Cody Casey
Panning is a simple way to create depth and space in your EDM track. There are no hard and fast rules, but a few general guidelines can help you achieve the desired effect. Drums are a great starting point for panning, with the kick and snare typically placed in the centre, and other elements like hi-hats, claps, and cymbals panned to the sides. The amount of panning varies, but it's important to maintain symmetry and avoid excessive panning that can cause nausea. Panning also depends on the context, stereo width, field depth, EQing, and mixing. Additionally, it's crucial to consider the mono compatibility of your track, especially for club systems and listeners using a single earbud.
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What You'll Learn
- Panning by priority: centre kick drum, low bass and lead vocal
- Drums: panned out to create a sense of groove and movement
- Panning multiple layers: use analyser tools to avoid overdoing it
- Mono vs stereo: EDM is more about wide but centred sounds
- General rules: kick, bass and sub bass centred; snare centred or slightly off-centre
Panning by priority: centre kick drum, low bass and lead vocal
Panning is a simple way to create depth and space within your EDM mix. It's important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to approach it.
When panning by priority, the kick drum, low bass, and lead vocal should be centred. The kick drum is often placed in the middle of a mix, with the bass line and vocals also typically panned centrally. This is because low-frequency elements are generally kept closer to the centre, tightening up the mix and creating a solid "core".
The lead vocal, as the most important element of the mix, should be front and centre to keep the listener's attention. Once the centre is solid, the rest of the stereo field can be used creatively.
It's also worth noting that the snare drum is usually kept central, with the hi-hat and toms often panned to opposite sides. This helps to create a sense of groove and movement. Additionally, when panning multiple layers, one lead can be panned to the left and another to the right to create a sense of space and make the track sound bigger.
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Drums: panned out to create a sense of groove and movement
Panning drums in EDM is a great way to create a sense of groove and movement in your track. There are a few different approaches and techniques to achieve this.
Firstly, it is important to understand the stereo field and the different perspectives you can use when panning. You can choose between the drummer's perspective and the audience perspective. The drummer's perspective involves panning the elements as if you are the drummer sitting at the kit. For a right-handed drummer, this means the hi-hat will usually be on the left and the floor tom on the right. The audience perspective is the opposite, imagining the kit from the viewpoint of the audience in front of the drum kit. Most mixers tend to use the audience perspective, but it is a matter of personal preference.
Another technique is to use panning to create a sense of space and separation. For example, you can pan hi-hats and cymbals slightly to the left or right to add excitement and movement. Toms and other percussion elements can also be panned to different positions to create a sense of space. You can even automate the panning of a drum fill from left to right as it builds, creating a sense of anticipation. Additionally, you can use creative panning effects, such as a swirling effect on a percussive loop, to add texture and movement.
It is also crucial to maintain a balance when panning drums. Keep essential elements like the kick drum and snare relatively centered to provide a strong foundation for your track. The kick drum, being the heartbeat of the drum kit, is usually panned right in the center to avoid making the mix feel lopsided. The snare drum, which works with the kick to provide the rhythmic groove, is also often panned to the center or slightly off-center. You can then pan other drums and percussion elements around these foundational elements to create a balanced sound.
Additionally, consider the amount of panning you apply. You want your track to be mono-compatible, so it is important not to pan too extremely. Analyzer tools can help you monitor the mid/side signal of your track and ensure you are not overdoing the panning.
Finally, remember that there is no single right or wrong way to pan drums in EDM. It is an artistic choice and you can experiment with different techniques to find what works best for your track.
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Panning multiple layers: use analyser tools to avoid overdoing it
Panning is a simple way to create more space and depth within your mix in EDM production. While there is no right or wrong way to approach panning, it is important to remember that panning multiple layers can be extremely effective, but it can also be overdone.
When working with multiple layers, such as a melody with multiple leads, panning can be used to create space around the main element and make it sound bigger. For example, you can pan one lead to the left and one to the right. However, it is important to consider the amount of panning you are using. You want your track to be mono-compatible, especially when it is being played on a big club system or listened to with one earbud.
This is where analyzer tools come in. Analyzer tools can help you determine the appropriate amount of panning to use. By watching the mid/side signal of your track, you can ensure that your panning is effective without being excessive.
