The keyboardist - take two channels, pan one mostly left, pan the other mostly right. He is in "stereo" but the others are not.
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Running the PA in mono vs. stereo
- Thread starter N. Kentucky Bass
- Start date
PA is set up as stereo most of the time, FX returns are in stereo as is playback music. Stereo input sources get a little panning.
Did a Zeppelin tribute a few weeks ago and did some hard left right back and forth panning in a few songs on the guitar and Theremin kind of like as done on the records.
Did a Zeppelin tribute a few weeks ago and did some hard left right back and forth panning in a few songs on the guitar and Theremin kind of like as done on the records.
I think it’s more of a question as to what’s needed vs what’s better:
Stereo is better - not critical, but will be better for creating spacial soundscapes
But, there are many things that fall into this category:
- Stereo reverb
- Compression
- Gating
- Placement in the mix
- EQ ranges for various instruments
- PA head room & frequency range
- Amps vs amp-less
- Cross-over frequencies
- Time delay of fill speakers
- Speaker phase
- Mic placement on drums
- Mic types on drums
…and on and on
None of it’s necessary, but, the more of these things done well the better things sound
Stereo is better - not critical, but will be better for creating spacial soundscapes
But, there are many things that fall into this category:
- Stereo reverb
- Compression
- Gating
- Placement in the mix
- EQ ranges for various instruments
- PA head room & frequency range
- Amps vs amp-less
- Cross-over frequencies
- Time delay of fill speakers
- Speaker phase
- Mic placement on drums
- Mic types on drums
…and on and on
None of it’s necessary, but, the more of these things done well the better things sound
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Can you describe how putting the PA in stereo or mono applies to these two items?
What I was saying is that Stereo is just one of many items that make things better but are not critical. The list is just a sample of those items that you can choose to add to make things better but are not critical. Just depends on the knowledge, cost and effort that the band wants to put into ratcheting up the sound quality. None it’s critical but each item steps up the sound quality game.
For context: Here are two typical venues with my PA. Toms are panned about 50/50 (ie; not hard panned) and overheads are panned hard (ie fully panned). Keys are panned about 50%/50%
Guitar pedal board is stereo out and generally panned hard. Bass/snare/kick/vocals are generally centred (unless I’m in a venue where a mic is too close to a speaker and I pan away from the speaker to get more volume before feedback). Vocals have a stereo reverb, lead vocal has a subtle stereo delay (works well to phatten and create richness).
Stereo reverb for drums.
Mono reverb for bass (on pedal board)
Generally the keys or guitar will dial in their own ‘venue suitable’ sound and it’s very rare I add ‘verb on the desk for them - only if they are inexplicably dry as a bone.
As you can see, not enormous venues, but can get a good sound with the gear I use (Midas MR18 (same as the Behringer XAIR), RCF ART710A tops and RCF AS702Mk2 subs. All fits in my Skoda Fabia with my bass rig, light enough for me to set up and strike on my own without straining. These days there are newer models I’d choose but had this rig a few years and it suits my needs - I can make money from it and it works in every gig. I like using subs on both sides because speaker tripod stands are terrible and I hate them. The subs are more stable, safer, look better, and take less floor area.
Tonight’s gig is a function room upstairs at a golf club for a teacher’s leaving party. Next week at a holiday park, etc etc. All very rock and roll!!
Hope this is interesting - not directly related to the OP question but useful context I hope!
Guitar pedal board is stereo out and generally panned hard. Bass/snare/kick/vocals are generally centred (unless I’m in a venue where a mic is too close to a speaker and I pan away from the speaker to get more volume before feedback). Vocals have a stereo reverb, lead vocal has a subtle stereo delay (works well to phatten and create richness).
Stereo reverb for drums.
Mono reverb for bass (on pedal board)
Generally the keys or guitar will dial in their own ‘venue suitable’ sound and it’s very rare I add ‘verb on the desk for them - only if they are inexplicably dry as a bone.
As you can see, not enormous venues, but can get a good sound with the gear I use (Midas MR18 (same as the Behringer XAIR), RCF ART710A tops and RCF AS702Mk2 subs. All fits in my Skoda Fabia with my bass rig, light enough for me to set up and strike on my own without straining. These days there are newer models I’d choose but had this rig a few years and it suits my needs - I can make money from it and it works in every gig. I like using subs on both sides because speaker tripod stands are terrible and I hate them. The subs are more stable, safer, look better, and take less floor area.
Tonight’s gig is a function room upstairs at a golf club for a teacher’s leaving party. Next week at a holiday park, etc etc. All very rock and roll!!
Hope this is interesting - not directly related to the OP question but useful context I hope!
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Mono 100%. I have enough to do... (making sure all the band members get to the venue on time, hauling in the equipment, setting up the PA, running cables, connecting all the mics and instruments, running sound check, EQing all the channels, balancing the faders, rounding up band members to kick of show, staying ready to pounce of feedback, monitoring band volume, mixing single IEM transmission, playing the bass, making sure guitars come in, making sure singers come in, locking in w drummer to keep tempo, monitoring audience non-verbal cues, keeping set time, monitoring set progression, keeping an eye on drummer's beer intake, keeping an eye on the guitarist drug intake, keeping drunken dancers from crashing into equipment, repeating to drunk girl "we already played American Girl", repeating to drunk guy "No, Freebird is not in our set", trying to locate where I put my beer...)
With all this going on, panning individual channels left and right just hasn't risen up on the priority list.
Maybe next year...
With all this going on, panning individual channels left and right just hasn't risen up on the priority list.
Maybe next year...
As I often do, I wander into a thread to find Wasnex has already made my point for me. I work with one guitarist who is in the process of going either ampless or too a very small amp, but for the moment there is backline guitar in stage right and not on stage left. His signal is panned to stage left. Sometimes I'll slightly pan some things maybe 10-15% just to make space, but barring practical things like the above guitarist nothing is hard panned as both sides of the audience need to hear things.
