Mixer: Panning Left / Right for Spatial Definition?

[Zooberwerx]

Any tips? We're running vocals, guitars, bass, drums and I'd like to make the most of our stereo set-up.

Riis

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

My take on stereo setups in "normal" gig situations is that it's totally worthless.

-Any backline/bleed from the stage will render any stereo definition useless for those spesific instruments.
-Only the patrons in the "sweet-spot" or in the line midle of the speakers will benefit from stereo imaging.
-The very erratic directivity nature of most PA cabs will mess up the stereo image even more.
-The sound engineer has to be very skilled to pull it off.

The few years as a FOH engineer back in the day made me realize that there is a time and place for stereo imaging, and a live gig ain't either.

Regards
Sam

 

[Zooberwerx]

-The sound engineer has to be very skilled to pull it off.

Well, that let's me out. I did notice a difference when running canned tracks, hence the question.

Riis

 

[MNAirHead]

In a bar/live setting this is one more detail to go wrong.

Keep it Mono.. your audience really can't hear (especially if you're using amps)

IF you have something very techical or lonnnng sound checks.. may be a different story.

Timmy

 

[konodl18]

Well, that let's me out. I did notice a difference when running canned tracks, hence the question.

Riis

Comparing your live mix to pre-recorded music is tough. That's setting the bar pretty high. My guess is that you are noticing the clarity of the recording more than any effects from stereo panning of instruments on those tracks.

Derek

 

[RustyAxe]

Stereo separation is for recording work, IMO. If you try it for live work you'll find that there's exactly ONE seat in the house where it'll sound the way you imagine it ... everyone else will hear things out of balance in the mix, depending on where they're sitting.

 

[MooseLumps]

Your bass should be split about equally between the big speakers on the floor and the smaller ones on the stands. Leave it panned dead center.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Your bass should be split about equally between the big speakers on the floor and the smaller ones on the stands. Leave it panned dead center.

If we're talking the balance between the subs and mains, that's a function of EQ, xover, amp output, etc. If we're talking an equal split between the L & R mains, that's the pan pot...dead center, of course. Subs are mono summed and, therefore, not affected by pan position.

Come to think of it, with the exception of onboard stereo FX, doesn't dead center pan position on all mixer mic channels provide a mono image?

Riis

 

[Ryan L.]

We run mono, too. We've tried it running in stereo before, but there was honestly not enough difference to warrant doing it.

 

[jsm81]

yeah, i would definitely keep it mono. most rooms will fill with sound before anyone really notices that "that guitar is on the left, and that one's on the right." a good utilization of your stereo board would be to use the right for recording and the left for live. if your board has a split main fader, you can pump up the "L-ive" channel and keep the "R-ecord" channel tame for the recording. this will give you an opportunity to do some live recordings without putting a lot of stress on your sound guy.

 

[Munjibunga]

I just repatched our PA to stereo after running mono for, like 30 years. Ultimately, the guys who say mono works best at most gigs are correct. At medium to large venues, we'll leave the pan pots centered and play like it's a mono system. However, at more intimate venues, I'm going to pan a little and take advantage of stereo returns on some of the effects.

 

[walker rosewood]

I agree with everyone so far that panning is useless most of the time. That said, the times I've seen it done (and done it myself) was for crash cymbals, a choir, and a true stereo guitar rig (i.e. putting cabs on either side of the stage, with effects like a stereo chorus or delay).

In all cases, panning was around 10 and 2. Definitely not pinned hard left and right.

 

[deliciouspesto]

Don't use it for effect, use it for utility only... eg: to minimize distortion from given channels/speakers.

 

[MNAirHead]

Stereo also makes it tougher to RTA the room.

 

[Vic Winters]

I recently saw a band that used panning for effect while covering "What is and What Should Never Be" it really added to the song.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Stereo also makes it tougher to RTA the room.

Important as I'm using an auto-EQ.

Really need some clarification, though. If I'm running a stereo config. with all mic channels centered and no active FX, will I be seeing / hearing a stereo or mono image from the mains? I'm almost guessing it would be mono as I see no function that would induce any type or degree of stereo separation. Now, I could see where FX (chorus, flanger, delay, reverb) would "sweep" between the L & R channels.

Riis

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

You guessed correctly, it's mono in the mains.

Auto-EQ?

For setting up or continuously running during the set?

Regards
Sam

 

[Zooberwerx]

Hi.

You guessed correctly, it's mono in the mains.

Auto-EQ?

For setting up or continuously running during the set?

Regards
Sam

Thanks, Sam.

Using the auto-EQ for set-up only ("flat" default on a DriveRack). Really works and its neat to see the graphic representation when completed. I normally see a bit of low-mid and low end attenuation.

Riis

 

[TimmyP]

I run stereo, but I almost never pan:

Redundancy: If something craps out, maybe the other channel will still be working and a few clever patches will get me through the show.

Reverb: For those who can hear both sides of the system (and hopefully I'm one of them), reverb sounds much better in stereo.

 

[t bake]

+1 above I have found that being able to pan gutiar/bass in poor shaped /small rooms will help with volume keeping stage low makeing shure the long or full of folks side get good volume and the close side dont get blown away, As far as panning fx and such not worth it IMOM God Bless Gig on!!!