Emilie Meyer
Panning drums is a crucial technique for achieving a wide and open sound, creating the feeling of being in the room with the drummer. There are two main approaches to drum panning: the listener's perspective, which involves panning the kit as if viewed from the audience's point of view, and the drummer's perspective, which pans the kit from left to right as the drummer sees it. The latter is often preferred for its ability to fill the stereo field. When panning drums, it's important to remember that certain drums, like the kick drum, should always be centred, while others, like the snare, can be positioned slightly off-centre for a more varied stereo image. Additionally, panning individual drums can enhance the overall sound, with subtle panning of the hat/snare to the left and toms/ride to the right creating a full and gorgeous effect.
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What You'll Learn
Kick drums should always be centred in the stereo image
When it comes to panning drums in music production, there are a few different approaches you can take. One common method is to pan from the listener's perspective, imagining yourself as the audience watching the drummer perform. Another approach is to pan from the drummer's perspective, panning left to right based on the drummer's viewpoint. The choice between these methods depends on which one fills the stereo field better for your particular song.
Now, let's discuss the specific case of kick drums and why they should always be centred in the stereo image. In modern music production, the kick drum is typically placed at the centre of the stereo image, acting as the sonic fulcrum around which the rest of the musical elements are balanced. This practice is especially prevalent in electronic music genres such as Big Room and Industrial Techno, where the kick drum needs to cut through the mix clearly.
However, in softer genres like melodic house and techno, you might find that a centred kick drum feels too harsh or prominent in the mix. In such cases, you can explore alternative panning options to better suit the aesthetic of the subgenre. It's worth noting that while the kick drum is often centred, there is no one-size-fits-all rule in music, and creativity and experimentation are essential to creating unique sounds.
To achieve a centred kick drum in your mix, you can utilise various techniques. One method is to use your overheads as cymbal spot mics rather than whole kit mics. This approach helps to capture the placement of individual drums in the stereo field more accurately. Alternatively, you can employ a mono overhead setup, which inherently provides a centred image. Additionally, you can use spot mics to pull the kick drum to the centre while avoiding hard panning the overheads left and right.
In conclusion, while there are no absolute rules in music production, centring the kick drum in the stereo image is a common practice, especially in modern electronic music. This technique provides a solid foundation for the rest of the musical elements to build upon. However, it is important to remember that the specific panning choices depend on the genre, the desired aesthetic, and your creative vision for the song.
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Snare panning can be centred or slightly off-centre
There are two main approaches to panning drums: from the listener's perspective or from the drummer's perspective. The first approach involves picturing someone facing you while watching you play and panning your kit from their perspective. The second approach involves panning the drums from the drummer's perspective, from left to right. The choice between these two approaches depends on which one fills the stereo field better in the song.
When it comes to snare panning, there are a few options. Some engineers prefer to have the snare centred, while others prefer to have it slightly off-centre. If you choose to pan the snare off-centre, it is recommended to keep it within +/-20% left or right of centre (between 11:00 and 1:00). This gives more variance between the stereo image of the kick and snare and allows the snare to have more room in the mix. Additionally, you can match your snare panning with where it appears on the overhead mics.
For "live sound" genres like singer-songwriter or jazz, a narrow "listener perspective" with the snare slightly to the right or a drummer perspective with the snare slightly to the left is often used. This involves panning the snare and hat gently to the left or right, as if listening from in front of the kit. For more aggressive genres like pop or EDM, a broader stereo field can be used to create effects, without worrying as much about sounding realistic.
It is worth noting that the specific panning techniques may vary depending on individual preferences and the configuration of the drum kit. Adjustments may be required after panning to ensure that the levels are balanced and nothing is too loud.
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Panning from the listener's perspective
Panning is a crucial step in creating a balanced and immersive mix, and it involves placing audio signals within the stereo field, allowing them to appear on the left, right, or anywhere in between in the listener's headphones or speakers. This technique provides a sense of space, width, and separation in your mixes, enhancing the overall listening experience.
When panning from the listener's perspective, you need to visualize the sound as if you are the audience facing the drummer. This means that the kick and snare drums, which typically form the foundation of a song, will be in the center of the stereo image. From there, you can decide where to place the hi-hat and toms. For example, you might pan the hi-hat to the left and the toms to the right, creating a sense of movement and separation between the instruments. This approach adds depth and width to your mix, making it more engaging and immersive for the listener.
