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Equal Power Pan Calculator
Calculate left and right gains for a mono source using a square-root equal-power pan law.
Pan position (−100 left, +100 right): -100–100
Inputs stay on this page and clear on refresh.
Equal Power Pan Calculator
Pan position (−100 left, +100 right): 0
- Left amplitude gain
- 0.707107
- Right amplitude gain
- 0.707107
- Left gain (dB)
- -3.010300
- Right gain (dB)
- -3.010300
Enter a pan position from −100 (hard left) to +100 (hard right); 0 is center. This tool uses the square-root law: t=(position+100)/200, L=√(1−t), R=√t. Each gain is an amplitude multiplier; dB=20 log10(gain). At center both gains are 0.707107 or −3.010300 dB. At an endpoint one channel is unity and the other is muted (−∞ dB), never a finite attenuation. L²+R²=1 before rounding. This is one explicit equal-power curve, not a prediction of every console or DAW: sine/cosine curves and other center compensations can differ away from center. It pans one mono source, not an existing stereo image. The squared-gain sum is an electrical relationship, not a loudness guarantee. Speaker geometry, room interaction and correlated mono summing can change the heard level. Both output channels contain related copies of the source; summing them without compensation can raise level. Results are six-decimal planning values, not audio processing or meter measurements. Copy or download the gains and method for a mix note; confirm the actual mixer pan law before applying them.
Methodology
How it works
Enter a pan position from −100 (hard left) to +100 (hard right); 0 is center. This tool uses the square-root law: t=(position+100)/200, L=√(1−t), R=√t. Each gain is an amplitude multiplier; dB=20 log10(gain). At center both gains are 0.707107 or −3.010300 dB. At an endpoint one channel is unity and the other is muted (−∞ dB), never a finite attenuation. L²+R²=1 before rounding. This is one explicit equal-power curve, not a prediction of every console or DAW: sine/cosine curves and other center compensations can differ away from center. It pans one mono source, not an existing stereo image. The squared-gain sum is an electrical relationship, not a loudness guarantee. Speaker geometry, room interaction and correlated mono summing can change the heard level. Both output channels contain related copies of the source; summing them without compensation can raise level. Results are six-decimal planning values, not audio processing or meter measurements. Copy or download the gains and method for a mix note; confirm the actual mixer pan law before applying them.
Method and assumptions documented by Techrider.live
2026-10-20
Frequently asked questions
Does equal power mean a constant mono sum?
No. The squared gains sum to one. At center the in-phase amplitude sum is √2, about +3.01 dB relative to one unity channel before any summing compensation. Check the mono bus and available headroom.
Why might my mixer show different values?
Pan curves, center attenuation and display scales vary. This calculator explicitly uses square roots of linearly apportioned power and a −3.0103 dB center, with no additional gain trim.