pentimentosound
All right Rob, I read the L-C-R article and now want to know if you use that concept.
Michael
michael,
yes and no.
and the issue with strict LCR mixing, and 'soft' mixing, is ultimately translation of your mix on other systems.
panning that one guitar part at exactly 22R, might sound GREAT....... in your room, on your monitors.
but played back in a proper studio, might just sound so close to center that it doesn't matter.
for a while, i worked strictly LCR.
and it really works.
but there are arguments for and against.
and just as many pro mixers, use EVERY position on the pan knob, as the ones that are strictly LCR.
so obviously, there are no rules, and if you make something work, then that's all that matters.
even still, i think for beginning mixers, using LCR makes a lot of sense.
talk about opening up a mix!!
talk about having to make mix decisions....
the way i started, was to do the best MONO mixes i could.
then, i would take certain tracks, and throw them out hard left or hard right.
you have to build a balanced mix this way, and that has a lot to do with how you track and arrange your tracks/overdubs.
i almost always use MONO source tracks, but often use STEREO FX, so i build my busses in stereo,
and usually use stereo effects, and use my SEND/RETURNS on individual tracks to set FX levels, and PAN
this way, even if you have a keyboard part hard panned left,
you can always apply a stereo effect (say, reverb) panned center, and get the larger spread on that track via the FX send..
or, leave it panned hard left, and hard pan the effects hard right.
if you record stereo tracks, you leave them in stereo, and the panning occurs based on exactly how you setup your stereo mics.
or, your stereo VST's, like the case with a lot of keyboard sounds.
but if you read all the way thru that LCR discussion, you will see that there are variances on how people use it.
i no longer mix strictly LCR, i find positions anywhere....
but, my tendency is to go strict LCR first......
and usually, i'll go 100% L or R, 50% L or R, and center.
but not always.
most of the best sounding STEREO mixes have most of their information in the center.
and the more you study "CLASSIC" rock mixes, the more you will realize how many of them are strictly LCR.
check these links out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDp8rsdmdEE http://www.moultonlabs.com/more/principles_of_multitrack_mixing_the_phantom_image/P0/ http://forum.cakewalk.com/Anybody-here-a-big-fan-of-LCR-panning-If-so-what-pointers-do-you-have-for-me-m2588371.aspx http://www.audiomediainternational.com/recording/ryan-mccambridge-lcr-mixing/01525