Question - do splits reduce signal strength? Even when splits are panned fully left/right?
I created two presets as an experiment. One preset starts with 1 input that gets split stereo (via panning) and the other is two distinct inputs panned left and right.
Disclaimer, these were made for bass and aren’t my favorite captures within the preset. They are on the noisy-side which were intentionally chosen for A/B purposes. I think 2 inputs sound better (louder is better).
TLDR: For stereo signals and wanting to send L to Path A and R to path B try the “split” mode instead of the “normal” mode. For mono inputs (at the splitter) and a stereo output (from the merge) set the splitter to A/B with ±0db for both A and B, and the merge set to pan A hard left and B hard right.
I think the misunderstanding lies in the assumption that a splitter in “Balance” mode set to “normal” will actually pan anything. The balance parameter works by distributing the signal strength to both paths. That is: Balance of 0 will give 100% of the signal to Path A, Balance of 5 will give 50% of the signal to Path A and 50% to Path B, and Balance of 10 will give the complete signal to Path B. This is not panning, but merely “volume distribution”. In “normal" mode this affects both L and R for stereo signals (both L and R will go to path A and path B, basically creating two copies of your stereo input signal with reduced/different signal strengths).
I didnt download your sample presets but I would guess that you set the merge to hard pan path A and path B to left and right? That would lead to the two signals with reduced “strength” (because of the balance set to 0.5 on the splitter) not getting summed back together. Panning two inputs hard left and right will not reduce the signal strength as the splitter in “balance” mode will, because you pan the full strength of the signal to one side each.
Thought that would make the difference “split vs normal. In this case, It didn’t. Might be relevant to point out that in this comparison, panning is accomplished at the cab/ir block. Whatever is going on in the “1 input” preset, the signal is being reduced. Thank you for your thoughts. For me, stereo is only utilized in studio setting (as of yet) and ive been playing around with stereo ir’s (hence the experiment). Well worth the effort. 2 years in and this thing is still holding on to my curiosity and sounds so good.
It’s the balance mode and parameter at the splitter set to 5 that reduces the signal going to path A by 50% and the signal going to path B by 50% (simplified). The panning (in the IR blocks) leads to those signals with less strength not being summed back to one single (mono / centered) signal with 100% strength / volume. (That’s what I tried to explain in my previous post)
Solution: Set the splitter to A/B mode with both levels set to 0db.
100% that!
As soon as that was changed I could hear the difference (make up in levels). Thanks for the assist. Amazing how many times I find myself gravitating towards a workaround unnecessarily.
