<P> Panning is the distribution of a sound signal ( either monaural or stereophonic pairs ) into a new stereo or multi-channel sound field determined by a pan control setting . A typical physical recording console has a pan control for each incoming source channel . A pan control or pan pot ( short for `` panoramic potentiometer '' ) is an analog knob or slider with a position indicator which can range continuously from the 8 o'clock when fully left to the 4 o'clock position fully right . Audio mixing software replaces pan pots with on - screen virtual knobs or sliders which function identically to the physical counterparts . </P>
converting stereo signal to mono signal is called
Panning