Stereo Perspective

[Mixwell]

Perhaps a NON-TECHNICAL discussion is in order, though it all "bleeds" over to the equipment and technique anyhow. I wish to put more focus on; the instruments themselves, and the overall production as it relates to the music. Tell us what works. Tell us what sucks. Tell us you put vocals hard left and drums hard right. Audience? Player? Something Else? You have a certain amount of "Real Estate" to work with, and I am not talking about Monopoly.

[Weiss-Sound]

First rule of thumb, the drum overheads do not need to be hard left and right. Seldom does this allow for the best imaging or the largest drum sound. Doubled guitar parts usually work nicely hard left and right.

The irony of stereo imaging in my experience is that the closer you get your left side to the sound of the right side, the wider and more solid the image. Lopsided images can be cool, but rarely make the most forward image.

Things are strongest in the center. I try to let my room sounds and reverbs do the stereo for the most part, and keep my dry elements center.

Things that are repetitious, like a hi hat on 8ths, or something of that ilk should get the hell away from the sides. These things are usually good panned just off the center, or in the center but tucked down in the mix.

[Tomasz]

First rule of thumb, the drum overheads do not need to be hard left and right. Seldom does this allow for the best imaging or the largest drum sound. Doubled guitar parts usually work nicely hard left and right.

Right on. As usually the drums are flanked by the guitars anyway, ( if we are talking about a live band) and to me the drums sound a little more punchy and powerful panned a little more "in".

[Sandyrb]

When mixing I tend to mentally divide stuff into two categories; "features" and "flavors". In my brain this works out as what's driving the track and what's augmenting the track. So I tend to give the "features" the prominent panning positions; center, left or right (but not necessarily 100%). Then the "flavors" get to fit round those somewhere.

The BIG rule for me, though, is that the soundscape mustn't be disorientating for the listener. So if I find it disorientating, they darn well will. I therefore tend to do mixes balanced rather than one-sided in any way. However there are times when that works, too. I heard a U2 record where they had drums/bass/vocals all centered and the guitar on one side and it was pretty good (although it sounded mastered to death).

But all this being said I *really* like, whenever possible, to capture actual stereo at source and just work with that. I'm a huge fan of spaciousness and dimensionality. I also like to use a lot of MS trickery and stuff to create unusual stereo images. As long as it all fits together nicely, sounds huge and doesn't make the listener puke, I guess I'm pretty happy. :)

Cheers,

[Tomasz]

As long as it all fits together nicely, sounds huge and doesn't make the listener puke, I guess I'm pretty happy. :)

Priceless!!

[pauly]

When mixing I tend to mentally divide stuff into two categories; "features" and "flavors".

sandy thats perfect, a little bell just went off in my head, thank you.

[Mixwell]

But all this being said I *really* like, whenever possible, to capture actual stereo at source and just work with that.

+bthead+