HOW TO EFFECTIVELY USE PANNING IN PODCASTS

If you’ve ever listened to a podcast or a song and it felt like the sounds were surrounding you, this might be because of a powerful editing technique called panning. 

Panning places every instrument, voice, and sound effect across the stereo field, making it feel like the sounds are coming from different directions. This creates a rich, three-dimensional listening experience, which enhances the immersive quality of your audio content.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to effectively use panning in audio, particularly in podcasts, to engage your listeners.

 

What is panning in music?

Panning in music is the technique of placing sounds within the stereo playback system. By adjusting the position of each sound, panning allows you to create the effect of sounds coming from the left speaker, the right speaker, or any point between them.

This technique helps you to create a sense of space within the soundscape. It gives each sound its own position within the stereo field, the left-to-right area where the sounds are placed.

Panning audio, in this way, ensures that each element in your mix is clear and distinct, stopping sounds from competing with each other.

 

Why is panning in music important?

Panning in music is essential for creating a balanced and clear mix. By giving each sound its own space, panning ensures that instruments and effects don’t compete for space.

This allows each sound to be heard clearly, contributing to a more immersive listening experience, where your audience can better sense the direction and distance of each sound.

When panning, it’s also important to consider how the audio will sound on different playback systems. Here’s a breakdown of how panning affects each setup:

• Mono playback system: A system that outputs sound through one channel, typically using a single speaker

• Mono Mix: All sounds are centered, making it compatible with both mono and stereo systems

• Stereo playback system: Audio is delivered through two channels using two speakers, creating a wider soundscape

• Stereo Mix: Sounds are spread across the left and right sides of the stereo field, which means the mix can only be played on stereo playback systems  

 

What are the benefits to panning in music?

Panning offers many creative benefits in both audio mixing and podcast production. 

It enhances stereo separation by placing each sound within the left and right channels of the stereo field. For example, placing the guitarist to the right and the drummer in the middle during a recording ensures both instruments are heard clearly in the mix.

Panning also mimics how people naturally perceive sounds around them, creating a more realistic and immersive listening experience. When a podcaster reviews a game of football, for instance, panning the background sounds of chanting fans across the stereo field can make it feel as though the listener is in the stadium.

Placing sounds across the stereo field can also help recreate the dynamics of a live stage. This gives music a richer, more authentic feel by simulating the natural environment of a performance.

 

How to effectively use panning?

There are no set rules for panning, but these six expert tips will help you use panning effectively in your podcast.

1. Leave your low frequencies at the centre

Stereo sound is common, but mono sound is still solid and energetic. To make your bass sound powerful, you should keep it mono. If you don’t, it can sound weak and unclear if it’s too wide across the stereo field. 

Keep your bass frequencies below 100 Hz in mono so it maintains its punch. For instruments with low and high frequencies, pan the audio by keeping the low parts in mono and spreading the high parts in stereo.

 

2. Pan for seperation

Panning is great at separating sounds that share the same frequency range, such as guitars and keyboards. By placing these sounds in different positions within the stereo field, each instrument can be heard clearly.

Try to avoid extreme left or right panning as it can result in a muffled sound instead of a broad and open feel. Instead, experiment with more subtle placements within the stereo field to find the ideal balance for each sound.

 

3. Be creative with a clear purpose

Panning can be used creatively to build a story within your audio, adding contrast and tension to the mix. However, you must have a clear idea of how you’ll pan your tracks beforehand, as too much panning can confuse the listener.

For example, you could take a nature sound theme like birds flying and pan the audio from left to right to simulate their movement across the sky. This purposeful use of panning adds depth without overwhelming the audience.

 

4. Check for mono compatability 

Many people listen to music and podcasts through smart speakers and mobile devices, which often don’t have full stereo playback. For this reason, you need to make sure your audio output is compatible with a mono-playback system.

Making sure the music works in mono guarantees it will sound clear on any device, ensuring that no important sounds disappear or get too loud. 

 

5. Test your pans on speakers and headphones 

Sounds can vary significantly between headphones and loudspeakers, so what sounds good on one may not sound good on the other.

For example, hard panning doesn’t sound natural in headphones, while placing sounds too wide in the mix can cause them to get lost on certain playback systems. 

Before finalizing a mix, test your track on different playback systems. Play it on a car stereo, earbuds, and home speakers to identify any issues. This ensures a consistent listening experience, regardless of the device.

 

6. Review your levels

The volume of an instrument can change after panning, which can be quite noticeable. It’s important to check the level of instruments while panning and to double-check when converting the track to mono. This is because the levels may change again. 

By reviewing the levels throughout, you can ensure that your mix sounds balanced and consistent across different playback systems.

 

Deepen engagement in your pods with panning

Panning makes your audio mixes sound clearer and stand out for a more enjoyable listening experience. 

Whether it’s immersing your listener in tribal beats for a travel podcast or panning the roar of engines roaring for your F1 podcast, panning adds depth and realism to your content.

Universal Music for Creators offers an extensive library of high-quality sounds and tracks that can elevate your panning approach. Register today and gain access to over 50,000 tracks and 200,000 sound effects to enhance your audio projects.