Here's something we may not have learned just by listening to music on a stereo system over the years:
No matter how it sounds, the recording does not put all music of one instrument to the right side and all of a 2nd instrument on the left for "balance."
Of course, we can play with the balance to learn this.
And if you're going "duh", please remember that this is a blog not for professionals... Just easy hints.
A history bit of trivia: I've been told by a studio producer that "back in the days" when stereo recording was first used for rock bands, a famous band panned all guitars to one side and all drums to the other side. Only later did they remember (from complaints) --- not all people had updated their record players to have stereo capabilities! Imagine the sound difference of no drums or bass on a driving rock song!
Track pan mistakes are common for beginners.
For example, church volunteers recording a choir practice
often mistakenly put all the choir to one speaker and all the instruments to the other side. This is *literally* painful, tiring out your ears, straining to hear the desired side, unless you're directly in front of both speakers. Which you are not in a vehicle.
And of course, occasionally one speaker does go out...
Of course, we can play with the balance to learn this.
And if you're going "duh", please remember that this is a blog not for professionals... Just easy hints.
A history bit of trivia: I've been told by a studio producer that "back in the days" when stereo recording was first used for rock bands, a famous band panned all guitars to one side and all drums to the other side. Only later did they remember (from complaints) --- not all people had updated their record players to have stereo capabilities! Imagine the sound difference of no drums or bass on a driving rock song!
Track pan mistakes are common for beginners.
For example, church volunteers recording a choir practice
often mistakenly put all the choir to one speaker and all the instruments to the other side. This is *literally* painful, tiring out your ears, straining to hear the desired side, unless you're directly in front of both speakers. Which you are not in a vehicle.
And of course, occasionally one speaker does go out...
EASY HINT--
1. Keep the drums and lead instrument (probably keyboard) centered.
2. If just a single vocal track, centered it. If there are 2, set one to "10:00" and the other to "2:00". Or whatever pan you prefer.
3. Pair up similar sounding tracks (in tone), and set one to 10:00 and the other to 2:00.
I like to pair (flute & oboe) and (violins & cello).
2. If just a single vocal track, centered it. If there are 2, set one to "10:00" and the other to "2:00". Or whatever pan you prefer.
3. Pair up similar sounding tracks (in tone), and set one to 10:00 and the other to 2:00.
I like to pair (flute & oboe) and (violins & cello).
Much
joy to you playing with music! Including, if you move to larger studio programs, having fun "writing" pans back and forth for weird effects!
©2013 DianaDee Osborne; all rights reserved
