Marianne Martinez
Panning a drum kit is a crucial aspect of creating a powerful and immersive sound that fills the entire room. It involves placing each drum element in a specific position within the stereo image, either to the left or right of the centre, to achieve a desired effect. The process of panning can be approached from two main perspectives: the drummer's perspective and the audience's perspective. The drummer's perspective involves positioning the drum elements as they would be seen and heard by the drummer themselves, while the audience's perspective aims to recreate the experience of hearing the drums from the audience's point of view. The choice between these perspectives depends on personal preference, the specific drum kit setup, and the desired sound and impact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Panning | Moving a sound source to a particular position in the left or right channel of a stereo image |
| Pan pot | A volume control that splits the audio signal into the left and right channels |
| Pan law | A principle that states that a signal of equal amplitude and phase in both channels of a stereo system will increase in loudness up to 6.02 dBSPL |
| Perspective | There are two perspectives for panning: the drummer's perspective and the audience's perspective |
| Drummer's perspective | Panning the elements of the drum kit as if one is the drummer sitting at the kit |
| Audience perspective | Panning the elements of the drum kit as if one is the audience sitting in front of the drum kit |
| Mono | Panning in mono helps to create a more mono-compatible mix and makes the stereo image sound bigger |
| Stereo | Panning in stereo adds separation, creating a stereo image |
| Layering | Layering three equal drum sounds and panning them to the far right, far left, and centre creates a spacious and impressive sound |
| Kick drum | Usually panned in the centre |
| Snare drum | Usually panned in the centre, sometimes slightly off-centre |
| Hi-hat | Can be panned to the left or right depending on the chosen perspective |
| Cymbals | Panned on either side of the stereo image |
| Toms | Panned on either side of the stereo image |
| Overhead mics | Panned hard left and right |
| Close mics | Should agree with the overhead mics |
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What You'll Learn
Panning from the drummer's perspective
Panning is one of the most important tools for a drummer to create a surround sound and make the drum kit sound big. It involves placing the different components of the drum kit in a particular position in the left or right channel of the stereo image.
There are two main perspectives for panning a drum kit: the drummer's perspective and the audience's perspective. The drummer's perspective involves panning the elements of the drum kit as if one is sitting at the kit. For a right-handed drummer, this means the hi-hat will be on the left and the floor tom on the right. The audience perspective is the opposite, imagining the kit as if one is sitting in front of it, with the hi-hat on the right and the floor tom on the left.
Most drummers prefer panning from their own perspective as it sounds more natural to them. However, when it comes to mixing and mastering, most engineers and mixers tend to prefer the audience's perspective as it gives the listener the feeling of being at a live performance. Ultimately, the choice of perspective depends on personal preference, and there are no hard rules about which to use.
To start panning, one can first pan the overhead mics hard left and right, close the eyes, and listen to where the drums are visualised in front of them. Then, introduce the tom mics one by one, panning them to match their position in the overhead mics. Any close cymbal or hi-hat mics should also agree with the overhead mics. Once these are in position, introduce the cymbal and hi-hat mics and pan them to match, and then try panning them in a slightly more exaggerated way to add spaciousness to the kit.
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Panning from the audience's perspective
Panning a drum kit is a crucial aspect of creating a powerful and immersive sound. When it comes to panning from the audience's perspective, the goal is to imagine the kit as if you are part of the audience, sitting in front of the drummer. This approach ensures that the listeners experience the drum kit's sound as if they were at a live performance.
To achieve this, the first step is to identify the foundational elements of the drum kit, which typically include the kick drum and the snare drum. These elements provide the pulse and groove for the entire mix and are usually panned right at the centre, creating a stable core for the rest of the kit to build upon.
From the audience's perspective, the hi-hat is on the right, and the floor tom is on the left. This is the opposite of the drummer's perspective, where the hi-hat is on the left for a right-handed drummer. By panning the hi-hat slightly farther to the right, you can make the kit sound more spacious. However, if you are panning from the audience's perspective, placing the hi-hat on the right side ensures that the sound aligns with what the audience would typically hear.
Cymbals, toms, and other percussion instruments are then panned to the left or right of the centre, depending on the desired result. This is where creativity comes into play, as you can experiment with different panning positions to add width and spaciousness to your kit. For example, you can pan a crash cymbal slightly more to the left or right to make it stand out in the mix.
It's important to remember that while panning from the audience's perspective, the goal is to create a balanced sound that doesn't confuse the listener. The mix should feel evenly distributed across the stereo spectrum, just like sitting on a seesaw—too much weight on one side can ruin the effect.
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Using the pan pot to control volume
The pan pot, or panoramic potentiometer, is a volume control that splits the audio signal into left and right channels. When you turn the pan pot to the left, the volume of the left speaker increases while the volume of the right speaker decreases simultaneously. The same happens in reverse when you turn the pan pot to the right. This allows you to control the volume of the left and right channels independently and create a sense of spatial location and depth in your mix.
When panning a drum kit, it is important to first decide on the perspective you want to create for your listeners. You can choose between the drummer's perspective and the audience's perspective. The drummer's perspective involves panning the drums as if you are sitting behind the drum set, with the hi-hat typically on the left and the floor tom on the right. The audience perspective is the opposite, mirroring what an audience would hear during a live performance, with the hi-hat on the right and the floor tom on the left.
