title: Panning
---
+<p>
+<em>Panning</em> is the process of distributing 1 or more signals
+ across a series of outputs so that the listener will have the
+ experience of them coming from a particular "space" within the
+ overall listening field.
+</p>
+<p>
+ It is used to create a sense of space and/or a sense of motion in an
+ audio mix. You can spread out different signals acros the space, and
+ make them move within the space over time.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Types of Panners</h3>
+
+<p>
+ The way a panner works depends a great deal on how many signals it
+ is going to process and how many outputs it will send them to. The
+ simplest case is distributing a single signal to 2 outputs, which is
+ the common case when using a "mono" track and a stereo speaker
+ setup.
+</p>
+<p>
+ But panning in Ardour could theoretically involve distributing any
+ number of signals to any number of ouputs. In reality, Ardour does
+ not have specific panners for each different situation. Currently,
+ it has dedicated panners for the following situations:
+
+ <ul>
+ <li>1 signal distributed to 2 outputs (the "mono" panner)</li>
+ <li>2 signals distributed to 2 outputs (the "stereo" panner)</li>
+ <li>N signals distributed to N outputs (the "vbap" panner)</li>
+ </ul>
+
+ Even for each of these cases, there are many different ways to
+ implement panning. Ardour currently offers just one solution to each
+ of these situations, but in the future will offer more.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Panning is not Balance</h3>
+
+<p>
+ If you are used to the "balance" control found on most home music
+ playback devices, and on many DAWs and audio editors, you may have
+ gained a particular idea of how "panning" should work. You turn the
+ knob to the left, and the signal in the right speaker gradually
+ vanishes as you do. You turn it back to the right, and the signal in
+ the left speaker vanishes in the same way.
+</p>
+<p>
+ This is <strong>not</strong> panning. It does not alter the placement either the
+ left or right signal, but rather is just a different term for
+ "independent gain control". What is actually happening is that as
+ you move the balance control left of center, it reduces the volume
+ of the right channel towards zero, but leaves the left signal at
+ normal volume. When you move it back to right of center, it reduces
+ the volume of the left channel toward zero, and leaves the right
+ channel at normal volume. When the control is exactly in the middle,
+ both channels are at normal volume.
+</p>
+<p>
+ The panners in Ardour control the distribution of at least one
+ signal across at least 2 outputs. Ardour does not (currently) come
+ with a balance control. Many people would like to see one.
+</p>
+
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