Basic panning fundamentals, using math without heavy math
 

Mono track containing "Take A", center-panned. Stereo track containing "Take A" in both channels.

1. How much louder is the stereo track compared to the mono track when:
a. Stereo track is hard panned <100 and 100>
b. Stereo track is centered / mono-summed 0 and 0

Two stereo tracks, each with "Take A" in both channels. One stereo track is hard panned <100 and 100> and the other stereo track is centered 0 and 0. Why does the centered track sound louder?

I don't need a math thesis, I am just trying to understand mono/stereo panning at a basic level.

Re: Basic panning fundamentals, using math without heavy math
 

It has to do with your Pan Depth setting in the Session options under Setup. From the Reference Manual:

Stereo Pan Depth
Pro Tools lets you select the pan depth for stereo
output paths. You can set the Pan Depth in the Session
Setup window. The Pan Depth setting lets you
set the amount of signal attenuation when a track is
routed to a stereo output and panned to center.

To set the stereo pan depth:
1 Choose Setup > Session to open the Session
Setup window.
2 Select an option from the Pan Depth selector.
Stereo Pan Depth Options

The following Pan Depth options are available:

–2.5 dB The standard stereo pan depth setting in
Pro Tools 8.0.x and lower. When opening
Pro Tools 8.0.x or earlier session in Pro Tools 8.1
and later, this is the default option.

–3.0 dB The industry standard pan depth for surround
mixers and many consoles. This is the default
setting for new Pro Tools 8.1 and later sessions.

–4.5 dB The standard pan depth for many
British analog consoles.

–6.0 dB The standard pan depth for full mono
compatibility.

I just recorded a sine wave to a stereo track, panned them both center and it was perceived louder with a Pan Depth setting of -3. Changed it to -6 and it sounded the same panned out or center. -3 is the default for Pro Tools.

Re: Basic panning fundamentals, using math without heavy math
 

Interesting -- thank you!!

Re: Basic panning fundamentals, using math without heavy math
 

No problem!

Re: Basic panning fundamentals, using math without heavy math
 

To be more specific; when you use the surround mixer of PT 8 and earlier, pan depth is -3.0 and when you use the stereo mixer, pan depth is -2.5