Once you have decided on the perspective, you can start positioning the individual drums in the stereo field using the pan pot. The kick drum is typically kept in the centre of the stereo field, providing a foundation for the rest of the kit. The snare drum can also be kept in the centre, but some people prefer to pan it slightly off-centre to make it stand out more. However, be careful not to pan it more than +/-20% left or right, as it is a crucial rhythmic element in your track.
When panning the hi-hat, you can place it slightly off-centre to create a bigger stereo image and make your kit sound more spacious. Toms are typically panned according to their physical placement around the drum kit, from left to right, mimicking a live performance. Overheads are often panned wide to reflect the actual spread of the drum set, adding a sense of spaciousness and capturing the shimmering highs of cymbals.
By adjusting the pan pot, you can control the volume balance between the left and right channels, ensuring that the volume level remains constant and creating a three-dimensional soundstage for your drum kit.
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Panning kick and snare drums
Choose the Perspective
Before panning the kick and snare drums, it is essential to determine the perspective you want to adopt. You can choose between the drummer's perspective and the audience's perspective. The drummer's perspective involves panning the drums as if you were playing them, while the audience's perspective involves panning them from the listener's point of view. The audience's perspective is often preferred by audio engineers to create a more authentic live performance feel.
Panning the Kick Drum
The kick drum typically remains at the centre of the stereo image and does not require panning. This is because panning the kick drum off-centre can add weight to one side, making the mix feel unbalanced and confusing for the listener. Keeping the kick drum in the centre ensures a solid foundation for your drum mix.
Panning the Snare Drum
The snare drum is another crucial element that usually stays in the centre, especially if you want to maintain a conventional drum kit sound. However, some producers choose to pan the snare for creative purposes, such as adding an accent or an opening fill. If you do decide to pan the snare, it is important to ensure that it does not sound messy or confusing. One technique is to pan the snare opposite to the high tom, creating a balanced stereo image.
Layering Technique
A powerful technique to enhance the snare sound is to layer three equal drum sounds on top of each other. Pan one of them close to the far right, another close to the far left, and leave the third one exactly in the centre. This creates a spacious and impressive sound that adds depth to your mix.
Overhead Mics and Close Mics
To create a cohesive listening experience, ensure that your overhead mics and close mics are panned in agreement. Panning them hard left and right can give you a wider stereo image. However, be cautious when panning individual drums like the snare and toms; they should match the positioning in your overhead mics to avoid a confusing and disjointed sound.
Remember, these are guidelines, and you can always experiment with different panning ideas to find what works best for your mix. The key is to strike a balance between the left and right channels while highlighting the important elements of your drum kit.
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Panning toms, cymbals and other percussion instruments
Panning drums can make your music sound more spacious and impactful. The "pan pot" (panoramic potentiometer) is a volume control that splits the audio signal into the left and right channels. If you turn it left, the pot lifts the left speaker’s volume and turns down the volume of the right speaker simultaneously.
The kick drum is usually placed in the centre of the stereo field and does not require panning. The snare drum can also be left without panning, but some prefer to place it off-centre to create variance between the stereo image of the kick and snare. Toms, cymbals, and other percussion instruments should be panned on either side of the stereo image, depending on the result you want to achieve.
For more melodic and exotic percussion elements, like toms, bongos, and congas, you can use more radical panning, like between 45 and 90% on either side. Cymbals, tambourines, and shakers should be panned a little to the right and/or left of centre. Anything between 10-30% to the right or left will work.
You can create a bigger stereo image by panning the hi-hat a little farther away from the centre to the right side. If you want to pan your hi-hat from the drummer’s perspective, you can place it on the far right. Drummers often prefer this style as it’s more natural to them. However, if you are panning from the audience’s perspective, stick with the right side to keep the sound close to what the audience would hear.
There are various techniques to strengthen the snare sound. One technique is to layer three equal drum sounds on top of each other and pan one of them close to the far right, one of them close to the far left, and leave one exactly in the middle. This will create a very spacious and impressive sound.
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Frequently asked questions
Drum panning is placing a drum in a particular position in the left or right channel of your stereo image. It makes the kit sound big and the interaction between cymbals adds a lot of stereo interest to the mix.
There are two main types of drum panning: the drummer's perspective and the audience's perspective. The former pans the elements of the drum kit as though from the perspective of the drummer sitting at the kit. The latter pans the elements of the drum kit as though the kit is being observed by the audience.
Some tips for drum panning include:
- Panning the kick drum and snare drum in the centre of the sound
- Panning toms, cymbals and other percussion instruments on either side of the stereo image
- Panning hi-hats, cymbals, tambourines and shakers a little to the right and/or left of the centre
- Using the layering technique to create new sounds
In the drummer's perspective, the hi-hat will usually be on the left and the floor tom on the right. In the audience's perspective, the hi-hat is on the right and the floor tom is on the left.
It is important to pan your kit to match how your kit looks, especially if you're editing audio for a drum cover. It is also crucial to ensure that your mix and panning are balanced on both sides of the stereo spectrum.
