How do you Pan a Stereo Track?

Maybe record this piano to a new mono track, and then place that where you want it?

Channel Tools - That's the Cakewalk plug-in made to order for situations like that.  In fact, using Channel Tools to narrow the stereo field of a super wide piano is exactly what I use it for most often.  Just put the plug-in in the FX bin, and try the pre-set "Narrow" - it does just what it says.  Now you can pan the whole piano over a bit to where you want it, with the results you want.

Randy B.

Or just bounce it to a mono track.

Also Stereo Tool from Flux is handy, free & helpful in many situations.

https://www.fluxhome.com/download

--tapping the microphone--tink tink--"Is this thing on?"

It's like I'm talking in an empty room.  -- Mooch, Larry - the most lame solution would be to bounce to a mono track.  We're talking about a sophisticated piano instrument which has been rendered in stereo.  The difference between a mono instrument and a stereo one is huge.  You don't want to destroy that.  It's just that the stereo field of some stereo sampled pianos is too wide.  It's fine for solo piano work, but in a mix with other instruments, it can sound like a 40 foot wide piano.  The stereo field just needs to be narrowed down, and then the instrument can be panned wherever it's needed in a track, usually just off centered, traditionally to the left.

And Carl, there's no need for a freebie 3rd party plug-in.  Maybe Channel Tools in Sonar is a little-understood and neglected plug-in, but this is exactly the sort of thing it's designed for.  It's a stereo imaging tool, and an excellent one at that.

I deal on almost a daily basis with a close-miked piano library, and I need to make its stereo spread narrower to sit in mixes.  I know what I'm talking about.  It's a simple matter of strapping Channel Tools to the audio track, narrowing its image, and then panning the piano where I want it.

Bstrong, trust me, I do know what I'm talking about on this.

Randy B.

So I'm reading in this thread a couple of ideas. One is to use the Channel strip to narrow the stereo field and the other is to bounce to a mono track. What if the OP tried both (even the lame ideas) so he could see what worked best in his particular mix? I really don't care, just wanted to present an option, even a lame one for the OP to experiment with. And I'm not sure how presenting a 'lame' idea calls anyone's expertise into question - but it is the Sonar forum and you never know what we'll read into a simple attempt to help.

Randy and Larry are both right. It depends on the track which approach to take.

IMO stereo tracks should be used judiciously, and only when stereo is truly called for. Then use Channel Tools for panning/narrowing. By default, if there is no compelling reason to do it in stereo, then bounce to mono.

Pianos can go either way, depending on how prominent they are in the mix, but IMO they should only be stereo when part of a small ensemble such as a jazz trio, or when played solo. Even in a classical orchestra setting, audiences hear the piano as a mono source - only the piano player hears it in stereo.

Prior to the introduction of Channel Tools in SONAR 7, my strategy had been to simply avoid stereo tracks altogether. I still prefer mono tracks, but I am no longer so averse to stereo files because Channel Tools makes it easy to position a stereo instrument in the panorama.

Mooch4056

It's like I'm talking in an empty room.  -- Mooch, Larry - the most lame solution would be to bounce to a mono track

oh sorry master of all things recorded in stereo piano! You are the master and I shall bow down in my lameness to worship the all knowing of panning recorded stereo piano tracks using the channel tool. 

You may rise.  Go forth and be lame no longer. 

Randy B.

Or bouncing to mono?

Jim Roseberry

 
Channel Tools is exactly what the OP is looking for...
You can collapse/pan the Left/Right channels, flip the phase of either channel, change the gain of either channel, delay either channel, swap channels, etc...

Yep, as per reply #4 where I explained Channel Tools would accomplish the stereo narrowing bstrong asked for, and as per post #11 where bstrong, the OP, said thanks, and that he'd try Channel Tools.  He didn't ask to have his stereo instrument changed to mono, he asked how to pan such a wide instrument without totally losing the stereo image which is part of the instrument's natural sounding effect. 

People are constantly doing multiple tracks of a mono guitar, hard left and right tracks with echos etc, in an effort to fatten up the instrument's sound.  When a piano is a crucial lead instrument in a relatively sparse line-up, like a jazz combo, reducing the piano to mono would be a major flaw in the recording. 

Thanks, Jim for reiterating the Channel Tools info - It does seem to be a neglected plug-in, despite how useful it can be.

Randy B.