On Automated Panning

(This feature is available and most recording software- including cheap-ass cubase)

*Automated panning can be used in a variety of ways in any genre of music; here are some suggestions.

-movement: 1.small incidental sounds are more interesting when they glide across the stereo spectrum. 2.any percussive parts gain life if they don't remain in a stagnant position (try imagining a group of percussionists pretending to be a marching band, dancing around between your ears. pick a random panning pattern for the "leader" and then follow it with other instruments). 3.this can save multi-tracking time as well -move notes back and forth between the left and right ear to emulate call and response.
-texture: subtle panning can add texture to solid/non percussive sounds. gently, steadily panning a sound between the "right center" and "hard right" has an impact on how it sits within the mix and creates a constantly changing texture.
-transition: try group panning to interesting-ify transitions between parts in songs. for example: move the verse off to the right as the chorus enters from the left. new parts could also shove their way in with some resistance from a current part. foreshadowing? (see "applying literary concepts to song design" -to be added later)