So the question is:
In a mix, should you pan the drums (specifically toms and overheads) to the "listening audience's" point-of-view (i.e. right-to-left) or to the drummer's ears (left to right)?
I've heard recordings both big and small do both. Here's my take:
You gotta look at the perception/mind of the listener. It makes sense to pan right-to-left at a live show because the audience sees the drummer's fill go from the listener's right to left. It would be weird to hear it from left to right and see him filling from right to left. It would feel out of sorts and possibly distract from the show if the listener is paying attention. However, I feel it should be the opposite listening to a CD. Consciencely or sub-consciencely, the listener knows that your standard everyday drummer plays left to right (generally). I think it's just the opposite for recording than live. It doesn't seem like you're at a live show if you're listening in your car. Generally, you don't imagine yourself watching a live show when your driving in your car listening to your favorite tune. The listener knows that the fill generally goes left to right, so when you hear it right to left, it sounds out of place. There is no visual to connect it with, except the mental visual of being where the drummer is.
So, in short, there's obviously no absolute way to do it. It isn't right or wrong. But in my mind, live should go with the audience's point of view and recording should be from the drummer's.
On the flip-side of this, I've contended in my mind many times that my ability to just simply listen to music as a typical listener has been screwed up by recording/engineering/mixing. So, my viewpoint may be unknowingly beyond what the standard listener cares about.
Any thoughts on the panning? I'd like to hear other opinions.
-Clintage
In a mix, should you pan the drums (specifically toms and overheads) to the "listening audience's" point-of-view (i.e. right-to-left) or to the drummer's ears (left to right)?
I've heard recordings both big and small do both. Here's my take:
You gotta look at the perception/mind of the listener. It makes sense to pan right-to-left at a live show because the audience sees the drummer's fill go from the listener's right to left. It would be weird to hear it from left to right and see him filling from right to left. It would feel out of sorts and possibly distract from the show if the listener is paying attention. However, I feel it should be the opposite listening to a CD. Consciencely or sub-consciencely, the listener knows that your standard everyday drummer plays left to right (generally). I think it's just the opposite for recording than live. It doesn't seem like you're at a live show if you're listening in your car. Generally, you don't imagine yourself watching a live show when your driving in your car listening to your favorite tune. The listener knows that the fill generally goes left to right, so when you hear it right to left, it sounds out of place. There is no visual to connect it with, except the mental visual of being where the drummer is.
So, in short, there's obviously no absolute way to do it. It isn't right or wrong. But in my mind, live should go with the audience's point of view and recording should be from the drummer's.
On the flip-side of this, I've contended in my mind many times that my ability to just simply listen to music as a typical listener has been screwed up by recording/engineering/mixing. So, my viewpoint may be unknowingly beyond what the standard listener cares about.
Any thoughts on the panning? I'd like to hear other opinions.
-Clintage