Stereo Movement in Mixing: PanMan vs Logic Tremolo Compared.

When a sound in your mix feels a bit static, one of the simplest ways to bring it to life is through stereo movement. Two plugins that handle this beautifully are Soundtoys PanMan and Logic’s built-in Tremolo. Both are easy to grasp but incredibly effective once you understand what they’re really doing: moving sound from left to right across the stereo field.

It’s a subtle touch – but that’s the point. Subtle movement gives a sound character, energy, and life. And life in a sound keeps a mix interesting.

There are plenty of panning plugins out there – from simple auto-panners to complex spatial tools – but these are the two I reach for most often. They both get the job done quickly and sound great doing it.

PanMan vs Tremolo: The Core Difference

Both plugins achieve the same essential goal, but PanMan goes a bit deeper with control and modulation options. Let’s break it down:

• PanMan: Offers Offset, Width, and Smoothing – plus a variety of movement algorithms like LFO, Rhythm Step, Rhythm Shape, Ping Pong, Random, and Step.

• Tremolo: Uses Depth and Smoothing (similar to Width and Smoothing in PanMan), and a Rate control for speed (frequency) or beat division.

Depth (or Width) determines how far the signal moves across the stereo image. Smoothing controls how sharply or softly it transitions – smooth for gentle sweeps, hard for choppy motion. Offset in PanMan shifts the balance toward one side overall, while Rate or timing defines the rhythm of movement.

Where PanMan Shines

PanMan’s extra modes make it flexible for creative stereo design:

• Random: Perfect for pads or ambient sounds that need a bit of smear and unpredictability.

• Rhythm Step: Ideal for locking the panning pattern into the groove of the track – and the Feel dial adds great swing control.

• Ping Pong & Step: Trigger panning when the sound hits, rather than running continuously. These are clever but situational – great for ear candy, less for mix essentials.

When to Use Stereo Movement

I don’t use panning automation on every mix – it’s not a default move. But when a sound feels lifeless, static, or too “centred,” that’s when PanMan (or Tremolo) comes into play.

A touch of stereo movement can make the difference between a mix that sounds flat and one that breathes.