To avoid overdoing it, you can also follow some general guidelines for panning in EDM. For example, it is common to keep the kick and snare in the center, while panning the hi-hats, claps, and other percussion elements to the sides. Rides are usually panned to the right, and if you have a second ride, it is often panned to the left. Additionally, when panning multiple sources, it is important to consider phase issues. Phase issues can occur when two or more signals with similar frequencies and amplitudes cancel out or reinforce each other unpredictably due to their relative position and timing. To avoid this, you can use techniques such as reversing the polarity on one of the microphones and adjusting its position until the signal from the sound source disappears.
In conclusion, when panning multiple layers in EDM, analyzer tools can be crucial to avoid overdoing it. By considering the amount of panning, following general panning guidelines, and paying attention to phase issues, you can create an effective and balanced mix that sounds good in different listening environments.
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Mono vs stereo: EDM is more about wide but centred sounds
When it comes to creating electronic dance music (EDM), one of the key considerations is the balance between mono and stereo tracks. Mono, or monophonic sound, is single-channel audio where all the instruments are mixed into one signal, intended to be heard as if coming from one position. In contrast, stereo audio mimics how we hear sound in the real world through two ears, delivering different audio information to the left and right sides.
EDM producers often aim for a wide, spacious sound that envelops the listener. While this can be achieved using stereo tracks, it's important to remember that many clubs and venue sound systems are still mono-only. This means that a good mix should balance both mono and stereo elements. By mixing in mono first, you ensure that your track will sound good in clubs and that you won't lose important details or tracks when the song is played in mono.
A common approach is to use mono for low-frequency elements such as bass, kick, and sub, while using stereo for higher-frequency elements like pads, leads, and snares. This helps create a sense of depth and directionality in the mix. Additionally, panning certain elements hard left or right in the stereo field can create a wide-sounding mix, while keeping other elements close to the centre creates a focused and grounded sound.
However, it's important to be cautious when using stereo widening tools as excessive use can lead to an unnatural sound and compatibility issues with mono playback. Phase cancellation is a common issue when mixing in stereo, where the left and right channels can cancel each other out when summed to mono, causing certain elements to disappear or become quieter in the mix. Therefore, it's crucial to frequently check how your mix sounds in mono to ensure it translates well across different playback systems.
In conclusion, EDM benefits from a combination of wide and centred sounds. By utilising both mono and stereo tracks thoughtfully, producers can create engaging, three-dimensional mixes that captivate listeners and translate well across various playback systems, from clubs to headphones.
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General rules: kick, bass and sub bass centred; snare centred or slightly off-centre
Panning is a technique used to create a stereo image by positioning sounds in a mix. The LCR (Left, Centre, Right) technique involves placing sounds either dead centre, hard left, or hard right.
When it comes to kick, bass, and sub-bass, the general rule is to keep them centred in the mix. This is because bass frequencies are difficult to localise, and panning them can cause phase issues when the audio is summed to mono. Additionally, keeping the low end in the centre helps to create a solid centre image and ensures that the fundamental elements of the song are conveyed effectively, regardless of the listening environment.
For the snare, there is more flexibility. Some prefer to keep the snare centred to ensure it has a strong presence, especially in rap, rock, and electronic dance music. Others may pan the snare slightly off-centre (usually to the left or right) to create a wider image or play with the centre of the mix. This can be done by panning a single snare slightly off-centre or by using two snares panned equally to the left and right, creating a big, wide snare sound that is still collectively centred.
It's important to note that these are not strict rules, but rather guidelines. The specific choices depend on the context, the desired outcome, and artistic expression. Experimentation is encouraged, as long as the fundamental elements of the song are effectively communicated.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no single ideal panning for drums in EDM, as it depends on the specific track and instrumentation. However, a general rule of thumb is to keep the kick and snare in the centre, with other drums such as hi-hats, claps, and cymbals panned to the left or right to create a sense of groove and movement.
The snare drum is typically panned slightly off-centre, usually to the right by about 3-12%. This adds a sense of width to the track while keeping the snare as a central element.
Rides and other similar percussion elements that fill space are typically panned hard left (full L) or hard right (full R). This creates a sense of width and depth in the mix.
Panning is a simple way to create depth and space within your mix, allowing you to separate and highlight different elements. It can also be used to create a 3-dimensional range when combined with volume adjustments.
Yes, plugins like the Ozone Imager can help you achieve a wide stereo image. Additionally, most DAWs have a feature to turn your entire mix into mono on the master bus, which can be useful for checking how your mix translates to different systems.
