Creating Stereo Sound: Panning Production For Both Ears

Audio panning is a crucial technique in music production, allowing producers to create a sense of depth, space and balance in their mixes. By adjusting the volume balance between the left and right speakers, producers can manipulate the placement of individual instruments and sounds, ensuring they don't compete for the listener's attention and creating a dynamic and immersive listening experience. While there are no hard and fast rules for panning, this technique can be used to create sonic pictures, tell stories, build tension and release.

One common method is LCR (Left-Center-Right) panning, which places sounds at the hard left, center or hard right of the stereo field, creating a bold and defined mix. Another technique is frequency-based panning, where low-frequency sounds like bass and kick drums are typically centered, while higher-frequency sounds are panned left or right to create a sense of space.

Additionally, producers can use the Haas Effect, a psychoacoustic phenomenon, to create a sense of stereo width by introducing a slight delay between the left and right channels. Binaural panning, while less common, creates a three-dimensional sound experience through specialized recording techniques and processing.

Panning can be achieved manually by twisting knobs during mixing, or through automation features in DAW software, which allow for dynamic movement of sounds across the stereo spectrum.

Use the Haas Effect to create a sense of stereo width

The Haas Effect is a psychoacoustic phenomenon that can be used to create a sense of stereo width. Named after Dr. Helmut Haas, who discovered it in 1949, the Haas Effect involves introducing a slight delay between left and right audio channels, typically between 5 and 40 milliseconds. This delay creates a sense of spaciousness and directional cues for the listener, making the sound appear wider and fuller.

To achieve the Haas Effect, start by duplicating a mono audio track and panning each copy to opposite sides of the stereo field. Then, add a short delay to one of the tracks, usually between 5 and 40 milliseconds. This delay causes our brains to sense depth and direction, resulting in a wider and more immersive soundstage. It is important to note that the delay should be subtle to avoid creating an unnatural or disconnected sound.

The Haas Effect can be applied to various instruments and vocals to enhance their presence in the mix. It is particularly useful for widening stereo images and creating depth in mixes. Additionally, it can be used to add body to bass instruments and bring life to drum tracks. However, it is important to use the Haas Effect sparingly and only where it enhances the mix. Overuse can lead to listener fatigue and potential phase cancellation issues.

When using the Haas Effect, it is crucial to monitor the mix in mono to ensure that no phase cancellation issues occur. Phase cancellation happens when two or more sounds with inverted waveforms combine, resulting in a reduction in volume. By visualising stereo imaging and phase relationships, you can identify and address any potential problems.

In conclusion, the Haas Effect is a powerful tool for creating a sense of stereo width and adding depth to mixes. By understanding its principles and applying it carefully, audio engineers and producers can elevate their tracks and create immersive auditory landscapes.

Try hard-panning doubled instruments

Hard-panning doubled instruments is a classic technique used in music production to create a fuller-sounding mix. This technique involves taking an instrument that has been recorded twice (known as double-tracking) and panning one recording hard left and the other hard right in the stereo field. While this technique is commonly associated with heavy electric guitars in hard rock music, it can also be applied to a range of other instruments, including EDM synths and saxophones in funk music.

When hard-panning doubled instruments, it is important to remember that this can quickly lead to a stacked, muddy-sounding mix if applied to too many instruments. Balance is key, and for every element panned hard left, another should be panned hard right to maintain equilibrium within the mix. Additionally, it is worth noting that hard-panning is not always necessary or desirable for every instrument. In some cases, a more subtle panning approach, such as panning instruments to opposite sides but not fully to the extremes, can create a more inviting and balanced feel for the listener.

One benefit of hard-panning doubled instruments is the ability to eliminate masking, which occurs when two similar instruments, such as electric guitars, play simultaneously and overlap in frequency bandwidth. By hard-panning these instruments, you can free up space in the mix and ensure that each instrument has its own distinct place in the stereo field. This technique can also be used to create interesting sonic pictures, build and release tension, and tell stories through your music production.

It is worth noting that there are no absolute rules when it comes to panning, and experimentation is encouraged. However, certain conventions are commonly followed, such as keeping the kick, snare, bass, and vocals in the centre of the mix to provide a solid grounding for the music. By understanding these conventions, you can make more intentional and meaningful panning decisions that enhance the overall impact of your production.

Use complementary panning for two instruments occupying similar frequencies

Panning is a powerful tool for achieving balance in your mix. If you have two instruments occupying similar frequencies, try panning them in opposite directions. For instance, you could pan one instrument 20% to the left and the other 20% to the right. This technique can help to create a more balanced feel and invite the listener into the sound.

It is important not to go for a hard left or hard right pan with this method. A guitar panned slightly to the left will complement a keyboard panned slightly to the right, creating a sense of separation and avoiding the clash of the two instruments playing in the same space.

You can also try multi-mono EQ'ing, where you notch out space on one side but leave the other side untouched. Alternatively, try using EQ cuts rather than boosts and listen for the actual frequencies that are fighting between the two instruments, then cut those frequencies on one of the instruments.

