Some ears needed for a couple of comments

[Russell Landwehr]

On my Latin submission https://soundcloud.com/russell-landwehr/bendita-holiday (still in review) I DID do some panning automation in order to keep solo instruments in the middle when they weren't "playing" with another solo instrument. Maybe that is the method I should have done on these...
Hmmm. Andy... I usually do the low-volume trick on my mixes nowdays. SPECIALLY after you've spanked me a few times on that... I wonder if these slipped through that crack.

My main reason for panning these instruments out of the middle IS because they are in the frequency range that could compete with the dialog.

Something I've noticed on Reality TV, the underscore seems to be very wide stereo-wise, but if they go to a montage or transitional scene where there is no dialog, the stereo spectrum seems to be reigned in a bit. I wonder if the editors are making an artificial "hole" for the dialog with some super-secret video editing plug-in??

[mikemichnya]

Hey Russ,

Sorry about that... That original post was obviously for a different listing, which I've now lost the thread of. I read some of the posts here, but didn't get to listen to your tracks. My bad.

[VanderBoegh]

Hey homie, it never even occurred to me to pan stuff away from center to leave a hole for dialogue. I suppose in theory it makes sense for the end result, but you've also got to consider the initial listen that either the music editor or a Taxi screener will give your piece... if it sounds wack because of panning, then it might get, well, panned right into the trash. Listening to "Barney Thug" right now, and yeah, there's a glaring hole in the middle, so I can understand the screener's comment. My ears aren't accustomed to hearing such total L-R panning with no (or at least very very little) C.

I love the concept and the thought process that went into it, but I'm wondering if you're overthinking the process? Not a bad thing, of course, but I think sometimes we can be our own worst enemies when we try to give our music that extra "edge", when the only edge that's needed is just a good track that fits the scene. And you know what? This IS a killer track. I'd just alter the panning a little bit (bring those guitar and banjo lines closer to center, and get that kick slamming dead center), and my guess is that you'll find a home for this piece soon.

$5 lesson learned!

~~Matt

[Russell Landwehr]

Thanks for your input, folkses.
Imma keep these things in mind. But not gonna stop panning. Just mebbe do it a little more subtle like y'all mentioned or at least not so it makes the listener go "aaaaak!"