Stereo Map

[BibleMan]

I am recording tracks in Cakewalk for our Church Band.

Is there a generally accepted listing of which instruments should be in each channel for stereo (i.e. Guitars on left, keyboards on right, drums center, etc.)

Thanks.

 

[Porter]

It all depends on how you want the recording to sound. There is no set rules. Kick and snare are usually in the center and tom's/cymbals can be slightly panned to give a stereo effect with the drums (however don't pan them too hard. As for guitars a keyboards, sitting them slightly off center will give them space and separate them, as for which direction it's your choice, maybe think about how they appear when they perform, the guitarist to the left of the drummer, pan it slightly to the left and the keyboard player, if he plays on the right, pan him slightly to the right.

There is no right or wrong answer to your question. Mix/pan it so it sounds good to you and others and is peaceful to the ears.

Hope it helps,

Porter

 

[Uladine]

I agree. Its all a matter of taste. Look at some older recordings. Some had the drums panned all to one side. While this is kind of interesting I find it a little distracting. Also keep in mind what kind of playback systems the recording will be played on. If its going through a mono P.A., it will sound diffent than a stereo system when the instruments are panned everywhere. However don't let this prevent you from panning things around.

Also some people may listen on systems with only one speaker working, so If you have a very important guitar melody panned far left, but the listener has no left speaker because theyre in there car and its blown or whatever, that important melody line is not there.

My advice to you is to take anything that isnt panned down the middle and instead of panning it full left or right, keep it somewhere moderate. I know to some this may sound weird, but some people go for years with their stereos completely hooked up all wrong without knowing anything it, then you show them a CD of yours and you go "hey, wheres that rhythm guitar part I spent days writing? Aww man this mix sounds weird on your stereo." Then they go "Oh I hooked it up myself cuz I dont like instructions."

Sounds funny I know, but it happens. Anything I record that has something panned hard left/right usually has the same part doubled on the other side.