Pan Drums: A Beginner's Guide To Playing Techniques

Panning drums is the process of placing different elements of a drum kit within a stereo image, which can make the kit sound bigger and more interesting. There are two main ways to pan drums: from the drummer's perspective, or from the audience's perspective. The first involves panning the elements of the drum kit as if you are the drummer sitting at the kit, and the second does the exact opposite, imagining the kit as if you are the audience sitting in front of the drum kit. Most mixers tend to use the audience perspective when mixing, but there are no hard rules. The kick drum is usually panned in the centre of the stereo field, with the snare drum also often centred, though some prefer to pan it slightly off-centre for a more aggressive sound. Toms, cymbals and other percussion instruments are usually panned on either side of the stereo image.

Choose your perspective: drummer or audience

There are two main ways to pan drums: from the drummer's perspective or from the audience's perspective.

Drummer's Perspective

When panning drums from the drummer's perspective, you are imagining yourself as the drummer, so the hi-hat will usually be on the left and the floor tom on the right. This is the preferred style for many drummers, as it feels more natural to them.

Audience Perspective

When panning drums from the audience's perspective, you are imagining yourself as a member of the audience sitting in front of the drum kit. In this case, the hi-hat will be on the right and the floor tom on the left. This is the more common approach used by audio engineers and mixers, as it gives the listener the feeling of being there in the room. It also allows the most important rhythmic elements of the drum kit, such as the snare, to take up the "middle" space in the mix.

Kick Drum

Regardless of the perspective you choose, the kick drum should always be panned in the centre of the stereo field. This is because it is the most important element of the drum kit, providing the foundation for the rest of the mix. Moving the kick drum to the left or right can make the whole mix feel unbalanced.

Snare Drum

The snare drum is another foundational element of the drum kit, and it usually stays in the centre of the stereo field along with the kick drum. However, some people prefer to pan the snare drum slightly off-centre (up to +/-20% left or right) to help it stand out in the mix.

Toms

The floor tom should be panned 50% left or right for a wide-spread sound. The two rack toms can then be panned by less than 20% on each side to create a stereo effect during fills. For a more exotic sound, you can use a more radical panning of between 45% and 90% left or right.

Cymbals and Other Percussion

Cymbals, tambourines, shakers, and other percussion instruments should be panned slightly to the left or right of centre (between 10% and 30%.) Panning the hi-hat a little further from the centre to the right will make your kit sound more spacious.

Panning the kick drum

Choosing the Perspective

When panning the kick drum, the first decision to make is whether to use the drummer's perspective or the audience's perspective. From the drummer's perspective, the pan positions reflect how the drummer would hear the kit while playing. This means the hi-hat would typically be on the left and the floor tom on the right. On the other hand, the audience's perspective mirrors what the audience would hear during a live performance, with the hi-hat on the right and the floor tom on the left. Most mixers tend to use the audience perspective to create a more natural listening experience.

Regardless of the chosen perspective, the kick drum is almost always panned right in the centre (0) of the stereo image. This positioning ensures the power and impact of the kick are evenly distributed across both speakers or headphones, providing a cohesive and forceful presence that anchors the entire mix. Centring the kick drum also helps to prevent phase issues and maintains a strong low end, which is crucial for many musical genres such as rock, pop, hip-hop, and EDM.

Mono Compatibility

Before panning the kick drum, it is essential to listen to the drum mix in mono. Panning adds stereo separation, but it can also mask underlying problems such as phase or EQ issues. By starting with a mono mix and using EQ to create tonal separation, you will achieve a more mono-compatible mix, and the stereo image will sound even bigger when panning is introduced.

Creative Decisions

While keeping the kick drum centred is a widely adopted practice, there is room for creativity and experimentation. In certain fringe genres or when aiming for a specific aesthetic, you might want to pan the kick slightly off-centre to add width or create a unique sound. For example, you could use a short reverb or delay on an auxiliary track to add width to the kick while keeping the bass/heart of the kick in the middle using a utility plugin.

In conclusion, panning the kick drum is a fundamental step in shaping the sound of your drum mix. By choosing the appropriate perspective, positioning the kick drum in the centre, considering mono compatibility, and allowing for creative decisions, you can achieve a powerful and immersive drum mix that complements the overall song.

Panning the snare drum

Panning is one of the most important tools in music production. It can help you turn a small layer of sound into a surround-sounding tune. When you pan a drum, you place it in a particular position in the left or right channel of your stereo image.

