Panning is not stereo separation. Although I agree you should be working with panning too. Thats another important part of a mix which is overlooked early on.
You can use any stereo widening plugin to increase stereo separation. Or you can do it the original 'no plugins' way by adding a slight delay, amounting to a few milliseconds to either the left or the right channel of a stereo sound. It doesnt really matter which one.
Increasing or decreasing the delay (stereo separation) results in some strange phasing properties. You should be careful with this because you will be causing destructive phasing. If theres alot of it going on theres a good chance it will ruin mono compatibility.
May-28-2006 17:52
wrzonance
Moon
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
The more intesne your mixes, get, the more instruments you have, the scarier phase cancallation can be.
On my most recent track, Examples of Beauty, I'm still strugling getting my phase relationship in good shape. It's hard because pianos (granted Stienberg The Grand 2 is a VSTi but it's so realistic sounding) are notorious for having phasing problems.
Panning isn't the same as stereo width. Like Derivative said.
Originally posted by Derivative
Panning is not stereo separation.
I know that. My bad, had it confused.
But stereo seperation is probably the best thing to do in some situations. I do argue that EQ is the first thing you should do. If that doesn't give you the right results, ie fatness goes away, then pan. If that doesn't give you the right result, the you could stereo seperate.
I see stereo seperation as a last resort. But well, that's me.
I think it depends on the sound. Also, most of the EQs I have tried are totally lifeless. I would never use Fruity EQ for any purpose. It can just kill a sound so quickly. Even those Waves Linear Phase EQs are shit in my opinion and they cost a fortune. The only Software EQ I ever tried out that didnt completely destroy the energy of my instruments was Voxengo GlissEQ but I cant afford it until I get paid >____<
I do agree that EQ is important but it is overstated. If you have problems in the mixdown, 90% of the people here will tell you to start EQing things and I just think that is so wrong on so many levels...Its not that EQ is a bad thing (especially with a really good EQ like the voxengo one) but as the old expression goes, too much salt spoils the broth.
I play devil's advocate here because theres alot of people telling you to put more salt in your soup and I'm just telling you flat it out that you dont need that much, if any (provided you have all the right ingredients and those ingredients are quality). Its also going to lead to heart failure later in life.
I think of Amplitude, Frequency and Stereo Width as interdependant. None is more important that the other. You need to juggle all of them to create a sense of 3D space in a mix. That is what we as amateur producers are trying to do. Recreate physical space. You cannot do this adequately in just 2 dimensions (just amplitude and frequency)
May-28-2006 19:32
funkysouls
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Feb 2005
Location: Mumbai, India
Panning looks to be the key if not Stereo seperation.
I'll try 'em.. thanks
