Panning (audio)

With a pan control (also Panoramapotentiometer, short Panpot ) is the volume distribution of an audio signal to two channels regulated. The process itself is often called panning.

Function

The stereo image is called Panorama. The pan control on the input channel of the mixer allows the placement of the mono signal in this stereo panorama. Here, each mono signal can be set to the stereo speaker base by level differences Δ L of the two signal voltages UL and UR in each Hörereignisrichtung phantom sound source. Pan pots are used in stereo consoles in the intensity stereophony to any direction distribution of single-channel signals between the left and right, with just the level difference of the voltage generated by voltage divider. The resulting localization effect is also called the formation of phantom sound sources.

Mixer manufacturer only see the intensity stereophony as given, as seen by the radio used mainly because of the perfect mono compatibility and pop music because of the " robust" and simple mixing technology and ease of generation of stereo directions. Depending on the amplitude distribution of the signal voltage, the signal appears audibly then in a certain position - the Hörereignisrichtung - more or less far right or left of the stereo center. Typically, the mono input signal needs to be divided by a voltage divider so that the sum of the output level remains constant in terms of performance. Thus, the volume of the phantom sound source will not change the rules of the pan pots. (-) Thus, in the center position of the potentiometer, the attenuation between the input and the two output channels usually each is 3 dB. Various pan controls are in the positions L (left ), C ( center) and R ( right) comparable. For a Hörereignisrichtung 100 % L or R, the direction of a speaker, one a level difference of Δ L = requires 18 dB ( 16 to 20 dB). Other controller Intermediate values ​​can differ

The term Panpot controller is used occasionally incorrectly for balance and fader. These are used to mix and selection of two signal sources, for example in guitar pickups. A stereo signal - balance control can not completely move from one side to the other side of the stereo image a phantom source.

Also MIDI knows the pan control (Controller # 10). In effect, and even synthesizers panoramic effects can be produced additionally by special programming LFOs, or velocity.

Direction mixer

The direction mixer is a device that can control the direction of a stereo source with a pan control, but additionally allows you to change the image width to the stereo. For M / S signals are processed internally which are converted for output in a L / R signal.

A controller enables the regulation of the " base width " from mono to stereo normal up to 200% basis. The other controller influences the "direction " of ' mono links ' hard left over ' stereo 'Normal' in the middle position to 'Mono as of right ' at the right stop. Via a switch on the input M / S- mode can be switched. The input channel for the left signal must then be operated instead of the center signal and instead of the right input signal with the side signal S

Surround sound

The surround sound, in other words at more than two channels, as is a knob of the distribution of a recorded single-channel or multi-channel sound event or an electronic signal that must be distributed over a larger number of channels, such as five, six, seven or even more channels. It is based solely on the application of this method of utilizing the directional perception by level differences Δ L. It is not in spatially extended sound sources applicable.