As I understand it (albeit not terribly well), you only really need to worry about pan laws if converting a stereo mix to a mono one, isn't it?

Also, as mentioned above, it you use automated panning then how this will sound will depend upon the pan law being applied.

Here ya go! Read this.

http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/tips/panning_laws/

So Papa2004 was correct: This from the article . . .

0dB center, balance control. The signal level stays constant whether the signal is in the left channel, right channel, or set to the middle.

This is what I wanted.

Thanks to drumr for posting the article, and to Papa for knowing it without the article. I'm using this as my default from now on, as I'm NOT moving to any other DAW because of my chronic SONAR addiction.

0dB center, balance control. The signal level stays constant whether the signal is in the left channel, right channel, or set to the middle.

This is what I wanted.

But, if I don't misunderstand it... That will really cause the sound to appear 3 dB softer as one channel is removed (compare to if you would play a track and it's clone to the master bus and then remove the clone). The +3 dB or -3 dB is to make the sound appear at constant level.

What I still don't understand is the different tapers in Sonar but as Hansenhaus and others have pointed out the difference seem to be small.

Although I don't have the book in front of me I distinctly remember Roey Izhaki from "Mixing Audio" recommending a -3db law.

Ken

ORIGINAL: Legion

0dB center, balance control. The signal level stays constant whether the signal is in the left channel, right channel, or set to the middle.

This is what I wanted.

But, if I don't misunderstand it... That will really cause the sound to appear 3 dB softer as one channel is removed (compare to if you would play a track and it's clone to the master bus and then remove the clone). The +3 dB or -3 dB is to make the sound appear at constant level.

What I still don't understand is the different tapers in Sonar but as Hansenhaus and others have pointed out the difference seem to be small.

Maybe I'm thick (and I for one have never suggested that I'm NOT) but this statement:

The signal level stays constant whether the signal is in the left channel, right channel, or set to the middle.

—suggests otherwise.

Unless I'm failing to comprehend a deeper meaning or some hidden inuendo somewhere?

Best way to be sure would be to compare using an average meter like Voxengo Span (if the ears don't cut the cheese).

ORIGINAL: spindlebox
Maybe I'm thick (and I for one have never suggested that I'm NOT) but this statement:

The signal level stays constant whether the signal is in the left channel, right channel, or set to the middle.

—suggests otherwise.

Unless I'm failing to comprehend a deeper meaning or some hidden inuendo somewhere?

How about an example:

You are sitting in front of a pair of speakers. You send a signal to only the left speaker. You hear that volume level. It is even measurable with a simple dB meter. Now you send the exact same signal to both speakers. Is it louder? Yes, because you now have two speakers producing the same output. By how much? About 3dB. That is the "0dB center, balance control" panning law.

Now, let's say as you go from hard panned on either side to full center you want the perceived volume to be unchanged. The only way to accomplish that is to gradually decrease the signal level as the signal approaches the center. That would be by a full -3dB when fully centered. Now, the volume level (again, measurable with a meter), stays the same when centered (two speakers the same volume as one). That is the "-3dB center, constant power" panning laws (sin/cos or square root taper).

Finally, let's say when you go from full center to hard panned one side you want the volume level to remain unchanged. You would accomplish that by increasing the signal as you pan, to where it is increased 3dB when fully panned (one speaker the same volume as two). That is the "0dB center, constant power" panning laws (Sonar's default is the sin/cos taper version).

Helpful?

Helpful?

Actually, this is getting funny.

. . . uuuhh . . . I g-g-uesss SO . . . M-M-mister . . . I g-g-uessss I undah-stayanddd DUH movin' side tuh side thang.

What's this all about then?

The signal level stays constant

To me, that means

THE
SIGNAL LEVEL (i.e., volume)
STAYS (i.e., doesn't change)
CONSTANT (i.e., the same throughout)


—HELPFUL?

ORIGINAL: spindlebox
What's this all about then?

The signal level stays constant

To me, that means

THE
SIGNAL LEVEL (i.e., volume)
STAYS (i.e., doesn't change)
CONSTANT (i.e., the same throughout)

Signal level is NOT volume. Volume is more closely associated with power, as in the "constant power" pan laws. Volume is the combination of what you hear coming out of two speakers.

When the signal stays constant (your 0dB center, balance control panning law), the net result is a +3dB gain (double the power) at the center because you are putting that same signal into two channels vs. one. Pan to one side, result is 3dB lower (half the power). So the SIGNAL LEVEL stays constant, but the volume (POWER) increases when you pan to the center. In order for it not to increase, you need to decrease the signal when panning toward the center (or increase when panning outward).

Constant signal does not mean constant power.

If you want your tracks to be louder in the center, use the balance control panning law. If you want the level to remain relatively the same regardless of where they're panned, use one of the constant power panning laws.