Johnbee's thread about Perfect Spaces, and John's reply which mentioned Melda products, has got me thinking again panning and how to improve my mix. I'm doing orchestral music, and blending different sample libraries. They all have their own panning scheme, usually the default positions the instruments were recorded in. So, I always pan everything to my preferred potions, which are based on Sonar's old parameters (going way back to when Cakewalk came with a thick book). I do make some adjustments, but those are my reference points. I have looked at Virtual Sound Stage as a way of getting depth, as panning only gives you one dimension. Now, I see that Melda has these new reverbs, which include spatial positioning. So now I'm again thinking about this issue and how to finally get it right. 
 
One thing that confuses me, though, is how do you set each instrument independently? Don't you have to have each one on its own synth? Which means way too many synths in my case, like 40 or more, which I don't think my computer could handle. Or do these plug-ins have a way around that? Not sure if anyone here has tried to solve this before, but if anyone has any thoughts, I would certainly welcome them.

Just wondering, should this post be moved to the software forum? It does involve other products and maybe would do better there?

I will be glad to move it there or would you prefer Techniques?

Actually yes, Techniques would be better. Thanks!

I have composed a lot of music for TV and film and some of it orchestral. When I first started this I did not know what to do either but after going to a classical concert I was able to do it much better.
 
Look at the stage and see how things are laid out. Also there are many diagrams showing orchestral setups on the net too. I started panning things the same way.
 
Also with the things right at the back I added a little more reverb and tamed the top end down a little too being further away. It is best to use one reverb as well because that is how the orchestra is reverberated.
 
I have every element as a separate synth too so I can do this much more easily.

Here is one possible panning scheme that preserves the natural seating position of a modern symphony orchestra.
1st violins – 50%L
2nd violins – <50%L
Violas – C or <10%R
Celli – <50%R
Basses – 50%R
Trumpets – 33%R
Horns – 33%L
Trombones/tuba – 50%R
Flutes/clarinets – <20%L
Oboes/bassoons – <20%R
Timpani and bass drum – C
Other Percussion - to taste

For panning, I usually use the VSTi. I set each instrument / articulation to where I want it to be left to right. For depth, I use a combination of volume, timbre and reverb. I like EW QL Spaces because it has halls set up for each section of the orchestra. The IRs were recorded in the proper positions of the sections. 
 
If I need say the trumpets to sound far off in the distance I will add extra reverb, but also change the timbre. The volume (expression) may be softer but I will add some of that brass "buzz" that you hear when a trumpet is played loudly. That fools the ear into thinking the trumpet is far off.
 
If you were using virtual sound stage I would guess you would need to zero-center each section so Virtual Sound stage could do its thing? Wouldn't you? I also believe VSS has its own early reflections so the instruments and reverb you use should not have ERs..

garybrun
Here is one possible panning scheme that preserves the natural seating position of a modern symphony orchestra.
1st violins – 50%L
2nd violins – <50%L
Violas – C or <10%R
Celli – <50%R
Basses – 50%R
Trumpets – 33%R
Horns – 33%L
Trombones/tuba – 50%R
Flutes/clarinets – <20%L
Oboes/bassoons – <20%R
Timpani and bass drum – C
Other Percussion - to taste

I think I have seen this scheme before. It can produce good results. It's considerably more concentrated toward the center than the old Cakewalk pans. Which, by the way, I got from the virtual sound canvas, if my memory serves.
 
My current experiment is this:
I'm leaving all my string groups in their native positions, since it appears the different libraries are using the same approximate scheme (violins left, violas center, cello/bass right). For the other instruments, I'm using EWSO's default pans, which you can get from the Play synth (numerical values, so you can apply them exactly to other libraries). I then pan my other libraries to those values. So far, the results seem very good. There are some major differences between EWSO and GPO. For example, EW has the flutes right, where GPO has them left. EW has the clarinets much farther left, and trumpets much farther right, than GPO. You could leave everything in their native positions, like the strings. This would presumably let them sound their best, but then the different libraries would be out of synch. One minute the flutes would be on the left; later they would be on the right. Plus, there could be some interference patterns set up. So I'm going with the first option. For now, anyway.