Panning
Definition
The placement of an audio signal in the stereo field between left and right speakers. Used to create width, separation, and spatial interest in a mix.
In Simple Terms
Placing sounds left, right, or anywhere in between. Drums wide, bass centered, guitars left and right—panning creates the sense of width and space in your mix. Without it, everything stacks on top of each other.
In Practice
In a rock mix, rhythm guitars are panned left and right while bass and kick drum remain centered, creating a balanced stereo image.
Dolby Atmos Context
In Dolby Atmos, panning extends beyond left/right to include front/back depth and vertical height positioning, enabling full three-dimensional placement of any sound.