Propan Advanced Panner

Traditional pan controls are simple and predictable — but they don’t always sound natural, especially on headphones or in dense mixes.

Propan keeps the familiar workflow while refining how a signal behaves across the stereo field. In its default state, it behaves like a standard pan and width control, giving you a familiar and reliable starting point.

Engage the additional processing, and panned sounds gain a more stable, balanced presence. They can sit naturally in the mix or stand out with intention — without feeling exaggerated.

Every parameter range and interaction has been carefully shaped to make useful results easy to achieve. The goal is not to reinvent panning, but to make it behave the way it always should have.

Pan

In its simplest form, this is a standard panning control with a range of -100 to 100. The values follow the same pan law as Reason’s built-in pan, so the response will feel familiar if you are used to the default mixer behavior.

As with any pan control, extreme values are typically used deliberately rather than as a default choice.

Width

Standard stereo width control. The value is expressed as a percentage, with 100% representing the original signal.

While it can expand stereo material, one of its most useful applications is narrowing a stereo signal. This allows for more precise placement in the stereo panorama and helps reduce overlap in dense mixes.

The effect of Offset becomes more noticeable on signals with reduced width — especially near-mono sources.

Note: When working with mono input and high Offset values, phase interaction may become more pronounced. Always verify the result in context and in mono if necessary.

Mono LF

Sets the low-frequency cutoff point for mono summing, with a range of 20Hz to 1.5kHz.

Frequencies below the selected value are routed to a separate path, summed to mono, and excluded from panning. This helps maintain balance and stability in the low end, especially when using stronger pan positions or working on headphones.

At the minimum setting, this processing is disabled and the full frequency range is affected by panning as a single band.

EQ

Applies controlled attenuation to high-frequency content to enhance directional perception and reduce masking in dense arrangements. The value is expressed as a percentage from 0 to 100%, and scales with the pan position — building as you move away from center and reaching its full effect near the extremes.

The behavior emulates natural head shadowing, which is why lower settings tend to sound subtle and realistic. Higher settings increase separation and perceived spatial definition.

Offset

Introduces a short delay between the left and right channels, based on interaural time difference (ITD). The value represents the maximum delay, with a range of 0 to 10ms, building from zero at center pan and reaching its full effect near the extremes.

This enhances directional perception, particularly on headphones, and can create a stronger sense of lateral placement.

Note: Offset introduces phase interaction between channels. Always check your mix in mono. If comb filtering becomes too noticeable, adjust the Offset value or balance it with the EQ and Mono LF controls.

Param Smoothing (back panel)

Controls how quickly parameter changes affect the sound.

At the lowest setting, changes are applied instantaneously. Increasing the value introduces gradual transitions, smoothing adjustments made via the interface, automation, or CV inputs.

This allows you to choose between precise, immediate response and more fluid, controlled modulation behavior.

CV Inputs

Pan and Width can be controlled via CV, opening the door to dynamic, motion-based panning effects.

Connecting an LFO is a particularly effective way to bring movement into a static mix — slow modulation can add subtle width animation, while faster rates create more pronounced effects.

Param Smoothing works hand in hand with CV input. Since raw CV signals can produce abrupt jumps, increasing the smoothing value softens the transitions and helps shape the character of the modulation. This makes it easy to dial in anything from tight, responsive movement to slow, fluid sweeps.