🎯 Tip/Trick — “Frequency-Based Panning: Make Your Mix Breathe”
Ever feel like your mix is crowded, but you don’t want to throw anything out? Here’s a trick I use all the time: pan based on frequency, not just left or right. 🔧 How to Do It: - High-frequency elements (vocals, hi-hats, cymbals, lead synths) → pan slightly left or right. - Low-frequency elements (kick, bass, sub synths) → keep them centered or pan subtly opposite your highs. - Mids → play with placement depending on importance, but keep them mostly near centre for focus. 🎚 Why This Works: - Your mix breathes naturally — highs float, lows stay tight. - Clarity is king — low-end isn’t fighting for space with highs or mids. - Stereo field feels alive — small movements make your mix feel wider without losing focus. 🧪 Quick Experiment: 1. Pick a track with multiple layers. 2. Subtly pan highs left, lows right (or vice versa). 3. Toggle mono/stereo — notice how the centre stays solid while the sides create space. 4. Share a before-and-after snippet in the comments — let’s hear how it opens up your track! - Spike