It's important to note that panning drums from the listener's perspective can make certain elements sound louder, especially widely panned toms. Therefore, it's crucial to adjust the levels as needed after panning to ensure a clean and balanced mix. Additionally, experimenting with different panning positions can help create the desired effect. Taking breaks and testing your mix in mono can also provide a fresh sonic perspective.
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Panning from the drummer's perspective
Panning drums in audio editing software can be done in two ways: from the listener's perspective or the drummer's perspective. This guide will focus on the latter method, which involves panning the drums from the left to the right as the drummer sees them.
When panning from the drummer's perspective, it is important to remember that everyone's kit is different, so you should pan your kit to match your specific setup. For example, if you're editing audio for a drum cover, you'll want to ensure that the panning aligns with the positioning of the drums in the cover.
One important consideration when panning drums is the kick drum. This drum should always be centred (at 0 or 12:00) in your stereo image. For snare panning, there are a few options. Some engineers prefer to keep it centred, while others prefer to pan it slightly off-centre, typically not more than +/-20% left or right (between 11:00 and 1:00).
When panning drums, be mindful of the volume levels. As you're using up free space that wasn't occupied before, some elements may appear louder, especially widely panned toms. It's essential to adjust the levels as needed after panning to ensure a balanced mix.
Additionally, consider the genre of music you're working on. For "live sound" genres like singer-songwriter or jazz, a narrow "listener perspective" or drummer perspective panning may be preferred. This involves panning the snare and hat slightly to the right or left, respectively. For more aggressive genres like pop or EDM, you can broaden the stereo field and focus on creating effects rather than a realistic sound.
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Adjusting levels after panning
Panning drums in Logic Pro can be done in two ways. The first is from the listener's perspective, where you picture someone facing you while watching you play and pan your kit from their perspective. The second way is from the drummer's perspective, panning the drums from left to right as the drummer sees them. This method is preferred when mixing a full track as it fills the stereo field better.
When panning drums, it is important to remember that some things may appear louder, especially widely panned toms. Therefore, it is crucial to adjust the levels as required after panning to ensure a balanced mix. Here are some detailed steps on adjusting levels after panning drums in Logic Pro:
- Open the plugin after creating a new track and save your preferred plugins and routing.
- Set the Stereo Balance knob to Stereo Pan and save this Channel Strip Setting.
- Navigate to your new Channel Strip preset in the Library and select it by clicking the gear icon in the bottom left corner and choosing "Define as default."
- Now, when creating a new Channel, select "Load the Default Channel Strip" in the New Track dialogue.
- To adjust the volume of individual drums, use the Edit panel on the right. For toms, click the tab for the specific tom you want to edit, or click the "All" tab to adjust the tone of all toms.
- For cymbals, click the tab for the crash cymbal you wish to edit, or use the "All" tab to adjust both crash cymbals. The ride cymbal can be edited directly.
- To adjust the volume, drag the Gain knob vertically or double-click the field and enter a new value.
- Ensure that your kick drum is always panned at 0 (12:00) in the centre of your stereo image.
- For snare panning, you can either keep it dead centre or slightly off-centre, not exceeding +/-20% left or right (between 11:00 and 1:00).
- Use the Direction Mixer plugin to achieve true stereo panning. The Direction knob gives you true stereo panning by tilting both left and right signals to the left when turned.
- Adjust the width of your stereo tracks using the Stereo Spread knob. Pull the handles closer together for a tighter sound or further apart for a wider sound.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your drum mix is balanced and sounds wide and open, creating an immersive listening experience.
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Frequently asked questions
You can pan drums in Logic by creating an Automation Row in the Pattern Region. You can also manually pan drums by separating them into individual tracks.
The most typical drum mix panning setup is to have the kick and snare centred, with the toms panned out a little bit, the cymbals like hi-hat and china panned out further, and the overheads panned almost all the way out.
Some tips for panning drums in Logic include making sure the drum part supports and enhances the song, using reverb to create width and space, and mixing in mono to ensure the drums sound good without panning.
