PANNING & STEREO WIDTH - How, When & What to Pan

Panning is a simple - but important - part of music production. Spending a couple of minutes understanding how to do it (properly) will make your productions shine.
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In this video, we cover:
1. Visualising your music as being played on a stage in front of you - that can be a great way to figure out where elements could be panned to sound good.
2. Panning by priority - e.g. Your kick drum and low bass will be straight down the middle, and probably your lead vocal.
3. How to regularly check in stereo and mono.
4. Panning / Stereo width of bass frequencies (and why).
5. Using plugins to help with stereo width. For 10 ways to achieve insane stereo width, check out this video: • 10 Stereo Widening ti...
(You can download the free version of the Ozone imager here: bit.ly/2KJD982)
6. Autopanning.
7. When in the production process to add panning and stereo width.
8. Stereo width using reverb.
9. LCR Panning.
10. Summary - a quick recap of what to consider.
Leave a comment below, let me know what you think or if there's anything you want me to cover in a future vid 😀
Until next time, cheers and happy producing! 😎
Will
www.edmtips.com
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#panning #mixing #stereo

[@EDMTips]

What tips and tricks do you use for interesting panning? Let me know in the comments!

[@b9dger563]

Thank you so much for this video.... exactly what I was needing to see/hear. You made it really simple as I honestly thought panning/stereo imaging was some real Jedi mind trick stuff, ha! I've just discovered your channel but I'm absolutely gonna subscribe and watch more of your vids. Cheers man

[@EDMTips]

@@b9dger563 Awesome! It's a pleasure... Thanks for the support :)

[@longarooni]

I’m using Garageband on my iPhone and I have a couple stereo widening apps. I’ve felt concerned because of the V shape, and how it’s planted there, so when I go in mono, I change the ‘spurts’ into a sort of mono, in many frequencies. I understand how to do it, thank you!

[@deangelocesar5666]

I know im asking randomly but does anyone know of a way to get back into an instagram account?? I somehow forgot the account password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me.

[@Table-Top]

Thanks Will. In terms of panning, some mixing engineers use panning when they have a conflict of frequencies competing with each other. Also, in the past when people recorded real instruments especially, they sent the dry signal to the Left and the Reverb wet to the right. This is because the reverb produces about the same frequencies and it can get muddy.

[@EDMTips]

I have an issue with panning to solve conflicting frequencies, as it's kind of masking over the problem. When summed to mono (or heard from a different room, etc.) the frequency clashes remain.

[@cheery-hex]

thank you! the stage with a band is a great visual. helpful!

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome!

[@Clupea101]

Great Stuff, Think il leave the Panning till later in the mix

[@jl9205]

Will, you're very good at this! Thank you. I'm looking forward to beginning your mixing class this weekend.

[@Stacity]

Cheers Will we love you.

[@swayamkumarkarn]

Amazing video bro love from India 🇮🇳

[@EDMTips]

Thanks, man! Love from England! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@swayamkumarkarn]

@@EDMTips 😇😇

[@tmph25]

Super useful and straight to the point. Thanks a lot!

[@emiel333]

Great video.

[@EDMTips]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed! 🙌🏻

[@alexinthemix00]

Very nice video, thank you! I have understood that panning is essential!

[@EDMTips]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lepraxronik]

Hey man love your content but on Ozone image shaper you need to click stereoize in order for it to do anything!

[@dullastonishment]

Thanks for this video WIll! Been trying to take my mixing up a level and this has helped massively.

[@zaratustra00]

thanks for this, well done

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it! 🙌🏻

[@gouribhattacharjee682]

Thank you. Your tips were extremely useful

[@EDMTips]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hadimalik4283]

Will I love this mix! Potential drop? You know I’m a big fan of these songs you make during or for your tutorials!

[@SonOfJ]

Note to self: Don't watch stereo imaging tutorials on your phone.

