OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Auto Pan Effect
Tempo-Synced Stereo Panning Sweep Between Left and Right Speakers
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How the Auto Pan Effect works
Apply an auto pan effect that moves any recording smoothly from the left speaker to the right and back. Run it freely or lock it to the song tempo, choose how far it travels and whether it glides or jumps, then preview it on headphones and export the stereo result.
How the auto pan effect works
An oscillator drives a stereo panner. As the oscillator rises the sound moves right, as it falls the sound moves left. Width scales the movement, so 100 percent reaches each speaker fully and 30 percent is a gentle drift around the centre. The output is always stereo, even from a mono file.
Tempo-synced auto pan effect
Pick a note division and enter the tempo, and one full left-right-left cycle lasts exactly that long. Two bars gives a slow, hypnotic drift; eighth notes give a fast ping-pong. Use the BPM detector if you do not know the tempo of the track.
Auto pan versus 8D audio
Auto pan only changes left-right balance. 8D audio adds head-shaped filtering and reverb so the sound seems to circle around you. Auto pan is cleaner and better as a mix effect on one instrument.
FAQ
Which shape should I choose?
Sine glides smoothly and sounds most natural. Triangle moves at a constant speed with sharper turns at each side. Square jumps hard between left and right, a dramatic ping-pong effect for rhythms.
Will this work on a mono recording?
Yes. The file is turned into stereo and then panned, so a mono voice or instrument will travel between the speakers. On a stereo file the whole image is shifted from side to side together.
Why can I not hear it on my phone speaker?
Most phone speakers are mono or very close together, so panning has nothing to work with. Use headphones or a pair of speakers to hear the movement clearly, and check width is above zero.
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