There are two different ways to pan drums: from the audience's perspective or the drummer's perspective. The first method involves panning the drums towards the direction of how you would hear these sounds if a drummer were playing in front of you. The second method is the opposite, where you pan the drums as how you would hear them while playing.

The kick drum is always panned in the centre of the stereo field, and most sources agree that the snare drum should also be placed in the centre. However, some sources suggest placing the snare slightly off-centre, which can help it stand out a little more. In this case, you could place it at around 7 to 9 o'clock (left) or 1 to 3 o'clock (right), depending on how aggressive you want it to sound. It is recommended to not have it at more than +/-20% left or right.

Another way to pan the snare drum is to match its panning with where it appears on the overhead mics. If the snare is very prominent in your overhead mics and you intend to use it to thicken your individual snare mic, this method is highly recommended.

If you are panning from the audience's perspective, you should stick with the right side to keep the sound close to what the audience would hear. On the other hand, if you are panning from the drummer's perspective, you can place the hi-hat on the far right, as this is more natural to them.

Ultimately, the panning technique will depend on your perspective and personal preferences. Panning gives you the freedom to do pretty much anything with drums in the mix.

Panning toms and overheads

Firstly, you need to decide on the perspective you want to pan from. The two main options are the audience's perspective or the drummer's perspective. The audience's perspective involves panning the drums as if you are hearing them from the front, while the drummer's perspective involves panning them as the drummer would hear them while playing. Most engineers prefer the audience's perspective, but many drummers prefer their own perspective as it feels more natural to them.

Once you have decided on the perspective, you can start panning the individual drums. The kick drum should always be panned to the centre of the stereo field, at 0 on your pan dial. The snare drum can also be left in the centre, but some engineers prefer to pan it slightly off-centre to give it more variance and allow it to stand out in the mix. However, you shouldn't pan it more than +/-20% left or right to avoid competing with other elements in the middle of the mix.

When it comes to toms, you have a few options. One approach is to pan them according to your overhead mics. Simply pan your overhead mics hard left and right, close your eyes, and listen to where you can picture the toms in front of you. Then pan the individual toms to match their position in the overheads. This technique takes practice but can help you achieve a more natural-sounding drum mix.

Another approach to panning toms is to use a stereo effect, panning them from left to right or right to left, depending on the perspective you've chosen. You can pan the floor tom over 50% left or right and then pan the rack toms less than 20% on each side to create a cool stereo effect during fills.

As for overheads, you can pan them hard left and right for a wide-open sound. This gives you the widest possible spread and makes your kit sound more spacious. However, if you want a less open stereo image, you can pan them less drastically, around 8:00 and 4:00 on your pan dial. Ultimately, the panning technique you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the perspective you decide to use. Experiment with different panning techniques and trust your ears to find the sound that works best for your mix.

Panning cymbals and hi-hats

Cymbals, hi-hats, tambourines, and shakers should be panned slightly to the right or left of the centre. For a right-handed drummer, this would mean panning these instruments to the left. For a left-handed drummer, pan them to the right. The exact amount of panning can vary depending on the desired effect and the specific drum kit configuration, but typically, these instruments are panned between 10% and 30% to one side. This will create a wider stereo image and make your kit sound more spacious.

When panning cymbals and hi-hats, it is important to consider the perspective you are panning from. You can choose between the audience's perspective and the drummer's perspective. The audience's perspective involves panning the drums as if the listener is facing the drummer. The drummer's perspective involves panning the drums as the drummer would hear them while playing. Most engineers prefer the audience's perspective, but many drummers prefer their own perspective as it feels more natural to them.

Additionally, when panning cymbals and hi-hats, it is crucial to maintain a healthy balance in your mix. This means that if you pan an instrument to one side, you should pan another instrument to the opposite side to a similar degree. For example, if you pan a cymbal 20% to the left, you might pan a tom 20% to the right to maintain balance and avoid an uneven mix.

Finally, when panning cymbals and hi-hats, it is important to check how your mix translates to mono. While hard panning (panning an instrument 100% to one side) can create a wide and spacious sound in stereo, it can cause issues when played back in mono, such as certain instruments disappearing or creating a disorienting effect. Therefore, always check your mix in mono to ensure it translates well and no important elements are lost.

Frequently asked questions