Panning when recording in multitrack programs.

[-Obscurity-]

When I record rythm guitars, usually with distortion, I have been experimenting with panning them left and right. I record the tracks in stereo, but when I pan them, I notice the side opposite of the way I pan it gets lower the farther out I pan it. For example, if I pan a guitar left, the right channel reduces in volume the farther left I go. The panned tracks seem to get muddy in the final mixdown. Is there some sort of cancellation going on here? Should I split the track into two seperate left and right tracks and pan them respectively rather than panning the entire stereo track? Are two panned mono tracks just a wider version of a single stereo track? What are the physics behind this?

EDIT: Rep goes to anyone who can explain this.

[Seafroggys]

When I make midi songs, the tracks default to Pan=0 (equal left and right channel). When I pan left, the farther I pan left, the lower the volume that comes through the right, until its all the way to the left, and there's no more signal going through the right.

I don't believe that panning a certain direction actually causes an increase in volume to that side. It might for audio, but I doubt it, seeing as you shouldn't increase the volume of a track louder than you recorded it at.

[gaz12369]

When recording instruments and vocals and such, record them in mono. Do you'r panning, then mix down to one single stereo track. That should solve your problem :thumb:

For example, if I pan a guitar left, the right channel reduces in volume the farther left I go.

Well, that kind of is the point of panning. If you pan 100% left, then signal will only come out of the left speaker. Im not too sure about stereo panning, but i'd assume it has the same principle.


hmm, just thinking about it, when you record in stereo, do you mean you record the same guitar part through two different amps, into one stereo track? If you do, then yes, it will be best to split the tracks to Left and Right, then mix them down after you've panned, as if you pan a stereo track, im sure it will pan the whole signal, rather than just the side of the track you want to pan.

[-Obscurity-]

hmm, just thinking about it, when you record in stereo, do you mean you record the same guitar part through two different amps, into one stereo track? If you do, then yes, it will be best to split the tracks to Left and Right, then mix them down after you've panned, as if you pan a stereo track, im sure it will pan the whole signal, rather than just the side of the track you want to pan.

No, I just use one mic, when it records it shows up as one stereo track containing a left and right signal. I'm assuming in the is instance the left and right signals are exactly alike right? So by splitting this stereo track into two mono tracks I should have two mono tracks that are exactly the same right?

[gaz12369]

Yep, or you could set it to record in mono, but however you record it, i'd probably want to pan in mono:)

[-Obscurity-]

Yep, or you could set it to record in mono, but however you record it, i'd probably want to pan in mono:)

Ok, thanks. :cool:
Rep+

[Moseph]

Well, that kind of is the point of panning. If you pan 100% left, then signal will only come out of the left speaker. Im not too sure about stereo panning, but i'd assume it has the same principle.


Stereo panning is a little bit different. It usually instead assumes that you have even levels in both L/R channels. When you pan one way or another, it gives that side "more weight" while simultaneously lowering the opposite side.

Essentially, when panned dead center, you have equal gain across both channels. When 100% one way, you have all your signal there (usually with higher gain) and no signal on the other side.

I tend to think of mono panning as "placement" and stereo panning as "balance."

As a result, I tend to avoid stereo panning.

However, there is also multi-channel stereo panning, which behaves closer to mono panning, where each side is considered a mono signal. This isn't seen much on low-end gear and software however.

[eski]

If your recording into your computer, theres a good chance that you are recording mono signals on a stereo track, in which you have a stereo track with all the sound coming from the left speaker and none from the right. Then, if you pan to the right, youll lose the sound altogether, and if you pan left, it will get louder. Usually when you use the line in this is the case. Guitars produce mono signals

Dont know if thats the situation or not but its a possibility

[Seafroggys]

If its recorded in stereo, it might be possible to split the tracks into two mono tracks in the program, than you can delete one.