Question Regarding Panning in Mono/Stereo

Discussion in 'Mixing and Mastering' started by AB69, Dec 3, 2014.

  1. AB69

    AB69 Newbie

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    If I duplicate an audio clip twice (both in stereo) and pan 1 all the way to the left, and 1 all the way to the right, does it do anything/does it work?

    Are there are panning methods or plugins for panning an audio/midi in stereo as opposed to the usual pan 1 thing hard left pan 1 thing hard right?
     
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  3. SyNtH.

    SyNtH. Platinum Record

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    It will sound the same if they are hard panned 100% L/R as having the original sound playing. There are plugins that use algorithms that add in fake stereo, such as NuGen Stereoizer or Izotopes Stereoizer. The only "organic" way of doing it is either recording the session with the mic positions predetermined or by double tracking.
     
  4. korte1975

    korte1975 Guest


    sounds great if you record with a stereo pair (XY/ortf mic techniques), otherwise it's just sounds the same as mentioned above.
     
  5. 5teezo

    5teezo Audiosexual

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    If you duplicate a file and pan one hard L and one hard R you are basically just splitting you audio in 2 Mono signals and nothing changes in sound. BUT if you add a sample delay to one of the channels or move it manually by a few milliseconds the Stereo Image changes… I would say experiment with it. You don't need fancy plugins to do this
     
  6. Studio 555

    Studio 555 Producer

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    @ AB69,

    If I well understand your Request, and above all, if you're using exactly the same Stereo Sample ('Audio Clip') (by same, I mean containing the exact identical Audio Material !), why would you like to pan such both identical 'Audio Clips', either 'Hard Left' or 'Hard Right' !?! :dunno:
    Use it as is : 'Center Pan' ('C' or '0' value, depending which displayed value is available within your DAWs when your 'Pan Knob/Slider' is in its Central Position).
    Afterwards, rather use 'Mono' Sources that you may 'pan' according to your tastes (or needs) in conjunction with your 'Stereo Audio Clip'...
    I say you that because if you use both of your identical 'Stereo Audio Clip' hard panned Left & Right, you'll (certainly) face another problem which 'exhaustive' explanation is provided below, and that could be useful for your experiments :


    PAN LAW :
    "Pan law, or pan rule, is a recording and mixing principle that states that any signal of equal amplitude and phase that is played in both channels of a stereo system will increase in loudness up to 6.02 dBSPL, provided there is perfect response in the loudspeaker system and perfect acoustics in the room.
    Often, the acoustic summing of a room and system are much inferior to the ideal, so the specific relative level will change from −3 dB to 0 dB as the mono signal is panned from center to hard left or right, and this sounds natural. The idea is that when one directs signals left and right with the pan pot, the perceived loudness will stay the same, regardless of latitude.
    However, both the direction of attenuation throughout the panoramic sweep and the amount by which the signal is attenuated vary according to pan rule. For example, the Yamaha digital consoles employ a typical (compromise) 3 dB pan rule, however, the signal is at full level at 12:00 and becomes progressively louder (up to + 3 dB) as it is panned to the right or left.
    The 3 dB pan rule is a commonly applied compromise to comply with the mediocre acoustic summing capabilities of most control rooms. However, the console manufacturer SSL used to employ a 4.5 dB pan rule, because it was believed that their expensive consoles would normally be used in tuned rooms that had acoustic summing capabilities closer to the ideal.
    Many consoles that have only one pan rule employ one such that a signal panned hard left or right is at full level and becomes progressively lower in level as the pan is directed to the center."


    You can find this Topic (including other related Topics) here :

    'PAN LAW' (according to Wikipedia)


    As wisely said by 'SyNtH.' *yes* :

     
  7. AB69

    AB69 Newbie

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    I see, makes sense. So it is best for example, if I want to pan 1 different hat to the left and 1 different hat to the right, to have them in mono? But wouldn't that sound translate poorly to stereo? How do I add stereo panning (if there is such a thing), or is panning concept similar to just pan whatever sounds good to whatever side as long as the left and right output fields and even? Are there techniques to panning specific parts like hats, pads, etc.?

    Just trying to get ideas on how to pan my tracks, thanks.
     
  8. AB69

    AB69 Newbie

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    If I send the 2 identical hats that are on 2 different track layers (1 panned 100 L 1 panned 100 R) but I have them both sent to the same bus and on that bus there is a delay does that do the same thing as the sample delay with a few milliseconds?
     
  9. Studio 555

    Studio 555 Producer

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    @ AB69,

    As this Question is rather directed toward '5t33z0', he will certainly answer you... *yes*

    However, here you have my point of view about this fact : As your '2 different Track Layers' are sent to the same Bus, you can guess that the effect ('Delay', or any other used) will affect both 'Tracks' exactly the same way ! *yes*
    The 'trick' explained to you by '5t33z0' differs in that in these cases : either a 'Sample Delay' used on one of your 2 Tracks/Channels, or to 'manually move' one of your 'Audio Clip'/'Sample' by a few 'samples' or 'ms' ('milliseconds') will do that 'trick'... :wink:
     
  10. AB69

    AB69 Newbie

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    Ah so ultimately, what ever you pan, if they are the exact same the panning will do nothing?

    What if I pan 100% left, and 100% right, but use like say for example .1 delay on the first one and .2 delay on the second one (basically same delay effect but very slight different parameters) will that work? Or is it I can only pan 1 side?
     
  11. korte1975

    korte1975 Guest


    moving 2 identical samples by a few milliseconds can be very dangerous and can lead to comb filtering/phasing issues. careful there !
     
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