Another option is to boost the presence range on the instrument you want to be at the front, leaving the other to play a background role. You can also cut a little out of the frequency range on one instrument and boost it on the other. For example, you could cut 2kHz on the piano and boost it on the guitar.

You could also try panning one instrument 50% to the left and the other 50% to the right. This should help with any phase cancellation issues. Additionally, try using filters where the instruments overlap in the centre, and add a 10-15ms delay to one of the instruments.

Remember to always check your mix in mono to ensure you aren't losing too much in the fold-down.

Keep low frequencies centred

Keeping the low frequencies centred is a crucial aspect of achieving a well-balanced and immersive audio mix. Here are some detailed instructions and considerations for centring your low frequencies:

Understanding Low Frequencies

Low frequencies, typically those below 120Hz, form the foundation of your mix and include sounds like kick drums and bass instruments. These frequencies are less directional than high frequencies, meaning they are perceived as coming from a central position rather than from specific left or right positions.

The Benefits of Centring Low Frequencies

By keeping the low frequencies centred, you create a solid core for your mix. This ensures that the foundational elements are clearly heard and provide a stable base for the rest of your mix. Centring also helps to avoid phase issues and ensures that the low-end sounds are translated accurately across different sound systems.

Techniques for Centring Low Frequencies

• Hard Panning: Commit to your pans by hard panning your low-frequency sounds directly to the centre. This creates instant space and allows other elements to be panned left or right without cluttering the mix.
• Frequency Analysis: Utilise a frequency analyser to visualise the frequency distribution of your mix. This helps identify any frequency overlaps or spikes in the low end that may require adjustment.
• Headphone Checking: Check your pans using headphones. While monitors provide a sense of the pans, sounds in an open room will leak into both ears. Headphones allow you to isolate and accurately assess the positioning of each part of your mix.
• Avoid Excessive Boosting: Be cautious when boosting low frequencies, especially on smaller speakers that may not accurately reproduce super-low frequencies. Excessive boosting can lead to excessive low end when heard on other systems.
• High Passing: Don't be afraid to use high passing on elements with excessive low end, such as vocals or certain instruments. This will allow the true low end – the bass and kick – to breathe naturally and ensure a clear and full low-end sound.
• Solve Problems in the Mix: Address any issues with low-end balance within the individual tracks and channels, rather than relying solely on adjustments to the master bus. This allows for more precise control and helps to preserve the integrity of the low end.

By following these guidelines and techniques, you can effectively centre your low frequencies, resulting in a more cohesive and spatially aware mix.

Be subtle with panning

While panning is an excellent tool to create a sense of space and depth in your mix, it's important not to overdo it. Subtle panning adjustments are often the most effective, ensuring a natural and balanced sound. Here are some tips to help you achieve subtlety in your panning:

• Start with Mono Mixing: Begin your mixing process in mono, focusing on volume and EQ adjustments. This ensures that your mix is solid and balanced before you even start panning. It also helps you avoid over-reliance on panning, which can lead to issues with mono compatibility.
• Keep Low Frequencies Centered: It is generally recommended to keep lower-frequency sounds, such as kick drums, bass, and anything below the 120Hz range, in the center. This is because humans perceive stereo fields better at higher frequencies, and spreading low-frequency sounds across the stereo field can reduce their impact.
• Avoid Overusing Hard Panning: While hard panning can be effective in certain situations, overuse can result in an unnatural and disjointed mix. Subtle panning adjustments often bring the best results, creating a more cohesive and engaging mix.
• Check Your Mix on Multiple Devices: Different devices and speaker setups can affect how your panning translates to listeners. For instance, a mix that sounds good on studio monitors may sound very different on headphones or a portable speaker. Check your mix on a variety of systems, including headphones, car stereos, and consumer speakers, to ensure it sounds balanced and clear across various audio systems.
• Be Mindful of the Genre: The amount of panning you use can depend on the genre of music you're working with. For example, if you're mixing techno or house music, subtle panning is essential as these genres are typically played on mono sound systems.
• Maintain Symmetry: Aim for symmetry in your mix by distributing elements evenly across the stereo field. Panning too many elements to one side can create an uncomfortable listening experience. Try to balance the number of instruments or sounds panned to each side to maintain a sense of balance.
• Use Panning as a Creative Tool: Panning can be used to tell a story, build tension, and create contrast in your track. However, too much panning without a clear purpose can confuse listeners. Use automation sparingly to create unexpected but pleasant surprises, such as widening hi-hats during a build-up or making synths wider in the chorus.
• Check Your Levels: Panning can affect the levels of your instruments. Always check the levels of your instruments while panning and adjust the gain staging as needed. This ensures that your mix remains balanced and coherent.
• Consider the Playback Environment: Keep in mind that your mix will be played in different environments, such as clubs or supermarkets, which may have mono playback systems. Pay attention to elements like reverb and panning moves, as they may lose their impact in certain settings.
• Avoid Clutter: Panning helps create space in your mix, but overdoing it can lead to clutter. Use panning to separate similar instruments or sounds occupying the same frequency range to prevent them from fighting for attention. Subtle panning adjustments can ensure that each element has room to breathe without overwhelming the listener.

Frequently asked questions