Does everybody use a -3dB pan depth?
2 Answers
I believe thats pretty much the standard according to the stereo pan law. I hear it translates into mono better as well.
I think some DAWs let you change the setting to others, but the only other setting I have seen/heard of is the -4.5 for SSL consoles.
Meant to respond to this sooner. -3dB is the default because of it's relation to power level and phantom imaging. If you want a full strength image centered between two sources, the crossing point of two "equal power" curves needs to be at -3dB. If it's lower, it will sound weaker as it moves through the center point of the image; higher, and it will sound stronger. -3dB just helps you maintain that even stereo field.
As such, I don't mess with it in my DAW's settings. ;)
answered Mar 25, 2011 at 16:49
