What actually happens when...

  • Thread starter Thread starter DonaldChang
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Good question!

In general, when you pan to the right, you slowly decrease volume in the left, and vice versa. But where that question gets tricky is when you are near the center of the pan control. What happens to the signal volume there depends on the make and model of equipment (hardware or software) you use and how you have it configured. You'd think that nothing happens at center, but in fact any one of a handful of different possibilities happens there.

For an excellent answer to your question and an explanation as to why it is so important in today's world of digital editing software, see Craig Anderton's article on panning at EQ magazine online.

G.
 
That's a good article. Basically, most programs have different "panning laws". I use Cubase, and I know it has the -3db center pan law, so when something is panned dead center it's lower by -3db. This is a pretty standard law, but you should check out your software to see what it defaults to.
 
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