Panning difference...

[kooshan]

Hello
Today I was talking to some musician friends and couple of them unanimously agreed that when panning vocals, backvocals, instruments and … to the right they feel farther away and when doing the opposite(pan to the left) they hear and feel(perceive) closer to the listener .
I never felt this way and obviously I’ve always thought that panning certain sounds to left and right has nothing to do with them getting closer or farther away . Also I found absolutely nothing on Internet to scientifically support their weird idea .
Your thoughts please?

[Reminiscence]

The volume of the channel is also relevant, gives more spatial variation.

[kooshan]

Yes but the assumption is they are also equal

[selig]

I’ve been around for a long time, and heard all sorts of ‘things’ in my life. But even in the weird audio world, this is a new one.
First of all, you can’t get anyone to 100% agree on which way to pan drums or pianos, but no argument has ever been about which side is ‘closer/further’.
Second, the center image would totally break down if both sides were not able to be equal when panned center. And if they are equal, then panning to one side or the other would have zero effect except for on folks with a hearing problem in one ear compared to the other.
My answer to them would be “you do you”, because, well, whatever floats your boat!

[Reminiscence]

The center is like a hallway, panning left and right are like separate rooms?

[selig]

The center is like a hallway, panning left and right are like separate rooms?

I would say the center is like being center stage, and panning left/right is like being left/right of center stage.
The stereo image is often called a “soundstage”, after all….

[Reminiscence]

Aaah thanks, I like how this panned out...

[DaveyG]

Hello
Today I was talking to some musician friends and couple of them unanimously agreed that when panning vocals, backvocals, instruments and … to the right they feel farther away and when doing the opposite(pan to the left) they hear and feel(perceive) closer to the listener .
I never felt this way and obviously I’ve always thought that panning certain sounds to left and right has nothing to do with them getting closer or farther away . Also I found absolutely nothing on Internet to scientifically support their weird idea .
Your thoughts please?

I reckon they are either sitting too close to the left speaker or they are a bit more deaf in their right ear. Or maybe they were just enjoying winding you up.

Mind you, some years ago I was startled to discover that the colour of a guitar affects the sound. Since then I have always been careful to keep notes about the colour of any guitar I record to help me when mixing.

[kooshan]

Thanks selig !
Yeah I totally agree but sometimes I read somewhere that for instance panning (guitars, background stuff and ... )to the left makes them more audible and panning keyboard and sharp instuments to the right makes them more percievable and to be honest what I just mentioned has many many votes .
So this is when I realize some people do actually tend to agree on some beliefs regarding panning .

[selig]

Thanks selig !
Yeah I totally agree but sometimes I read somewhere that for instance panning (guitars, background stuff and ... )to the left makes them more audible and panning keyboard and sharp instuments to the right makes them more percievable and to be honest what I just mentioned has many many votes .
So this is when I realize some people do actually tend to agree on some beliefs regarding panning .

So “people are saying” to the left is more “audible” and right is more “perceivable”. What about the center, where we tend to put all that most important stuff, is the center therefore “less audible AND less perceivable”?

As for people agreeing on panning beliefs, also remember there are lots of folks who agree the world is flat, so there’s that…

[huggermugger]

"Beliefs regarding panning"? Since when did panning become a religion? This is the silliest thread I've seen here in a long time.

[guitfnky]

your friends might have some excess wax in their right ears.

[kooshan]

Thanks selig !
Yeah I totally agree but sometimes I read somewhere that for instance panning (guitars, background stuff and ... )to the left makes them more audible and panning keyboard and sharp instuments to the right makes them more percievable and to be honest what I just mentioned has many many votes .
So this is when I realize some people do actually tend to agree on some beliefs regarding panning .

So “people are saying” to the left is more “audible” and right is more “perceivable”. What about the center, where we tend to put all that most important stuff, is the center therefore “less audible AND less perceivable”?

As for people agreeing on panning beliefs, also remember there are lots of folks who agree the world is flat, so there’s that…

Ofcourse there has been nothing reasonable in that assumtion, that's why I posted here to know others opinions:)

[motuscott]

Since when did panning become a religion?

Southern Pantheist, born & raised. Pass the Jesus on the left hand side.

[huggermugger]

Southern Pantheist, born & raised. Pass the Jesus on the left hand side.

LMAOOO

[selig]

Since when did panning become a religion?

Southern Pantheist, born & raised. Pass the Jesus on the left hand side.

As long as you're not one of those Pan-Pantheists – they'll believe ANYTHING

[supersmarter]

Different Pan Laws exist out there. Selig Gain tool covered it. There's even a nice Combinator that uses specific pan techniques and I can't remember the name of it now. Unfortunately.

[moneykube]

Southern Pantheist, born & raised. Pass the Jesus on the left hand side.

As long as you're not one of those Pan-Pantheists – they'll believe ANYTHING

but they play the flute well ... at least some of them.

Screen Shot 2024-05-12 at 9.59.57 PM.png

[mimidancer]

I’ve been around for a long time, and heard all sorts of ‘things’ in my life. But even in the weird audio world, this is a new one.
First of all, you can’t get anyone to 100% agree on which way to pan drums or pianos, but no argument has ever been about which side is ‘closer/further’.
Second, the center image would totally break down if both sides were not able to be equal when panned center. And if they are equal, then panning to one side or the other would have zero effect except for on folks with a hearing problem in one ear compared to the other.
My answer to them would be “you do you”, because, well, whatever floats your boat!

should have said whatever floats your point. sorry, I am a dork.

[selig]

I’ve been around for a long time, and heard all sorts of ‘things’ in my life. But even in the weird audio world, this is a new one.
First of all, you can’t get anyone to 100% agree on which way to pan drums or pianos, but no argument has ever been about which side is ‘closer/further’.
Second, the center image would totally break down if both sides were not able to be equal when panned center. And if they are equal, then panning to one side or the other would have zero effect except for on folks with a hearing problem in one ear compared to the other.
My answer to them would be “you do you”, because, well, whatever floats your boat!

should have said whatever floats your point. sorry, I am a dork.

What did I miss here?!?

[mimidancer]

should have said whatever floats your point. sorry, I am a dork.

What did I miss here?!?

sorry, you said whatever floats your boat. I was making a floating-point audio joke. I forget I am not funny.

[Popey]

What did I miss here?!?

sorry, you said whatever floats your boat. I was making a floating-point audio joke. I forget I am not funny.

I got it

Although I don't actually know what floating point is other than seeing it mentioned (eg 32bit,16 bit etc)