LCR Panning

What is LCR panning? Sounds are only panned hard left, hard right, or in the center.

Why should I consider LCR panning? It widens the image and really frees up space to add effects and extra percussion into the mix.

Shouldn't I take advantage of the ability to softpan? Yes but it should be rarely done.

For example, you might have a kick, bass, and vocals down the center, maybe a guitar hard right and a piano hard left. This would be a pretty clear and definite sounding mix. You can then softpan background vocals and effects or pan them hard right and left. You can stack instruments to the left or right they shouldn't clash and if they do you will treat them with an EQ and compression.

Stereo is an illusion, and that's the thing to remember, stereo IS an illusion.

Don't overthink it and when in doubt why not pan hard right and left and if you feel it's too far then you can always pull it back!

These are my thoughts about LCR and really because I finally decided to start doing it and I Love the results. 

Hope this helps!

#EveryDetailCounts! #PowerUp!

A Lot of Little Tweaks

When mixing, you need to keep in mind it's making many small subtle tweaks that bring the song to life. You are not going to make one adjustment that will make the song perfect or use your best plug-in and the song will sound great. There isn't even a trick you can use to make your song sound complete. You have to go through the song and carve away frequencies; 1-3dB here and 1-3dB there to let other instruments cut through, add harmonics, compress to keep instruments in there place and create width. Everything will be subtle as you work through it. Listening  from the starting point and to the finished product will pay off to taking the time and making all these small adjustments that are necessary to make the song sound its absolute best.

Instrument Frequencies/ EQ Chart

Here is a chart you can refer to, so you can understand where the instruments sit in your mix and what frequencies you can roll off using your HPF that wont ruin the sound but clean up the low end for these specific instruments.