Logic Pro 9 Pan Law setting recommendations?

daveyboy

Logician
I just did a nerdy mix test between DP and Logic only to discover I had my pan law in Logic set to -3db compensated. This made the test skewed as the DP mix was softer due to its non- compensated pan law. I don't remember if or when I set this up in Logic. What is Logic's default "recommended" setting? I believe DP and PT are the same so now I'm wondering if I don't want to keep it at the new -3 db setting. I know in the end it probably doesn't really matter but I wanted to see what the pros (George etc) think!


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I run mine at -3db compensated. I did some research a few years back and decided to keep that setting. IMHO I'm not sure it really matters, as long as you don't change it some time during the mixing process - or you are going from DAW to DAW with different standards. My sense is a good mixer will set volume and pan based on what he/she hears, regardless of pan law settings.
 
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-3 compensated. Mimics a traditional recording console.

Here is some info on it, and why:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_law

using the compensated keeps things balanced properly if you use axes as well as notmal faders (with it off the faders in auxes would be -3 DB quieter each time you send a sound through one... not a good thing ;-))
 
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I also use -3db compensated. My understanding is that it is the accepted norm for Logic users to use.

As Doug said, it really only becomes an issue if you are either moving projects between different systems and DAWs, or if you change your settings mid mix. As long as you don't change it - what you hear is what you get, you we mix based on what we hear!😀
 
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I'm not a pro🙄, but in the book Logic Pro for Recording Engineers & Producers Dot Bustelo (who has incredible credibility) states:
"The -3 dB compensated value that is the default in Logic makes sense for users who are mixing in the box. ....it leaves the output up in the middle flat and cuts the signal -3 dB at far left and right."

"Pro Tools engineers working with an external console expect a different default that cuts the signal in the middle, but leaves it intact when panned left or right. That really only makes sense if you are sending discrete signals to a console by panning them alternatively left or right..."

Bottom Line:
-3 dB compensated if mixing ITB
-3 dB if mixing discrete signals in a console

Seems logical enough.😉
 
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