Ok! Here are some tips based on a setup that pans one track hard left and another hard right. Top tip: whenever I’m scared of messing things up while overdubbing (especially when multiple overdubs are required on multiple tracks), I’ll copy the parts to a bit of spare tape, do my trickery on the copy and then replace the original parts when I’m happy.
1) To achieve approximate placement in the stereo field, say 70% left, play the same phrase on both L & R tracks, but with a higher recording level on the left than on the right.
2) To make it sound like a sound is panning from left to right, play the phrase on the left track with the recording volume high to start with and drag the red meter down as you play through the phrase. Then record the phrase on the right track with the red meter low to start with and increase the recording volume as you play through the phrase.
3) Another nice way to get panning that bounces between left and right is to use nitro on your phrase with a free lfo modulating the red value. If you play this on each of the L & R tracks, since the lfo is free and you very likely won't start it in the same point in the lfo, the opening and closing of the filter can cause a nice panning effect. A variation on this is to change the lfo speed on one of the tracks.
4) Another neat one is to play a phrase on the left track. Then copy and paste it to the right track, but nudged a tiny little bit to the left or right (I think it's called the Haas effect or something).
5) Then there are a whole bunch of tips based around playing something on the left and right tracks with slightly different settings. The difference could be anything, but these work great:
- Different spring settings - I love this one on short drum sounds spotted about here and there over the top of some standard drums in the centre. Super cool for adding atmosphere. Also causes panning from one side to the other when one setting has a longer release than the other.
- A random lfo on the envelope (can cause erratic or subtle jumping about the stereo field).
- Different CWO settings - my favourite are two slightly different subtle CWO chorus settings. Works really nicely on lush pads.
- Detune slightly differently on L & R. (Thanks to @Lymtronics on this one, tried it on my current track, works lovely, richens things up a bit).
- Use delay with low red (delay level) and high white (delay feedback) on one channel and high red and low white on the other. This is another creative way of getting something to pan from one side to the other).
- If it's a synth engine you're playing, then a subtle change to synth settings can sound great.
6) Go asymmetric. Just add something hard left or hard right without doing the other.
I'm sure there are loads I forgot :)