Quickie Guide to Mixing # 25

Generally when we apply reverb to instruments such as a drum kit, we tend to pan reverb in stereo (hard left and right) in order to create the effect of reverb as it occurs in a room. In mixing, there are two schools of thought regarding this. One school says do it; the other says no, because the more sounds you have hard-panned, the more it clutters the speakers and thus, the stereo field. Keep in mind that the stereo soundstage is an illusion. Ultimately, all we have is left and right. One way to create an interesting sonic signature in a mix, as well as open up space for other instruments is to pan an instrument’s reverb in mono exactly where the instrument itself is panned. This works best with reverbs that have short tails or gated reverbs.