J2011
Level 1 (6 points)
Audio

Q: Logic Pro X - Binaural Panning & Muffling?

Not sure how to describe this, but I was messing about with Binaural Panning in my mix which can make some instruments sound great, but I've noticed it seems to cause a lot of "muffling" of other tracks?

 

I'm not sure what the correct terminology is but I'll try to explain it here.

 

Say I have some strings, synths and a few other tracks which play throughout, then some percussion occasionally... well it sounds like the percussion track causes the other tracks to muffle down a bit when it's playing, so throughout the song it sounds like it's automatically changing volume to suit? I remember Garageband had a feature similar to this, depending on whichever track was higher up the stack and had an option ticked... (sorry can't remember what it was called)... but is Logic the same?

 

Thanks in advance!

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Sep 5, 2016 12:43 PM

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J2011

Q: Logic Pro X - Binaural Panning & Muffling?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BenB,Helpful

    BenB BenB Sep 6, 2016 6:03 AM in response to J2011
    Level 6 (9,801 points)
    Video
    Sep 6, 2016 6:03 AM in response to J2011

    Why are you using that effect in the first place?  What is the goal?  It is very rare it ever has legitimate use.

    Track stack order has nothing to do with your issue, it has to do with percussion's frequency range.  It is overpowering the same range on other instruments, and is way too loud.  You should be using an EQ on each track to separate them from each other, not Binaural Panning.

    http://help.apple.com/logicpro-effects/mac/10.2.3/#/lgcef240d802

  • by J2011,

    J2011 J2011 Sep 6, 2016 6:14 AM in response to BenB
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Audio
    Sep 6, 2016 6:14 AM in response to BenB

    Hi thanks for replying... I was using to lift some instruments which were buried, I'm not great at mixing and don't fully understand it all... but I'm quickly realising I should stick to normal L&R panning. I think I made the mistake of having lot of tracks sending to the same Bus which had an EQ in it, so they were all using the same EQ?

     

    Your saying I should use an EQ on each track? How does that separate the frequencies? Should I use the presets in logic for this... e.g. my drum tracks, use the "drum" preset in EQ, and so on?

     

    Sorry still learning...

  • by BenB,

    BenB BenB Sep 6, 2016 4:11 PM in response to J2011
    Level 6 (9,801 points)
    Video
    Sep 6, 2016 4:11 PM in response to J2011

    NO, do NOT pan to separate instruments.  Really bad, amateur mistake.  Use EQ to separate instruments.  The reason they get buried is because the fight to dominate specific frequency ranges.  Use the EQ to analyze what area an instrument is strong and weak in, and how to adjust.  Have each instrument emphasize a specific frequency range.  That's how the pros do it.

     

    Mix by panning, and as soon as someone listens in a car, or on bluetooth portable speakers for a cell phone or tablet, and the panning goes out the window, your original problem comes back.

     

    Start with a preset.  Experiment with presets, lots of them.   You'll find one "close", but never "perfect".  Then use that as a base, to start adjusting from.

     

    There are lots of articles about how to do that online.  Here's a few to get you started.

     

    http://help.apple.com/logicpro-effects/mac/10.2.3/#/lgcef1edce5b

     

    http://music.tutsplus.com/tutorials/8-easy-steps-to-better-eq--audio-942

     

    http://logic-pro-expert.com/logic-pro-blog/2014/01/20/logic-pro-x-channel-eq-tut orial.html#.V89LSTvV_8s

     

    The point is to get each instrument, or section of instruments, to "sit" in the mix.  Mix in mono.  If it doesn't work, you're not mixing well, or you didn't record well.  If a mono mix doesn't work, a stereo mix will be far worse.  I've been at this since my teens in the '70s, and I can tell you, MANY professional mixers will mix in mono, EQ, and get the instruments to not fight each other, but compliment each other, FRIST.  Then do your stereo spread.  I can assure you this will make a world of difference in your mixes.

     

    And, all this said, you MUST think about your composition before hand, where will each instrument need to sit in the mix, and how do you record it for that situation in the first place?  THEN you enhance that in the mixing phase of your production.