Thread: stereo balance question

when you turn the balance knob on a typical stereo amplifier, does it just change the volume of each channel, or does it change the mix of the channels:
I'll clarify what I mean:
Say you turn it half way to the left, there are 2 options, and I want to know which one is correct:
1)
You hear on left speaker: 100% volume of the left channel audio, and 50% volume of the right channel
You hear on right speaker: 50% volume of the right channel.

2)
You hear on left speaker: 100% volume of the left channel audio
You hear on right speaker: 50% volume of the right channel.

strictly, "balance" is when the left and right channels are emitting sound at the same power

which is slightly different from stereo panning, but for all intents and purposes the same

it's basically how much sound it coming through each speaker
unless you have specific reasons, keep the pan in the centre

It actually depends on the design of the stereo in question. I believe most of them are designed to fade from 0% to 100% from hard left to center, and will not carry to the other side. In other words, if you have a voice coming only out of the left speaker and a guitar only out of the right, you can't twiddle the balance to have either go to the other side. Full left should mean you hear only the voice. But as I said, I don't believe this is a universal design.

Originally Posted by skysaw

It actually depends on the design of the stereo in question. I believe most of them are designed to fade from 0% to 100% from hard left to center, and will not carry to the other side. In other words, if you have a voice coming only out of the left speaker and a guitar only out of the right, you can't twiddle the balance to have either go to the other side. Full left should mean you hear only the voice. But as I said, I don't believe this is a universal design.

OK, thanks!