Pan/Expand
From the Process menu, choose Pan/Expand to change the stereo image of an audio file by drawing an envelope that will be applied across the current data selection. You can create up to 16 envelope points.
TIP Use the phase scope to watch for phase cancellation when using the Pan/Expand dialog.
Pan/Expand can only be used on mono or stereo files.
For more information about using processing dialog controls, click here.
Pan audio and preserve
stereo separation
The Pan (preserve stereo separation) processing mode allows you to perform right- and left-channel panning effects without mixing the channels together. This is used to simulate left/right positioning of stereo recordings.
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From the Process menu, choose Pan/Expand.
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Choose Pan (preserve stereo separation) from the Process mode drop-down list.
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Adjust the envelope to achieve the desired sound:
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Drag the small envelope points up or down to pan the audio left or right at that envelope point.
For example, panning a stereo file hard right will play only the right channel through the right speaker. -
To create a new envelope point, double-click the envelope.
-
To delete an envelope point, right-click it and choose Delete from the shortcut menu.
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To change the fade curve between two points, right-click an envelope segment and choose a command from the shortcut menu:
Fade Type
Fade In/Out Envelope
Linear Fade
Fast Fade
Slow Fade
Smooth Fade
Sharp Fade
Hold
-
To move all envelope points, press Ctrl+A and drag when the envelope has focus (the cursor will be displayed as a
).
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Drag the Output gain fader if you want to apply a gain after processing.
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Click the OK button.
Pan mixed channels
The Pan (mix channels before panning) processing mode allows you to perform right- and left-channel panning effects by first mixing the two channels and then changing the volume between channels.
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From the Process menu, choose Pan/Expand.
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Choose Pan (mix channels before panning) from the Process mode drop-down list.
-
Adjust the envelope to achieve the desired sound:
-
Drag the small envelope points up or down to pan the audio left or right at that envelope point.
For example, panning a stereo file hard right will play the mixed right and left channels through the right speaker. -
To create a new envelope point, double-click the envelope.
-
To delete an envelope point, right-click it and choose Delete from the shortcut menu.
-
To change the fade curve between two points, right-click an envelope segment and choose a command from the shortcut menu:
Fade Type
Fade In/Out Envelope
Linear Fade
Fast Fade
Slow Fade
Smooth Fade
Sharp Fade
Hold
-
To move all envelope points, press Ctrl+A and drag when the envelope has focus (the cursor will be displayed as a
).
-
-
Drag the Output Gain fader if you want to apply a gain after processing.
-
Click the OK button.
Display the waveform
Choose a command from the Show wave drop-down list if you want to display the waveform in the envelope graph.
If you're working with a stereo file, you can choose to view individual channels or the mixed waveform.
The waveform is unavailable with very large selections.
Perform stereo expansion
The Stereo expandprocessing mode allows you to contract or expand the stereo image of a stereo recording, from dead center (mono), to completely panned wide (no center channel). For realistic effects, you should not venture too far from Normal.
Notes:
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This effect works best with true stereo recordings and will not work with mono material.
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Panning a stereo recording toward the center can emphasize vocals; widening the image can de-emphasize vocals.
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From the Process menu, choose Pan/Expand.
-
Choose Stereo expand from the drop-down list.
-
Adjust the envelope to achieve the desired sound:
-
Drag the small envelope points up or down to expand or contract the stereo image.
-
To create a new envelope point, double-click the envelope.
-
To delete an envelope point, right-click it and choose Delete from the shortcut menu.
-
To change the fade curve between two points, right-click an envelope segment and choose a command from the shortcut menu:
Fade Type
Fade In/Out Envelope
Linear Fade
Fast Fade
Slow Fade
Smooth Fade
Sharp Fade
Hold
-
To move all envelope points, press Ctrl+A and drag when the envelope has focus (the cursor will be displayed as a
).
-
-
Drag the Output Gain fader if you want to apply a gain after processing.
-
Click the OK button.
Mix a mid-side mix
to right and left channels
The Mix Mid-Side (MS) recording to left and right channels processing mode allows you to convert a mid-side recorded track to a left/right track and set the width of the stereo image.
Before mixing, you must first ensure that the mid track is in the left channel and the side track in the right.
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From the Process menu, choose Pan/Expand.
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Choose Mix Mid-Side (MS) recording to left and right channels from the Process mode drop-down list.
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Adjust the envelope to set the width of the stereo image:
-
Drag the small envelope points up or down.
-
To create a new envelope point, double-click the envelope.
-
To delete an envelope point, right-click it and choose Delete from the shortcut menu.
-
To change the fade curve between two points, right-click an envelope segment and choose a command from the shortcut menu:
Fade Type
Fade In/Out Envelope
Linear Fade
Fast Fade
Slow Fade
Smooth Fade
Sharp Fade
Hold
-
To move all envelope points, press Ctrl+A and drag when the envelope has focus (the cursor will be displayed as a
).
-
-
Drag the Output Gain fader if you want to apply a gain after processing.
-
Click the OK button.
Last modified on February 23, 2026
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