Question Regarding Pan Law

[Passante]

So I was trying to figure out which Pan Law should I use in my projects and there is a question that arises. They say, use -3db or -4.5db to compensate for the increased loudness of the signal when in the center, but...what I notice is that when I pan sounds to the sides, even with such Pan Laws, the signal appears louder to me on the sides. So If my hearing is more sensitive to sound when paned, wouldn't it be more logical for me to leave the Pan Law at 0db instead of reducing the signal at the center and thus increasing even more the sensation of the sound being louder on the sides.

[BertKoor]

Are you using headphones or speakers / monitors? That might make some difference...

Are you going to leave the pan position as-is, or are you moving it about for the listener?

If you leave the pan knobs stationary, you're going to compensate the apparent volume level anyway with a fader. So then whatever law you pick is completely irrelevant.

[Passante]

Hmmm, I'm using headphones. So this might be the reason? I'm being tricked by the phones?

[enroe]

Usually, the pan law should ensure that the signal also sounds good in mono or
"just as" as in stereo.

So if you press the "Mono button" in your master channel, the overall signal
shouldn't change drastically. For this to be the case, there is the "Pan-Law".

[Passante]

Usually, the pan law should ensure that the signal also sounds good in mono or
"just as" as in stereo.

So if you press the "Mono button" in your master channel, the overall signal
shouldn't change drastically. For this to be the case, there is the "Pan-Law".

And it didn't change in fact. So I mixed a project today using the 0db Pan Law then I switched the mix to mono and the overall peak level was identical in both cases.

[Cyoon]

So I was trying to figure out which Pan Law should I use in my projects and there is a question that arises. They say, use -3db or -4.5db to compensate for the increased loudness of the signal when in the center, but...what I notice is that when I pan sounds to the sides, even with such Pan Laws, the signal appears louder to me on the sides. So If my hearing is more sensitive to sound when paned, wouldn't it be more logical for me to leave the Pan Law at 0db instead of reducing the signal at the center and thus increasing even more the sensation of the sound being louder on the sides.

which DAW are you using? If it's ableton, Bitwig or Logic standard track pan, that's actually a balance knob.

[Passante]

I'm with Cubase. And what I'm noticing listening to the paning in Logic is how much more natural it sounds to me. In Cubase, regrdless of the settings, I have the impression that when I'm paning sounds kinda move in a circular way. They appear further and then come forward when reaching the sides.

[lfm]

In Cubase, regrdless of the settings, I have the impression that when I'm paning sounds kinda move in a circular way. They appear further and then come forward when reaching the sides.

That sounds like center is minus some dB, and they keep total energy from two channels over to one side.

Don't remember if Cubase had Cosine distribution or linear and that stuff.

There's a whole bunch in Cakewalk/Sonar with explanations.

* (Default) 0dB center, sin/cos taper, constant power. This choice causes a 3 dB boost in a signal that’s panned hard left or right, and no dip in output level in either channel when the signal is center panned.

* -3dB center, sin/cos taper, constant power. This choice causes no boost in a signal that’s panned hard left or right, and 3 dB dip in output level in either channel when the signal is center panned.

* 0dB center, square-root taper, constant power. This choice causes a 3 dB boost in a signal that’s panned hard left or right, and no dip in output level in either channel when the signal is center panned.

* -3dB center, square root taper, constant power. This choice causes no boost in a signal that’s panned hard left or right, and 3 dB dip in output level in either channel when the signal is center panned.

* -6dB center, linear taper. This choice causes no boost in a signal that’s panned hard left or right, and 6 dB dip in output level in either channel when the signal is center panned.

* 0 dB center, balance control. This choice causes no boost in a signal that’s panned hard left or right, and no dip in output level in either channel when the signal is center panned.

Explanations saying "no boost" is not true though, if dimmed towards center there will be a boost if panning to sides. But they talk about total power, I guess.

Then lookout if having sends on track you are panning, and that does not follow. Could obstruct the whole thing. So group send pan with track pan or something to remedy.