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Questions and Answers

When should a panning strategy be developed?

at the very beginning of the mix process

What is the default position of the two panning controls when creating a stereo track?

Soft left and soft right

Hard left and hard right (correct)

Center and hard right

Hard left and center

Auto-panning refers to the static use of panning effects.

False

Where should solo tracks typically be panned?

Center Signup and view all the answers

How should lead vocals generally be panned?

Center Signup and view all the answers

What is a common approach to panning background vocals?

Soft left and right Signup and view all the answers

How are tambourines and shakers typically positioned in terms of panning?

Opposite each other Signup and view all the answers

What is the suggested panning for wind chimes or rainstick for movement effect?

Hard left and hard right Signup and view all the answers

What is a common technique for doubling the horn section in a mix?

Recording all the parts with all the horns twice Signup and view all the answers

Why is mono compatibility less of a concern in contemporary mixing?

Most playback systems are stereo or surround. Signup and view all the answers

One creative advantage of using the full panning spectrum is disregarding mono compatibility.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the smile EQ named after?

The smile EQ is named after the curve that looks like a smile on a graphic EQ. Signup and view all the answers

What explains the difference in sound between a piano playing middle C and a guitar playing the same note?

Timbre Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of having elements change position in the panning spectrum as the music plays?

It can add a playful aspect or enhance the rhythmic presence of an element. Signup and view all the answers

Which movement option involves a sustained note bending up or down in pitch while moving from one side of the panning spectrum to the other?

Rapid left to right movement Signup and view all the answers

In the panning strategy, drums are panned in a way that reflects the physical setup of the kit, with kick and snare in the center and the rest of the kit panned accordingly. For instance, the hi-hat may be panned ______.

left Signup and view all the answers

Match the following panning strategy elements with their positioning in the stereo field:

Drums other than kick and snare = Reflect physical kit setup Rhythm instruments = Utilize the stereo field Bass = Center position Piano = Hard right position Signup and view all the answers

What is a common way to apply EQ as mentioned in the text?

Boost and Dip EQ Signup and view all the answers

What does EQ stand for?

Equalization Signup and view all the answers

Using a 'dip only' approach to EQ avoids all problems associated with boosting frequencies.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary tactic mentioned for achieving the optimal frequency balance or compromise between sounds that fit best and sound best?

using extreme settings to uncover how boosting or dipping certain frequencies affects the material Signup and view all the answers

When it comes to EQ'ing, what is the overriding bottom line advice mentioned in the content?

Use your ears Signup and view all the answers

What is the tension described in the text between when it comes to sound quality in a mix?

sounds best versus fits best Signup and view all the answers

When considering an acoustic guitar in a band setting, what type of sound is recommended for it to fit best with other instruments?

thin acoustic sound Signup and view all the answers

What is one example of an acoustic guitar EQ adjustment mentioned in the text to fit best in a mix?

High-mid and high-frequency boosting Signup and view all the answers

Using EQ in mixing should be balanced between 'sounds best' and 'fits best' for each element individually.

True Signup and view all the answers

The tension between 'sounds best' and 'fits best' is a common decision-making factor in mixing and mastering beyond questions regarding _____ decisions.

EQ Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Building a Mix

A panning strategy should be developed at the beginning of the mix process to avoid making changes later that can erode level settings.
Panning affects volume as well as position, so changes can impact the entire mix.

Panning Stereo Tracks

Stereo tracks typically represent a single element, such as a piano or drum set, recorded in stereo.
The two panning controls default to hard left and hard right, but can be adjusted to balance the stereo image.
Adjusting panning controls can help elements occupy a smaller piece of the stereo image, making them heard better in a mix.

Auto-Panning

Auto-panning is the creative use of dynamic panning effects, enhanced by DAW capabilities.
Auto-panning can add a playful aspect or enhance rhythmic presence, but can also be distracting and disorienting.

Session Panning Strategies

A typical session might include tracks for drums, bass, rhythm instruments, solo tracks, lead vocals, and background vocals.
A panning strategy might include:
- Drums: kick and snare center, with the rest of the kit panned to reflect the physical setup.
- Bass: center.
- Rhythm instruments: utilize the entire stereo field.
- Lead vocals and background vocals: panning depends on the mix and aesthetic goals.### Panning Strategy for a Mix
In a mix, rhythm guitars can be panned hard left and hard right, while the keyboard can be panned soft right.
The organ can be panned hard left and right, especially if it utilizes a Leslie speaker or Leslie speaker effect.
Rhythm guitars can be panned hard left and soft right, with the keyboard panned soft right.

Solo Tracks

Solo tracks are typically panned center, unless there are trading or combined elements in a solo passage, in which case they can be panned soft left and right.

Lead Vocal

The lead vocal is typically panned center.

Background Vocals

Background vocals can be panned soft left and right to create a nice bed for the lead vocal to sit in.
If there are many backing vocal parts, they can be spread across the full stereo image, with lower parts more centered and higher parts closer to the edge.
Focusing backing vocals on one side or another can help leave space if there are several rhythm instruments forming critical rhythm content and propulsion to the track.

Panning for a Large Band

Start with a panning strategy for a smaller band, then adapt for the addition of percussion, horn section, and string quartet.

Percussion

Tambourines and shakers need to be positioned relative to each other and the hi-hat and cymbals from the drum set.
Other hand percussion can be placed anywhere in the spectrum, but rarely benefits from center panning unless they are intended to dominate the mix.
Lower conga drums can be panned just off center, while higher drums can be panned farther toward the edge of the same side.

Horn Section

Strategies for the horn section vary depending on the size of the section.
Horns can be grouped on one side or the other, with lower instruments more toward the center and higher instruments shifted farther to the edge.
Double-tracking the horn section can help to feature the horns, with one track panned left and one right.

String Quartet

A string quartet can be dealt with similarly to the horn section, with the possibility of doubling the section in popular music applications.
Strings and horns can serve different functions, allowing them to occupy some of the same space in the stereo image without competing with each other too much.### Mono Compatibility and Panning
Previously, mixers had to be concerned with mono compatibility due to mono-only playback formats like AM radio and TVs, but this is no longer a concern with modern stereo and surround playback systems.
Even with less-than-ideal speaker placement, mono compatibility is not a major issue, allowing mixers to use the full panning spectrum creatively without worrying about mono playback.

EQ Processing

EQ is the most powerful and frequently used processor for shaping audio in the mix.
EQ can be used to correct the natural frequency bias of our hearing by increasing lows and highs, known as the "smile EQ".
EQ settings can be used to emphasize the unique timbre of an instrument, enhancing its character.

The Smile EQ

The smile EQ gets its name from the EQ curve resembling a smile on a graphic EQ.
The smile EQ corrects for the ear's bias towards midrange frequencies, which are more prominent at lower listening levels.

Timbre and Overtone Series

Timbre is the quality of a sound that defines an instrument, and is influenced by the overtone series.
The overtone series is the series of harmonics above the fundamental tone that gives a note its name and pitch.
Variations in the overtone series give an instrument its unique character.

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Quiz on understanding copyright rules and fair use permissions, especially in academic and educational settings.