Cody Casey
Panning synths is a technique used by mix engineers to create a stereo effect, making the sound seem fuller and wider. It involves adjusting the position of a synth in the stereo image, from hard left to hard right, or anywhere in between. This technique can be used to create a sense of space and depth in a mix, making sure that none of the instruments are fighting each other sonically. While there are no strict rules for panning, there are some guidelines that can help create a more balanced and immersive listening experience. For example, lower-frequency sounds such as kicks and basses are usually kept in the center of the mix, while other instruments can be panned to the sides to create a sense of movement and contrast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To create space, width, and clarity in the mix |
| Core elements | Lower-frequency sounds such as kick, snare, bass, and lead vocals |
| Panning techniques | Hard panning, soft panning, automated panning, Haas stereo effect, stereo delay, short delay, channel inversion |
| Panning guidelines | Avoid cluttering the center, use complementary panning, experiment with duplicates, check in headphones |
| Tools | Neutron 5, Music Production Suite 5.2, Ozone 10 Advanced, RX 10 Standard, Neutron 4, Native Instruments Guitar RIG 6 PRO, Stratus 3D, Symphony 3D, Brainworx Creative Mixing Set |
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What You'll Learn
How to create a stereo effect
Panning is a powerful tool for creating a stereo effect. It allows you to place instruments from left to right, determining the left and right walls of your mix and how close each instrument is to them. The kick, snare, bass, and vocal tracks are typically panned directly in the centre as it is the focal point of the mix. This is because the kick and snare provide the beat of the song, and due to the way our ears perceive sound, it is difficult to detect where bass frequencies are coming from.
To create a stereo effect, you can pan high-frequency instruments to the far left and right of the stereo field, while keeping low-frequency instruments closer to the centre. This will give your mix a sense of depth and width, making it feel immersive and alive. It is important to keep your elements balanced between the left and right channels. For example, if you have two synths playing on the left channel and nothing on the right channel, your mix will sound imbalanced.
You can also create a stereo effect by using techniques such as double-tracking, where you record a second identical performance and layer it on top of the original, often panned hard left and right. This creates a sense of separation and a wide stereo image. Another technique is to add a chorus effect to both tracks, which combines delay and pitch shifting to make it sound like multiple instruments are playing at once.
Some synths also offer features that allow you to spread voices in the stereo field. For example, Novation Peak has a voice spread feature with four different modes, and Synplant allows each individual note to be panned differently. The OB-X8 has multiple "pan modes", such as a spread mode where the notes are panned based on the note number (low notes to the left, high notes to the right).
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Using delay to create a stereo effect
Delay is a powerful mixing tool that can add width, depth and dimension to your tracks. It can be used to create a stereo effect, even from a mono sound source.
One way to do this is to use the Haas effect, also known as the precedence effect. This psychoacoustic effect, described by Helmut Haas in 1949, is when one sound is followed by another with a delay time of around 40 ms or less, and the two sounds are perceived as a single sound. To use this technique, create a copy of the audio you want to widen, pan each copy to the stereo field extremes (left and right), and apply a small delay to one side. This will create a single large stereo field of sound.
Another way to create a stereo effect with delay is to use a dual mono delay. Make micro-adjustments to the timing constant on one delay, and go the opposite way on the other delay. If the delays are panned apart, you will get a "doubler" effect with a very wide sound. If the delays are panned together, you will get a chorus effect. A partial pan will create a spread-chorus effect.
You can also use a stereo delay on a mono signal, or pan the delay to the opposite side of the mix. For example, you can put a stereo delay on a track at 100% mix, and set one side of the delay with 0 delay, and the other side with a few milliseconds of delay. This will create a "doubled" effect, and you can play with the pan for spacialisation.
Additionally, you can send your mono synth to a bus with a short delay (10-30 ms) and invert one of the channels on the send bus. Play with the delay time and send levels, and use a highpass if it sounds too boomy or hollow. This will create a nice stereo effect, and since the send bus cancels out 100% in mono, you won't get strange sounds on mono systems.
Finally, you can try adding a slight pitch shift to one side. For example, put the dry signal hard left, and the pitched-up signal hard right. This will create a very stereo sound, without sounding like a typical chorus, flanger, or other readily identifiable effect.
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Panning for space and clarity
Panning synths is a great way to create space and clarity in your mixes. It's about more than just panning things left and right; it's about crafting a three-dimensional space where every element has room to breathe and can be heard clearly.
