3D Object Panner in Logic Pro

You use the 3D Object Panner in spatial audio mixing to position mono and stereo output signals of object tracks in 3D space. To make the 3D Object Panner visible in the Output slot of a channel strip, you must set up your project for spatial audio.

The output signal (post-fader) and panning automation data of the 3D Object Panner go directly to the Dolby Atmos plug-in for spatial processing, bypassing any other plug-ins inserted before it on the surround master channel strip.

You can use the 3D Object Panner knob directly on the channel strip to control the planar position of the object track. However, you can also control the height, size, and spread of the object track in the 3D Object Panner window.

The 3D Object Panner window contains two grids. Change the position of the puck in the upper grid to move the object left, right, front, and back. Change the position of the puck in the lower grid to move the object up, down, left, and right. Mono objects are represented by a single pan puck. Stereo objects are represented by three pan pucks: a puck for the L(eft) signal, a puck for the R(ight) signal, and a third puck that represents the middle of the stereo image and controls both the L and R pucks as a group. Stereo objects also have a Spread parameter that controls the stereo width of the signal.

You can record and edit parameter changes in the 3D Object Panner as automation curves. See Overview of automation in Logic Pro.

You can open multiple 3D Object Panner windows simultaneously and save them in screensets. Click the Link button to update the 3D Object Panner window so that it reflects the surround mode and current settings of the selected channel strip.

3D Object Panner parameters

You can use 3D Object Panner parameters to control the position, size, and spread of the object track in 3D space.

Left/Right: Indicates the left or right position of the object track in 3D space.

Back/Front: Indicates the front or back position of the object track in 3D space.

Elevation: Indicates the up or down position of the object track in 3D space.

Size: Changes the perceived size of the object track in the 3D space.

Spread: Controls the width of the stereo signal in the 3D space. This parameter is available only for stereo tracks.

Add the 3D Object Panner to a channel strip

In Logic Pro, make sure your project is set up for spatial audio mixing.
Click the Output slot of the channel strip, then choose 3D Object Pan from the list in the shortcut menu.

Adjust a channel strip’s 3D Object Panner knob

You can make basic adjustments to the 3D Object Panner field using the channel strip 3D Object panner knob.

Figure. 3D Object Panner knob in the channel strip.

In Logic Pro, do any of the following:

Drag the center puck in the panning plane to adjust the position of the signal.
Option-click in the panning plane to reset the center puck to the center front position.

Open the 3D Object Panner window

In Logic Pro, double-click the 3D Object Panner control of a channel strip.
The 3D Object Panner window provides a magnified view of the channel strip’s 3D Object Panner, and contains additional parameters.

Control the position, size, and width of the 3D object

In the Logic Pro 3D Object Panner window, do any of the following:

Drag the puck in the upper grid to move the object left, right, front, and back.
Drag the puck in the lower grid to move the object up, down, left, and right.
Drag the Size value up or down to change the perceived size of the object.
Drag the Spread value up or down to change the width of the stereo signal. This parameter is available only for stereo tracks.

To reset any parameter to its default value, Option-click on the parameter.

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