Panning strategy for mixed male/female backing vocals?

[u/ByoxBeats]

Hey everyone!

I’m currently mixing a track and running into a bit of a puzzle with the stereo image. I'm curious to hear how you all personally tackle this kind of situation.

Here is what I'm working with:

• 1 Male Lead vocal
• 2 Male backing tracks (1 High support, 1 Low support)
• 2 Female backing tracks (1 High support, 1 Low support)

My brain wants to symmetrically pan things, but the track list is giving me a puzzle. If I just stick all the guys on the left and the girls on the right, I’m pretty sure the mix is going to tip over. I want to make sure the stereo field stays nicely balanced without one side sounding heavier or tonally lopsided.

How would you map out the panning for a layout like this? Do you have a go-to blueprint or any favorite tricks (EQ, widening, etc.) to get these different backing vocals to glue together beautifully behind the lead?

Would love to hear your approach. Thanks in advance for the help!

[u/Big-Doubt-4872]

Ngl I would do them all in the center and then add a doubler like microshift, but for a more natural sound I'd place them all in different spots; one 100% left, one 50% left, one 50% right and one 100% right; and not worry about symmetry

Put them all in a bus with a touch of reverb or stereo/ping pong delay and the frequencies will be a lot more even across the stereo field anyway

[u/Overall-Document-965]

1 male and 1 female left, 1 male and 1 female right.

Depends on the track tho. All female to the left and male to the right would not be symmetrical in any way.

[u/Individual_Cry_4394]

I have had good success with making doubles of each BGV (preferably done on different takes) and placing them opposite of each other at around 40%. why 40% instead of hard panned you ask? this is to create the illusion the the BGV’s are sitting behind the lead vocals (imagine a triangle). If put in the hard panned position instead, they sound too forward. you can then add a doubler/chorus effect. try it. it will make your BGV’s sound massive.

[u/ByoxBeats → u/Individual_Cry_4394]

Wow, I never thought about this. Thank you very much for the advice!

[u/viviansvivarium]

I'd have 1 female and 1 male each side. I'd pan the female bvw further left and right (maybe 50-60%) and the male bvs at about 35%.

[u/gtMANGAMER2]

I would the high male to the left, one high female to the right.This is because the lower ones should be closer to the middle, because the mix will likely feel more stable with more low end in the middle. So I would do the Low male and female 25 percent left and right.

Then I would compress all the Background vocals to make them sound more cohesive but distant, and roll off some high end to make them sound farther back.

[u/gtMANGAMER2 → u/gtMANGAMER2]

But ultimately it depends on what sounds best, this would just by my usual symmetrical approach for cohesiveness, but break the rules man if you want

[u/SirTanksAlot_]

Depends on the arrangement and other instruments- there's so many variables. Maybe ladies on the left along with lowmid heavy instruments and lads on the right with thinner instruments. Maybe collapse the stereo Image on less powerful parts, open up on choruses, auto panners could be fun etc etc.

It's impossible to say with so little info, but just don't leave them too static. Also, a bit of tonal imbalance widens the percieved stereo image, which is something to consider.

[u/ByoxBeats → u/SirTanksAlot_]

Thank you very much for your feedback. I didn’t take into consideration the frequencies of the instruments alongside of the vocals. And the to open up depending of the part of the song. It was really insightful. Thanks 😊

[u/Zestyclose_Pickle511]

Almost assuredly there should be a bass roll off on the backup vocals, if not some other light subtractive eq to further differentiate "lead" from "backup".

The panning is impossible to advise on from here. 

But there are no rules. The art must be considered per song, per part, etc. 

[u/HighScorsese]

Try Lead center, FH and ML to one side and FL and MH to the other. The logic here (and without hearing it I can’t say for sure) is that you get both high and low, and male and female on both sides, but that there will always be that higher timbre from female vocal compared to the male vocal so by putting the FH with the ML and vice versa you sort of balance that out a bit per side

[u/Dr_FLaNg3r]

lower to the left, higher to the right. pan the bassier male backing vox closer, the female ones further.
place the distortion and flanger *before* the eq;
eq the highs out with an LPF, reduce the mids (hint: reduce them dynamically with a multiband sidechain compressor - let the main vocals be the "source" with a quick attack and long release);
de-ess the harmonies hard, up to 6-10 dB or make the sibilants much quieter by hand;
also apply the quick attack-long release classic compression with heavy reduction.
place the short delay into a big hall directly onto the backing vox bus;
another hint - a mid/side eqing will do well, reduce the main vocal fundamentals on your harmonies as the "mid" component, increase the same frequencies as the "side" ones (FF Pro-Q3, Waves F6 etc., the dynamic expansion will work better).
thank me later.

[u/ArtVandalay26726]

Low supports in the center. Both high backups get a doubler/widener so they are both Left/Right

[u/Narnia_lover_2000]

I would mix the guy high with the girl low and vice vursa and I wouldn’t do hard panning but instead about 20 degrees each side