Definition of Panning law
Panning law, or panning rule, is a recording and mixing principle that states that any signal of equal amplitude and phase that is played in both channels of a stereo system will increase in loudness up to 6.02 dBSPL, provided there is perfect response in the loudspeaker system and perfect acoustics in the room.
Often, the acoustic summing of a room and system are inferior to the ideal, so the specific relative level will increase from −3 dB to 0 dB as the mono signal is panned from center to hard left or right. The idea of including a pan law is so that when one directs signals left or right with the pan pot, the perceived loudness will stay the same.
However, both the direction of attenuation throughout the panoramic sweep and the amount by which the signal is attenuated vary according to panning rule. For example, Yamaha digital consoles employ a typical (compromise) 3 dB panning rule where the signal is at full level when pan position is centered and becomes progressively louder (up to + 3 dB) as it is panned to the right or left.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Panning law?
Panning law, or panning rule, is a recording and mixing principle that states that any signal of equal amplitude and phase that is played in both channels of a stereo system will increase in loudness up to 6.02 dBSPL, provided there is perfect response in the…