How to pan instruments in a mix

Keep the kick, snare, bass and lead vocal in the centre, and move everything else left and right. Hi-hats, percussion, guitars, keys and backing vocals all get their own spot. Balance it: put something on the right for everything you put on the left.

How to do it

1. Centre the kick, snare, bass and lead vocal.
2. Pan pairs to opposite sides: two guitars, shaker against hats, keys against a synth.
3. Use 20 to 50% for parts that should stay close, and further for wide parts.
4. Check that neither side feels heavier than the other.
5. Listen in mono too, so nothing disappears.

Why it works

When everything is in the middle, the sounds sit on top of each other and mask each other. Spreading them out gives each one its own space.