Creating Realistic Stereo Image with Panning

Panning is how the instruments are arranged within the stereo image. By properly using this mixing feature, you can create a very realistic mix. Mixing engineer should mix tracks with a live sound stage/concert stage perspective. A vocal is always in the center because the band lead singer is the star of the show. At the back of the vocals is the bass player. Typically at the back of the bass player is the drummer. The band’s guitarists are on the left and the right. Bear in mind that different panning arrangement are possible for additional instruments (such a band with piano or others). But this concept illustrates the basic things on how to do panning in audio mixing to create a very realistic stereo image such as the diagram shown below:

Live sound monitors for vocals and bass are placed up front facing the audience, so that fans can get a great feel of the vocals and the bass groove. On the left and right loud sound monitors are the guitars.

In the commercial audio production and using a recording software, panning can be controlled between -100 to +100. Where mostly -100 is the leftmost part of the stage and +100 is the rightmost part of the stage. Mixing from the real live stage perspective, a mixer can set:

a. Vocals to panning= 0 (center)
b. Kick drums = 0 (center)
c. Bass guitar= 0 (center)
d. 1st guitarist=75 (hard right)
e. 2nd guitarist= -75 (hard left)
f. Whole drum set (crash cymbals to ride cymbals)= -12.5 to 12.5 (this is the correct one)

Using ratio and proportion, typical sound stage width is about 40 feet wide. Using recording software, this whole panning width is 200 panning units. (Length of -100 to +100).

Therefore the ratio of panning units to feet is:
200 panning units/ 40 feet = 5 panning units/feet (For a 40 feet sound stage)

To check how realistic is this conversion, we will use the width of the real drum set.
Real drum set needs 5 feet width space when fully set-up. Converting 5 feet to panning units in recording software is about :

5 feet x 5 panning units/feet = 25 panning units, so our panning specifications are correct.

This means that for a 40 feet sound stage, to create a real stereo image of drums, it should be panned between -12.5 to 12.5 (this is the correct specification).

Guitarist are placed +75 to -75 respectively. This means they are both located :

1st guitarist: -75 panning units/ 5 panning units= 15 feet from the left of the vocals.
2nd guitarist: +75 panning units/5 panning units= 15 feet from the right of the vocals.

One important thing to take note on panning is the energy level with respect to panning distance. Rule of thumb is that, the lowest frequencies should be pan on the center except for the vocals. And the higher the frequencies, the farther you can place them away from the center. It is because, low frequencies such as bass occupies massive energies and needs to placed at the center for maximum volume.

The following are advantages of proper panning in mixing :
a. Create a real stereo image of an actual live sound stage.
b. Avoid battling the same frequencies in the same location of the stereo image.

By placing the vocals in the center of the mix, means not in conflict in low frequencies and those guitars that occupy the same frequencies as the vocals are placed away from the center. Thus panning improves the clarity of the mix.

For details about panning settings for different musical instruments, you can refer to the following tutorials:

1.) Mixing and panning bass guitar in the stereo mix
2.) Panning for symphony orchestra instruments
3.) How to pan guitar?
4.) Mixing and panning piano

Inquiry about panning- using it along with reverb

I received an inquiry relating about panning in an audio mix from one of the readers of this blog:

Hi,
I’m Ricky; I am already finishing my song, the details is as follows:
1. Adobe Audition 3
2. My Panning setting is:
a. vocal (center)
b. vocal backing (R-10)
c. Piano (L-40)
d. String low (R-40)
e. String high (R-60)

Question:
Would you kindly share your input & tips concerning my panning setting above?

Thank you for your time 🙂
Regards,
Ricky
=======================
My reply:

Hello Ricky,

Thanks for writing ! First, to create a great mix using effective panning techniques; I would use a reverb effect along with it. You know why? Imagine a stage with performers and you are directly in front of them in the center.

But since you are in the studio instead of watching them performing live, you can visualize all of your panning settings by stereo imaging using nearfield monitors:

Credits: Yamaha HS-80M

The panning settings are OK. This would be my approach If I will be mixing your project.

1.) I would move the backup vocals way farther at the back of the lead vocalist while maintaining the same panning setting of R-10. To move farther, the reverb setting of backup vocals is somewhat around 50% wet and 50% dry (use your ears which sounds nice to you). This will make the backup vocals sounds somewhat less prominent than the lead vocals which is the way it should be.

2.) I would pan the strings in both left and right, not only in the right. The primary reason is to add more ambiance and depth to strings which are very important in modern music production. I would also apply some reverb on the strings to make it sound farther back but not too far from the lead vocalist (e.g. 40% wet, 60% dry)

3.) The piano can be panned at the farther back and left (like L=40) with more reverb than the strings and the vocals. Also the size of the stage and room is very important to consider when panning and applying reverb. Supposing you would like your mix to sound as if the musicians are performing on small live stage. So this means that the reverberation of the environment is less and the stereo image is not that wide since musicians are closer to each other. If you have some plug-ins, there are some reverb presets whether you are mixing for a small and big room. You can try that along with your panning settings.

Also the ratio between reverb dry and wet is important in relation to panning. Since the lead vocals are on center of the stereo mix and “up-front”, the reverb is less. So in your reverb plugin, you can set a low %wet and high % dry for the vocals (which is very common today typically in country music). If the instruments are placed at the back, the farther they are from the lead vocalist; the higher will be the %wet settings of the reverb. This simulates actual condition that supporting musicians (pianist, guitarist, back-up vocalist) are performing at the back of the lead vocals rather than all of them directly in front of the stage.

But I think in your case, you are mixing for small room because there are only few musicians. Your case would be comparable to jazz or country musicians playing at the bar or having sessions in a small room. If you listen to some acoustic jamming sessions of popular artist, you will notice that there is almost no reverb applied to the lead vocals since it simulates small room conditions. As a summary, feel free to experiment a lot to discover which would really sounds best for your projects. It’s simply sticking to some panning/reverberation guidelines and do some adjustments not necessarily re-inventing the wheel. For more details about using panning along with this effect, you can read this tutorial.

Content last updated on October 21, 2012