[@EDMTips]

😆

[@_TheViewer_]

You should have used your hands to simulate the wandering of audio, would have been gold to look at ! :D

[@redkay7969]

another trick : dont make your music on your computer without using a DAW

[@eijffelbridge]

*Plugs headphones into phone

[@dariopandzic1344]

Your videos are such high class. Very easy to follow, and very instructive. Subbed! :)

[@EDMTips]

Thanks! Welcome aboard :)

[@jamesbondaygee]

Did you say like vocal, bass, kickdrum are dead centre? Or are they just slightly panned Right Left? Do they sit right on top of each other at 0?

[@pravahamassage1437]

Massiv thanks, man. Helped me a lot. Keep it up. :-)

[@EDMTips]

Glad it helped!

[@djrandalldean]

Good overview - Do you have a vid on M/S eq & compression yet? Feels like a missing link for me

[@clarkcoffman]

Absolutely love it man your videos are super helpful

[@EDMTips]

Glad you like them, Clark!

[@jamesbondaygee]

I usually record my bass or add the drum tracks on mono. So does that mean they don't need adjusting?

[@vikss6598]

Good tutorial

[@EDMTips]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mavnghc]

Quick question - is it wrong to slap an imager on a really wide track and pull it in to be more mono? I’m assuming so but seems like there must be a down-side to this…?

[@FleshCatOfficial]

Great video. My curiosity is: The synths you are panning (let’s say vsts) are generally stereo so panning a stereo instruments loses its momentum. I saw a tutorial where the guy cures this by using a directional mixer so you don’t lose volume in one side of the stereo synth once it has been panned say 35% Left. So… to me if I wanted width, it would make more sense to record the same synth line twice but both in mono (like a guitar) THEN use a reverb send for either line. I guess my question here is: How would YOU go about panning stereo’d instruments?

[@djrandalldean]

probably not unless the second recoding is going to introduce enough variations from the first or else you may get phasing issues. (still learning)

[@AishawithanEye]

Great explanation! Thank you!

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome!

[@serdi5869]

Very nice video👍👍where can I download your project so I use it as a template?

[@bromite802]

I love you man great info great attitude

[@Studio-dl9yx]

Спасибо за урок!

[@tinodadon]

Thanks for the tips! Had a slightly off topic question. How do you get for example, a synth, to sound like its litteraly coming from both sides of the ear but there isn't anything in the middle? I was listening to a track and heard this kinda super wide chord that felt like it was only on the sides and didn't take up any middle making the mix sound very wide and clean. How's that possible? Thanks!

[@geoffprudhoe7630]

Possibly used the Haas effect... pan hard left/right and then add a delay of about 20ms to one channel (I tend to go for the right one). Other than that, possibly 2 synths playing the same pattern, but both panned hard left/right but with a slight difference to the tone...?

[@FleshCatOfficial]

@@geoffprudhoe7630 record the same synth line twice and hard pan L-R & put both synths in mono

[@chanleymeiring9128]

Hi what do you use to do these mixing stuff I'm still new at this

[@LinoPaparone]

really helpful thank you

[@davidhallowell3457]

Helpful examples. I’d like to pan each overdub layer while looping…but the regular panning functions seem to pan the entire looper output…but I want to ‘record with panning’ so the layers stays where I put it in the stereo spectrum. Is that question clear enough to get your take on a solution? Thanks.

[@MeticulousGuitarist]

3:10 - 3:32 You got that from Owsinski's Mixing Engineer's Handbook didn't you? I'm reading that right now, and just came across that part today! So far a good book for anyone out there who wants to read more about mixing.

[@EDMTips]

I haven't read it!

[@dny1548]

Hi when to use stereo panning vs the default stereo balancer/default pan ?cheers

[@danyrockjr]

Hi, Thank you for this tutorial. What Softbox do you use ? Kind regards ;)

[@EDMTips]

What's a Softbox!?

[@danyrockjr]

@@EDMTipsHi, The lights that serve you to enlighten you during the video. Thank you.

[@EDMTips]

@@danyrockjrAh, gotcha. Here: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N0OJPXC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@danyrockjr]

@@EDMTips OK ... thank you very much ... but i talk about these behind you in your video introduction (near your the speakers ... it seem to be white box). Thank you for your reply. DRJ ;)

[@binaryaftershock]

I don’t use plugins for to make a sound wide. Just route your mixes to two channel and pan channel 1 left and channel 2 right on 50 percent. Plugins will use up CPU

[@thecart1594]

Hi bro i have a problem mixing and panning things like risers, downrers, sweeps and uplifters,they always sound wierd im my mix can you please make a short video of how to eq,pan and process them please.