The first step to achieving this is to understand the basics of panning. The centre of your stereo image should be the core of your mix, with lower-frequency sounds and lead vocals panned to the centre. This creates a solid foundation for the rest of your mix. From there, you can start to pan other elements left and right to create a wider, fuller-sounding mix. For example, if you have a synth part that is getting lost in a piano track, try panning the synth left and the piano right. This will help to separate the two elements and give them each their own space in the mix.
It's important to keep your mix balanced, with an equal amount of elements on each side. This will ensure your mix doesn't sound lopsided or confusing. You can also try panning double-tracked instruments hard left and hard right to create a fuller-sounding mix. This technique works well with heavy electric guitars, EDM synths, and saxophones.
To create even more space and clarity in your mix, try using techniques like LCR panning, the Haas Effect, microshifting, and double tracking. These techniques can bring depth and excitement to your mix, making it more immersive and engaging for the listener. Just be sure to always check your mono compatibility to ensure your mix translates well to mono systems.
Finally, don't be afraid to experiment and get creative with your panning. Bend the rules to suit your sound and let your mix come alive in full-dimensional glory!
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Panning multiple instruments
- Start by panning everything to the centre to get a balanced mix: At the beginning of your mixing session, pan all the instruments to the centre to get a sense of the overall balance of the track. This will help you identify which elements can be moved around in the soundstage.
- Avoid hard panning multiple instruments: While it may be tempting to pan instruments like synths hard left and right, this can result in a stacked, cluttered, and muddied centre. Instead, try panning them slightly to the sides, such as 20% left and 20% right.
- Create a stereo effect: If you want to create a stereo effect with your synths, try using a stereo delay. Set one side of the delay with 0 delay and the other side with a short delay (around 10-30ms). This will give you a "doubled" synth that you can pan for spatialization.
- Use complementary panning: Panning instruments in opposite directions can create a more balanced feel and invite the listener into the sound. For example, a guitar panned slightly to the left can complement a keyboard panned slightly to the right.
- Maintain mono compatibility: Many stereo effects are not mono-friendly, so it's important to check your mix in mono to ensure it still sounds good. You can use plug-ins with mono buttons to do this.
- Create depth and width: In addition to left and right panning, consider using volume levels, reverb, and other time-based effects to create depth and width in your mix. Play with delay times and send levels to enhance the stereo effect.
- Keep lead vocals centred: Lead vocals should typically be positioned in the centre of the mix to allow them to connect with the listener and remain prominent. However, backing and harmony lines can be panned to improve the spaciousness of the vocal effect.
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Using panning to tell a story
Panning is a crucial tool in music production that allows you to place sound elements across the stereo field, giving each element its own distinct spatial location. By panning, you can create width and depth, making your tracks more immersive and dynamic.
When using panning to tell a story, it's important to have a clear idea of what you want to convey in your track. You can create contrast, build tension, and release tension through panning. For instance, you can use panning to create unexpected but pleasant surprises, such as widening the mix during a chorus or making certain elements more centered during a drop.
Additionally, panning can be used to eliminate masking, ensuring that each element has its own space and is clearly defined. If two instruments occupy similar frequencies, panning them opposite of one another can help them complement each other rather than clash. For example, a guitar panned slightly to the left can better complement a keyboard panned slightly to the right.
It's also essential to consider mono compatibility when using panning. Many stereo effects are not mono-friendly, and some music players will default to mono. So, while panning can create a wide stereo image, it's important to check that your mix still works when summed to mono to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Panning is a powerful tool that can help you create a unique auditory story, captivating your audience and enhancing the overall impact of your music.
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Frequently asked questions
The Haas stereo effect is a technique used to create a stereo effect, or spacialisation, in a track. This is done by putting a stereo delay on the track at 100% mix, and setting one side of the delay with 0 delay, and the other side with a few delays (around 20ms).
The best way to create space in your mix is to use panning. Panning helps to create width and clarity in your mix, ensuring that none of your instruments are fighting for attention. The centre of your stereo image should be the core of your mix, with lower-frequency sounds, such as kicks, basses, and anything else below the 120hz range, sitting in the middle.
When panning synths, it is important to remember that hard panning a stereo sound source can often result in a centred sound. Instead, try panning duplicates of synths to the left or right, or experiment with other panning techniques such as automated panning or using a stereo "chorus".
