Subject:Help with pan types

Posted by: guitacid

Date:5/8/2012 2:55:33 AM

Hi,
I use AP7 for loops but also adding guitar parts. Specifically I come up with guitar parts then record with Acid and add loops to build tracks.

For some reason I find uneven volume issues plague the mix process. The latest project has the right side louder than the left for no apparent reason. Incredibly frustrating when you can see the pan positions do not favour right channel to the extent of the perceived volume coming out.

I use an Edirol UA-25 and Tascam VLX5 monitors. They're working fine.

Does anyone have any thoughts about which pan type suits the audio source i.e loop or recorded instrument.

Thanks

Subject:RE: Help with pan types

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:5/8/2012 6:09:19 AM

Is this during preview, or only after Render ?

If there at preview stage, is it visible on Master meter ?

geoff

Subject:RE: Help with pan types

Reply by: guitacid

Date:5/8/2012 6:57:24 AM

hi geoff,
not during preview although i haven't made thorough checks at that stage. the meter looks okay when previewing.

it's a weird thing with render though. i'm halfway through a new track at the moment so i did a render to stereo wav. looking at the right channel waveform it is slightly smaller than the left channel but it's the right channel i find louder through the speakers.

the edirol ua-25 did not come with a software mixer so i use the generic XP one on the PC. the settings look fine there.

i'll do some more tests with the preview metering. very frustrating.

cheers

Subject:RE: Help with pan types

Reply by: b.complex

Date:5/8/2012 9:55:30 AM

1. Make sure your connections are correct for L/R speakers - so that your left is really your left and your right is really your right.

2. if you are recording the guitar from an effects device or preamp in stereo, make sure the effects themselves in the device are not panned or set up in such a way that they favor one side. For example a stereo delay might have repeats mixed heavier on one side to preserve the clarity of the dry signal. Stereo reverbs can do this too.

3. Make sure your input levels for both channels are identical, including any PAD's.

4. Check your output busses on everything for compressors or other dynamic effects that might end up giving you a perceived boost on one side or the other as they compress.

Subject:RE: Help with pan types

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:5/8/2012 5:07:27 PM

As b. says, first check everything is correctly assign in the LR department- soundcard out, amp in, amp out to speakers, etc. It is most unlikely but your soundcard driver may have a LR transposition bug.

WRT the channel balance problem, try a 'virgin' project with a mono track of an even tone . Panned centre it should display on the master meter equally in each channel. Panned hard left or right it should be the same level each side.

If not equal levels, check you default channel (and Master) FX chains for any added default plugins that may have stereo pannable outputs.

Also f you have set some different default panning law (default is Add Channels, Equal Power probably better for mono tracks.), things not panned fully may imbalance with other sounds that are fully panned.

geoff

Subject:RE: Help with pan types

Reply by: guitacid

Date:5/9/2012 7:34:06 AM

thanks! i'll try that.

one other slightly unrelated question. in AP7 how do you get the master meter back onto the main project window. i used to have it there in ap3 to the far right of the track lanes. it's handy for constant quick reference.

Subject:RE: Help with pan types

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:5/9/2012 4:24:53 PM

You grab the 'drag handle' and ,um, drag it there - it should dock.

The drag handle is the small vertical dotted line top left corner of the window you want to re-position.

geoff

Subject:RE: Help with pan types

Reply by: guitacid

Date:5/10/2012 11:24:22 PM

I got myself a test tone CD and exported some of the tones into a fresh project.

Played the 1khz tone (0db reference) and Acid's meters performed as normal i.e both left and right displayed the same levels. And my god that 1khz tone is annoying! Now i know what frequency my wife's voice is....ha!

All up i believe Acid is fine. It's my speakers i think. I dragged my old set of monitors out and did not experience the imbalance in sides.

Thanks Geoff and b.complex