Episode 15 – Quick Tip on Panning – Calgary sound rentals – Behind the Scene Podcast

This weeks episode, a tip for home recording enthusiast on realistic panning.

Here is a transcript from the podcast.

Often when we record an instrument it will end up being a single track in our mix. The problem with this is that humans are binaural creatures, we have two ears. In the real world when a sound occurs we hear it from the ear closer to the sound source first and then with our other ear.

In our recordings if you have a mono signal both your left and right speakers will be producing the same level of signal so if you are listening with headphones the sound will appear to exist directly in front of you. If you pan the signal to one or the other side, more volume of that signal will occur in one or the other headphone which gives the impression that the instrument is closer to one ear.
The only problem is that the signal in the other speaker or headphone is occurring at the same time. This slight difference from the real world where sound is delayed slightly from one ear to the other will make the panning seem unnatural.

In the real world your other ear is hearing different reflections and absorptions mixed in along with the sound source. This combined sound will be different in each ear.
To create this effect in your workstation you could add an effect to a delayed signal in the panned channel with less volume.
You will be surprised at home much more lively your instrument will become.

With any luck I am in Mexico right now so I do not have anyone with me for our green room feature.

Hope you are staying warm and you can hear from us again next week.
Thank you for listening.