Q: What is an Auto Panner and why would I even use one?
A: Panning by hand is incredibly tedious. Imagine physically holding a guitar track and having to slowly move a dial left and right for an entire five-minute song.
An auto panner does this for you automatically. You drop in a synth pad or a vocal effect. You set the speed and the width. The tool then violently or smoothly sweeps the audio back and forth. It creates an incredible sense of width in a crowded mix.
Q: Will this make listeners dizzy?
A: Honestly, yes, if you push the settings too hard. If you set the auto-pan speed to maximum and the width to 100%, it will whip back and forth between the left and right ears fast enough to cause vertigo.
Keep the speed moderate and the depth around 50% for a lush, floating effect. Only use extreme settings for intense EDM build-ups or chaotic sound design moments.