[@EDMTips]

Great suggestions! I will add them to my list :)

[@mahlabesimon3688]

Great tutorial indeed. How do you pan the backing vocals?

[@EDMTips]

I usually have at least two backing vocal tracks, then pan them left and right! If I only have one, I'll use a stereo imaging plugin, or the haas effect and reverb to widen them up.

[@KaosVerket]

Thank u Will! 🙌

[@EDMTips]

You’re welcome!

[@jia-yeelee3645]

thank u so much for this video!

[@EDMTips]

You’re welcome!

[@miguelfucungo4202]

Thank you

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome!

[@sevchyk]

How do you usually make sure that the right and left channels are balanced equally (i.e. one of the channels doesn’t have higher volume than the other one)?

[@BFHPET]

7:59 where can i find the song its beutifuel

[@homebrewinstrumentals7700]

Does dance music even make use of LCR mixing? if so, can anybody provide an example?

[@GilbertCarrizales]

Hello, I have a question. About half the time I am able to get out a solid mix from my music. The other times I feel that I end up making my highs to loud and the width of my tracks seem too wide. I usually compare them to any of my favorite tracks. My question is, what sounds/instruments go in stereo & mono? Do you do any stereo panning? So far to my understanding, the kick drum & other percussion should be in mono & the instruments remain in stereo. Some times I get tips to put any main leads in mono, send them to a bus with stereo reverb. Is this advisable?

[@EDMTips]

1. Mostly the kick and sub frequencies before 130Hz will be in mono, and anything else can happily be in stereo 2. Yes, I do. percussion other than the main kick and snare. 3. Yes, you can try that, for sure

[@GilbertCarrizales]

@@EDMTips Much appreciated sir. I will definitely try that & see how my mix comes out. one of the biggest issues I'll get from time to time is the layering. I know now as a producer of 16 years that less is more, however, even some times I still end up getting a mix that is too unpleasant to the ears in the mid/high & high frequencies. When I think I spread everything accordingly, I end up taking a listen in different monitor references & everything just sounds too wide without being able to breathe properly.

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome!

[@bitmau5]

I'm drummer, so everything I do just falls into that perspective for me. One thing that annoys me about some samples or songs that I listen to, is the high hat sitting in the center of the stage, or on both sides of me. It's just awkward sounding and really takes me out of the groove. I can not stress enough, how important depth, width and in some cases, how much reach into an audience a particular element or overall sound needs. I realise that I'm producing from the musicians standpoint, so sometimes I have to dial back my adjustments to account for the audience perspective.

[@matenorth]

I am a drummer too and i agree. In electronic music though, i like hi hats and rides on both sides. Basically everything in the mid range and high end stereo.

[@bitmau5]

@@matenorth I was never able to set up what you have, although I've often wondered about it. I enjoyed an addition snare with a different tuning to my left for more interplay with the HH.

[@cheery-hex]

from a musician who listens to a lot of different music, I agree. I like the feel of the hats being quite a bit off to the side

[@neerjamalhotra3873]

What is the difference between Mono and Stereo?

[@onairrecordings]

Nice tune

[@EDMTips]

Thanks!

[@kinddmusic]

thanks!

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome!

[@smokenashes8608]

super tips :-)

[@EDMTips]

Cheers!

[@benalogy6711]

thanks

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome!

[@neerjamalhotra3873]

What is the difference between mono and stereo?

[@EDMTips]

Mono is where there is one sound wave, and stereo is where there are two sound waves (left and right) which differ from eachother in some way.

[@jameymurray71]

tree diagram is key

[@mac12344]

👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@EDMTips]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@janis9]

You Looks like the Brother of Lucas and Steve

[@thisisamirmusic]

I Think with LCR panning you Will Come Up with A Phasey problematic Mix

[@mkrespo2577]

[@emroenator]

I made 666 likes go to 667. thank god