot (representing the source of the signal) around to change the audio direction.
To use this feature to its full potential, you must double-click the toggle to bring up the main editing window. Here, you can control the Binaural panner by positioning the dots on the circular diagram to wherever you want the source to come from. You can also open and close the L and R stereo channels around the dot to detail how much space you want the signal source to cover.
In Spherical mode, sources can be panned three-dimensionally, but at a constant user-selected distance. The Doppler On/Off parameter can be used to create a more dramatic sense of movement. The faster the sound is panned past the listener, the stronger the Doppler pitch change.
Binaural panning can be a fun and creative way to add immersive effects to your tracks. However, it can also be a distraction for listeners, potentially taking away from the intended focus of the music.
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Using the Pan knob to control pan type and position
When dealing with stereo tracks, Logic offers two options for panning audio on the horizontal axis. By control-clicking on the stereo track's pan/balance knob, you can access the inspector menu or the mixer. Logic's default setting for the panning knob is "Balance," but you can change it to "Stereo Pan." When the knob is set to "Balance," panning to the left will reduce the volume from the right channel, potentially resulting in the loss of information from the other side. On the other hand, "Stereo Pan" sums both signals to the left or right.
The "Binaural Panner" feature allows you to adjust the position of your track beyond the left-right axis. By changing the pan/balance knob to Binaural Panning, you can reposition the source of your signal in a three-dimensional space. This feature can be accessed by control-clicking the pan/balance knob from the inspector menu or the mixer window and selecting Binaural Panning. The interface displays a circular map, with the listener at the centre, looking up. This allows you to not only move your signals left or right but also adjust the distance of the sound source from the listener.
To automate panning, you can press "A" or click the "Automation" icon in the header of the window. Once in the automation view, you can explore the options in the dropdown menu, including Write, which allows you to draw in your desired automation or use a midi controller to write it in while the track is playing. Alternatively, you can create a duplicate track and make the desired changes to plugins and panning, although this method may be less efficient and require more processing power for multiple changes.
In Logic Pro, the Pan knob controls the pan type and position when the send is in "Sends on Faders" mode. This mode allows the fader to control the volume to the send. To enter this mode, choose "Sends on Faders" from the Send pop-up menu, and ensure that "Enable Complete Features" is selected in Logic Pro > Settings > Advanced.
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Using the Copy Pan to Send command to copy pan settings from a channel strip
To copy pan settings from a channel strip in Logic Pro, you can use the "Copy Pan to Send" command. This command allows you to copy the pan settings directly to a send without having to enter Sends on Faders mode and make manual adjustments.
- Open Logic Pro on your Mac device.
- From the Send pop-up menu, choose "Independent Pan" to enable independent panning for the send.
- Select the channel strip from which you want to copy the pan settings.
- Go back to the Send pop-up menu and choose "Copy Pan to Send."
- This action will copy the pan settings from the selected channel strip directly to the send.
It is important to note that the "Copy Pan to Send" command is only available in Independent Pan mode. This mode allows you to adjust the send's panning independently from the channel strip.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that while you can copy and paste channel strip settings between files in Logic, some users have reported issues with the latest versions of the software. These issues include settings randomly copying between files and regions temporarily going missing. However, saving Channel Strips or the .patch setting can be useful for future reference and as a starting point for new projects. Saving each plugin setting individually can also help ensure a smooth process when copying channel strip settings.
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Using the Sends on Faders mode to control the volume and pan type
To control pan variation in Logic Pro, you can use the Sends on Faders mode. This mode allows you to adjust the volume and pan settings of a send independently from the channel strip. Here's how you can use it:
Firstly, ensure that “Enable Complete Features” is selected in Logic Pro > Settings > Advanced. Next, in the Send pop-up menu, choose “Independent Pan” for the send you want to adjust. This will allow you to adjust the panning for that specific send. Then, from the same Send pop-up menu, choose "Sends on Faders". You can also use the Sends on Faders key command or click the Sends on Faders On/Off button in the Mixer menu bar.
Once you've entered Sends on Faders mode, the fader will control the volume of the send, while the Pan knob will control the pan type and position. You can copy the fader volume and pan settings from a channel strip directly to a send using the "Copy Fader to Send" and “Copy Pan to Send” commands, respectively. This allows you to quickly set the level and panning for a send without having to manually adjust each parameter.
Additionally, Logic Pro offers other panning options, such as the Binaural Panning tool, which allows you to reposition your track in a three-dimensional space, creating interesting dynamics. You can also automate your panning by pressing "A" or clicking the "Automation" icon, allowing you to draw in your desired automation or use a MIDI controller to write it in while the track is playing.
By utilising the Sends on Faders mode and the other panning features in Logic Pro, you can precisely control the volume and pan variations to achieve the desired sound for your project.
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Using automation techniques to move signals and create interesting dynamics
Automation is a functionality offered by most Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) that allows users to change the parameters of a given track. Logic has great functionality for automation, and there are two ways to access the Automation functionality in Logic: by pressing the 'A' key or by clicking the 'Automation' icon in the header of the window. Once the automation view is toggled on, you should see a dropdown menu with ''Gain' or 'Volume' as the default selection. Below this, you will see the different parameters for the track, including panning.
To automate the pan, change the Volume lane directly by clicking it in the track header and choosing Pan (absolute). The line will now turn green. You can then use a midi controller while the track is playing to write in your automation. Alternatively, you can draw in your desired automation.
Another way to automate panning is to use the Binaural Panning tool, which allows you to reposition the source of your signal in a three-dimensional space. To use this tool, control-click the pan/balance knob from the inspector menu or the mixer window and select Binaural Panning. You can then adjust the distance of your sound source from the listener by moving it closer or further away from the center of the circle.
You can also create LFO movements on automation parameters on Logic Pro X. To do this, insert a Modulator in the MIDI FX plugin slot, then insert an instance of the Direction Mixer plugin. Open up both the Modulator plugin and the Direction Mixer plugin windows. On the Modulator plugin, place the Smoothing fader somewhere in the middle and directly under Smoothing, click "-Learn Plug-in Parameter-". On the Direction Mixer plugin, click on the 'Direction' knob. You should immediately see the knob moving left to right.
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Frequently asked questions
To change the pan of a track in Logic Pro, control-click on the stereo track's pan/balance knob from the inspector menu or the mixer. You can also press "I" on your keyboard to open the inspector menu.
You can turn on automation and then automate the parts of the track you want to be panned differently. Alternatively, you can create a duplicate track and make the changes to the duplicate.
When a stereo track’s pan knob is set to Balance, Logic reduces the volume coming from the right channel when you pan it to the left. If you hard-pan a stereo channel to one side, you’ll lose all the information from the other side. If you use Stereo Pan, you’re summing both signals to the left or right.
Binaural Panning allows you to reposition the source of your signal in a three-dimensional space. You can adjust the distance of your sound source from the listener by moving it closer or further away from the center of the circle.
You can use Logic's Tremolo plugin. Adjust the "Rate" parameter and use the "Smoothing" parameter if you need a special LFO shape.
