Topics 1.10, 1.2 · Component 4
Stereo & Panning
🎵 Real-World Examples
The Beatles — “A Day in the Life”
Early stereo experimentation with extreme panning — instruments hard left or right with little centre content, showcasing 1960s stereo mixing conventions.
Pink Floyd — “Money”
Creative stereo movement and automation — sounds pan across the stereo field dynamically, demonstrating how spatial effects can serve the musical arrangement.
Billie Eilish — “Everything I Wanted”
An intimate, narrow stereo field keeps the vocal close and centred, using subtle width for atmosphere whilst maintaining a modern, focused mix.
Fleetwood Mac — “Dreams”
Classic rock stereo drum panning with overheads spread wide, hi-hat and ride placed off-centre, and kick/snare anchored in the middle.