Nat 3Nat 4Nat 5HigherAdvanced Higher
Panning
Panning places a sound further left, centre, or right in the stereo field.
Level relevance: introduced at Nat 3; tagged for every later level where the same concept remains useful.
Explanation
Panning controls where a sound appears in the left-right stereo image. It is used to create separation, clarity, and a more interesting mix. For example, backing vocals or rhythm guitars may be placed away from the centre while important lead elements often stay near the middle. Good panning decisions help each part claim its own space.
Topics
MixingStereo image
Curriculum statussupporting vocabulary
Review statusdraft