Stereo Panning VS Mono Panning in Logic Pro

Stereo is two channels of audio, mono is one.

Stereo panning, if recorded in Logic Pro, is true stereo recording with two mics, and by default are already hard panned L and R, you should not need to do anything else to them in Logic Pro.

Mono panning is simply panning one channel of audio L and R.

Phase issues tend to occur when a mono track is duplicated, then those two are panned hard L and R to "fake" a stereo effect, which this does not in any way do, and introduces phasing issues.

There is also "doubling" usually used for vocals and lead guitars. Two takes are done, each on a mono track. Then you do a soft pan of about 20 or 30 in each direction to separate them out, but not totally, to give a more full (fake stereo) effect.

In your example, where you like to convert a stereo signal into a mono signal without revealing phase issues, I wouldn't use the "pan"-knob in logic which is actually a balance knob by default.

I would rather use a more safe and simple method. Click and hold the stereo mode button on the channel strip, a menu will open and let you choose which side of the stereo track will be played:

Set channel strip input formats in Logic Pro

Difference between pan and balance:

Set channel strip pan or balance positions in Logic Pro

It's very handy. A simple way to use stereo files as mono files without file conversion. Now you can use mono plugins. However, using bounce in place after that will result in a mono file, which is also very handy as a quick and simple stereo to mono file conversion.

When I make a recording of an acoustic instrument with two microphones in an XY or ORTF configuration, would you recommend I record them to one stereo track or two mono tracks?

I would record it on a stereo channel strip if it's suppose to be a stereo recording, otherwise I would use 2 mono tracks.

Strangely, when I select left and right for the two mono tracks using the above method, the resulting signal is mono according to the Goniometer.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. I explained a method to easily convert a stereo signal to mono signal or using on just one side of a stereo file depending what you have chosen from the menu (mono, left, right). The result is mono.

I use this method either when I have to work with a stereo file which is actually a mono signal or when I like to use only one side of a real stereo signal for some reason.

"Thanks again, yoyoBen. As per your advice, I used the drop down method

to select left and right signals and then added a send to a stereo bus

and the stereo signal is perfect with no phase issues. Woohoo! "

Now, I am really confused. I don't understand what you are doing. What are you aiming for?