So how would you pan a guitar,bass,drum,vocal band with the occasional lead and keyboard? Basically a Rush type band. It seems like they "hug" the center,but how does it not sound cluttered?
Panning a three piece band
- Thread starter Rupturemetal
- Start date
bryan_kilco
Member
Double track all rhythm parts, pan hard L/R, bass centered, drums panned to their respective areas, leads and keys centered. Automate EQ or volume on rhythm guitars when leads or keys come in to make space.
Scott Horner
Scottimus Maximus
heshian46
Member
No offense but there are some very sneap-forum-esque answers here. Double tracked guitars all the time = less dynamics. Save double tracking for choruses.
I'd definitely use some stereo chorus on the bass - don't pan it 100 L/R - just enough to widen the low end a touch. Pan the rhythm to one side, again not 100 L or R. I'd use a stereo reverb to make it feel wider and also a mono delay panned to the other side. You'll have to automate the panning a lot but this will make your mix more interesting anyway.
This will give you waaaaaay more scope it inject more dynamics into the song. Double tracking definitely shouldn't be something you do for every part.
I'd definitely use some stereo chorus on the bass - don't pan it 100 L/R - just enough to widen the low end a touch. Pan the rhythm to one side, again not 100 L or R. I'd use a stereo reverb to make it feel wider and also a mono delay panned to the other side. You'll have to automate the panning a lot but this will make your mix more interesting anyway.
This will give you waaaaaay more scope it inject more dynamics into the song. Double tracking definitely shouldn't be something you do for every part.
jackbraglia
Member
interesting how the bass is panned to the right. i always loved that about a lot of songs from the 60's where the drums will be panned fully right or left.
BLUElightCory
Member
You could also consider tracking a room mic for the guitar, so the close mic is panned to one side and the room mic is panned opposite. Then bass/vocals centered and drums however you like.
That way you get the feel of a single guitar but you still get some stereo width/depth.
If it has already been tracked you can fake the room mic with reverb or re-amping.
That way you get the feel of a single guitar but you still get some stereo width/depth.
If it has already been tracked you can fake the room mic with reverb or re-amping.
