← Mixing Fundamentals
🎚️ Panning & Stereo Imaging
Place sounds across the stereo field so every element has its own space.
Stereo Field
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What is Panning?
Panning places a sound left, right, or anywhere in between in the stereo field. It gives every element its own physical space.
- Pan a sound left and it comes out of the left speaker. Centre = both equally. Right = right speaker.
- Drag the stereo field dot below to move a sound across the stereo image.
- Lead vocals, kick, snare, bass usually stay centred — they're the foundation.
- Hi-hats, percussion, FX, double-tracked guitars get panned to make space.
- Panning fixes 'crowded mix' problems faster than EQ alone.
If everything is in the middle, the mix sounds small. Panning makes it sound wide.
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