BPM_Panning — User Guide

What this does

Praat script.

Process Description: The Creative Panning Laboratory script applies advanced, mathematically derived stereophonic panning effects to a stereo source sound. Instead of simple linear movement, it uses complex Formula-based amplitude modulation to create dynamic, time-varying intensity patterns for the left and right channels, simulating specific movements or acoustic phenomena. The core of the script involves splitting the stereo sound into its two channels, calculating a unique volume envelope (or gain curve) for each channel based on the selected Panning Pattern, and then recombining the channels into the final panned stereo output.

Technical details:This Praat script implements creative stereo panning automation, an advanced spatial audio processing technique that applies mathematically-defined amplitude modulation patterns to stereo channels, creating dynamic left-right sound movement with 15 distinct motion profiles. The script operates on stereo audio by separating channels, applying complementary amplitude envelopes to each channel (where one channel's gain increases as the other decreases), and recombining them to create the illusion of sound traveling through the stereo field. The panning algorithms are driven by mathematical functions that modulate channel amplitude over time, with a user-configurable cycle rate (1-64 complete panning cycles across the file duration) that determines movement speed. Each pattern uses trigonometric functions, exponential curves, and composite mathematical expressions to create distinctive motion characteristics. Simple patterns like Spiral use time-squared acceleration (x*x/duration) within sine waves to create gradually accelerating circular motion, while Pendulum incorporates exponential decay (exp(-0.1*base_rate*x)) to simulate physics-based damping. Wobble combines multiple sine frequencies (fundamental plus 7× harmonic) to create irregular, organic movement resembling intoxicated motion. More complex patterns employ sophisticated signal processing techniques: Heartbeat uses Gaussian pulses (exp(-20*((2*base_rate*x) mod 1 - 0.5)^2)) modulated by sine waves to create rhythmic double-thump patterns; Doppler implements frequency modulation (10*sin(0.5*pi*base_rate*x)) within the phase term to simulate velocity-varying movement; Glitch multiplies inharmonic sine frequencies (23× and 7×) with amplitude clamping (max(0.05, min(0.95, ...))) to create pseudo-random jumps while preventing channel dropout. Advanced patterns like Fractal nest three octave-related frequencies (1×, 4×, 16×) for self-similar multi-scale chaos, Neural approximates hyperbolic tangent activation functions using rational approximation for brain-wave-like nonlinear responses, Quantum combines cubic sine and squared cosine terms to simulate probability wave interference, Virus multiplies chaotic high-frequency components with periodic Gaussian growth/decay envelopes, and DNA interweaves phase-shifted helices with slow modulation to create double-helix motion. All formulas maintain complementary amplitude relationships between channels (where left uses -value and right uses +value) centered around 0.5 (50% amplitude), ensuring constant total energy while creating perceptual motion through inter-channel amplitude differences.

Quick start

1. In Praat, select a Sound object.
2. Run script… → BPM_Panning.praat.
3. Set parameters and click OK.
4. Output object appears (see Outputs).

Parameters (form fields)

Outputs

• Object name: creative_result
• Sample rate: unknown
• Normalization: No automatic normalization