Mixer: Panning Left / Right for Spatial Definition?

[testing1two]

I always run systems in stereo but treat panning with kid gloves. It's a catch 22: in small spaces the panning effect is lost because of the stage volume; in mid size venues it can work provided there's not so much ambient reverberation or excessive stage volume to smear the stereo image. In large systems (i.e. anything with more than simple left/right stacks) stereo can be disastrous if, for example, a drum is panned 90% to one side becoming effectively inaudible to the audience on the other side of the venue.

That said in the case of club work I recommend focusing on reasonable stage volume (including monitor mixes), solid mono FOH mixes, and special attention to good bass management.

 

[AndyLES]

I find that it's probably better to think of a stereo live rig as "dual mono" more than TRUE stereo.

For example, one trick that FOH guys do is mic a single guitar amp cab with two mics, and then pan those far left/right. This of course is NOT true stereo, but what it does is create a "gap" in the middle that allows the vocal/kick/snare/hat/bass guitar to have greater clarity. The guitar signal of 100% identical in both speakers, so everyone in the venue is getting the full experience, but the advantage is that the aformentioned elements no longer have to compete.

Other tips: if the guitarist on stage right is pretty loud and won't listen to reason (but the size of the room still requires me to have him in the mix), I may pan him slightly to the other side to balance things out.

I also always try to route Fx returns into stereo - they just seems "wider" that way.

BUT, again, true stereo imaging (with distinct activity in the left and write channels) is of little benefit live. Think dual mono.

 

[lowfreq33]

Keyboards should have their left and right channels panned out to avoid phase cancellation. Some units use the same samples for left and right and delay one side (usually the right) to create the illusion of stereo separation.

 

[JTE]

My 30 years of experience is that for most bar bands, it's pointless and just more money to spend along with more gear to haul, set up, and tear down. If the pans are in the center, you're mono anyway. Spatial effects don't translate well enough to make a difference to the folks asking for "Stairway to Sweet Home Brown Eyed Proud Sally Mustang" anyway.

John

 

[Barisaxman]

Ditto to the above. My regular BE gig we use stereo mostly as dual-mono, as we play in some rooms where it's easy to kill half the crowd and have the other side asking for more. Easy to balance the stacks that way. That being said, we do pan drums and guitars slightly. Most people don't notice, but it can work nicely.

 

[toobalicious]

just to add to a point made above--- phase-cancellation on mono-summed keys and stereo effects can SUCK with a capital S.

break music can also suffer from this cancellation, to great sonic detriment. especially if some dillhole plugs their ipod adapter into a balanced jack, thereby effectively cancelling anything panned down the middle. hey, i have seen just that far too many times! believe it or not.