PannerNode

The PannerNode interface represents the position and behavior of an audio source signal in space. It is an AudioNode audio-processing module describing its position with right-hand Cartesian coordinates, its movement using a velocity vector and its directionality using a directionality cone.

A PannerNode always has exactly one input and one output: the input can be mono or stereo but the output is always stereo (2 channels); you can't have panning effects without at least two audio channels!

The PannerNode brings a spatial position and velocity and a directionality for a given signal.

Number of inputs 1
Number of outputs 1
Channel count mode "clamped-max"
Channel count 2
Channel interpretation "speakers"

Constructor

PannerNode.PannerNode
Creates a new PannerNode object instance.

Properties

Inherits properties from its parent, AudioNode.

The orientation and position value are set and retrieved using different syntaxes, since they're stored as AudioParam values. Retrieval is done by accessing, for example, PannerNode.positionX. While setting the same property is done with PannerNode.positionX.value. This is why these values are not marked read only, which is how they appear in the WebIDL.

PannerNode.coneInnerAngle
Is a double value describing the angle, in degrees, of a cone inside of which there will be no volume reduction.
PannerNode.coneOuterAngle
A double value describing the angle, in degrees, of a cone outside of which the volume will be reduced by a constant value, defined by the coneOuterGain attribute.
PannerNode.coneOuterGain
A double value describing the amount of volume reduction outside the cone defined by the coneOuterAngle attribute. Its default value is 0, meaning that no sound can be heard.
PannerNode.distanceModel
An enumerated value determining which algorithm to use to reduce the volume of the audio source as it moves away from the listener. Possible values are "linear", "inverse" and "exponential". The default value is "inverse".
PannerNode.maxDistance
A double value representing the maximum distance between the audio source and the listener, after which the volume is not reduced any further.
PannerNode.orientationX
Represents the horizontal position of the audio source's vector in a right-hand cartesian coordinate system. While this AudioParam cannot be directly changed, its value can be altered using its value property. The default is value is 1.
PannerNode.orientationY
Represents the vertical position of the audio source's vector in a right-hand cartesian coordinate system. The default is 0. While this AudioParam cannot be directly changed, its value can be altered using its value property. The default is value is 0.
PannerNode.orientationZ
Represents the longitudinal (back and forth) position of the audio source's vector in a right-hand cartesian coordinate system. The default is 0. While this AudioParam cannot be directly changed, its value can be altered using its value property. The default is value is 0.
PannerNode.panningModel
An enumerated value determining which spatialisation algorithm to use to position the audio in 3D space.
PannerNode.positionX
Represents the horizontal position of the audio in a right-hand cartesian coordinate system. The default is 0. While this AudioParam cannot be directly changed, its value can be altered using its value property. The default is value is 0.
PannerNode.positionY
Represents the vertical position of the audio in a right-hand cartesian coordinate system. The default is 0. While this AudioParam cannot be directly changed, its value can be altered using its value property. The default is value is 0.
PannerNode.positionZ
Represents the longitudinal (back and forth) position of the audio in a right-hand cartesian coordinate system. The default is 0. While this AudioParam cannot be directly changed, its value can be altered using its value property. The default is value is 0.
PannerNode.refDistance
A double value representing the reference distance for reducing volume as the audio source moves further from the listener. For distances greater than this the volume will be reduced based on rolloffFactor and distanceModel.
PannerNode.rolloffFactor
A double value describing how quickly the volume is reduced as the source moves away from the listener. This value is used by all distance models.

Methods

Inherits methods from its parent, AudioNode.

PannerNode.setPosition()
Defines the position of the audio source relative to the listener (represented by an AudioListener object stored in the AudioContext.listener attribute.)
PannerNode.setOrientation()
Defines the direction the audio source is playing in.
PannerNode.setVelocity()
Defines the velocity vector of the audio source — how fast it is moving and in what direction. In a previous version of the specification, the PannerNode had a velocity that could pitch up or down AudioBufferSourceNodes connected downstream. This feature was not clearly specified and had a number of issues, so it was removed from the specification.

Examples

In the following example, you can see an example of how the createPanner() method, AudioListener and PannerNode would be used to control audio spatialisation. Generally you will define the position in 3D space that your audio listener and panner (source) occupy initially, and then update the position of one or both of these as the application is used. You might be moving a character around inside a game world for example, and wanting delivery of audio to change realistically as your character moves closer to or further away from a music player such as a stereo. In the example you can see this being controlled by the functions moveRight(), moveLeft(), etc., which set new values for the panner position via the PositionPanner() function.

To see a complete implementation, check out our panner-node example (view the source code) — this demo transports you to the 2.5D "Room of metal", where you can play a track on a boom box and then walk around the boom box to see how the sound changes!

Note how we have used some feature detection to either give the browser the newer property values (like AudioListener.forwardX) for setting position, etc. if it supports those, or older methods (like AudioListener.setOrientation()) if it still supports those but not the new properties.

// set up listener and panner position information
var WIDTH = window.innerWidth;
var HEIGHT = window.innerHeight;

var xPos = Math.floor(WIDTH/2);
var yPos = Math.floor(HEIGHT/2);
var zPos = 295;

// define other variables

var AudioContext = window.AudioContext || window.webkitAudioContext;
var audioCtx = new AudioContext();

var panner = audioCtx.createPanner();
panner.panningModel = 'HRTF';
panner.distanceModel = 'inverse';
panner.refDistance = 1;
panner.maxDistance = 10000;
panner.rolloffFactor = 1;
panner.coneInnerAngle = 360;
panner.coneOuterAngle = 0;
panner.coneOuterGain = 0;

if(panner.orientationX) {
  panner.orientationX.setValueAtTime(1, audioCtx.currentTime);
  panner.orientationY.setValueAtTime(0, audioCtx.currentTime);
  panner.orientationZ.setValueAtTime(0, audioCtx.currentTime);
} else {
  panner.setOrientation(1,0,0);
}

var listener = audioCtx.listener;

if(listener.forwardX) {
  listener.forwardX.setValueAtTime(0, audioCtx.currentTime);
  listener.forwardY.setValueAtTime(0, audioCtx.currentTime);
  listener.forwardZ.setValueAtTime(-1, audioCtx.currentTime);
  listener.upX.setValueAtTime(0, audioCtx.currentTime);
  listener.upY.setValueAtTime(1, audioCtx.currentTime);
  listener.upZ.setValueAtTime(0, audioCtx.currentTime);
} else {
  listener.setOrientation(0,0,-1,0,1,0);
}

var source;

var play = document.querySelector('.play');
var stop = document.querySelector('.stop');

var boomBox = document.querySelector('.boom-box');

var listenerData = document.querySelector('.listener-data');
var pannerData = document.querySelector('.panner-data');

leftBound = (-xPos) + 50;
rightBound = xPos - 50;

xIterator = WIDTH/150;

// listener will always be in the same place for this demo

if(listener.positionX) {
  listener.positionX.setValueAtTime(xPos, audioCtx.currentTime);
  listener.positionY.setValueAtTime(yPos, audioCtx.currentTime);
  listener.positionZ.setValueAtTime(300, audioCtx.currentTime);
} else {
  listener.setPosition(xPos,yPos,300);
}

listenerData.innerHTML = 'Listener data: X ' + xPos + ' Y ' + yPos + ' Z ' + 300;

// panner will move as the boombox graphic moves around on the screen
function positionPanner() {
  if(panner.positionX) {
    panner.positionX.setValueAtTime(xPos, audioCtx.currentTime);
    panner.positionY.setValueAtTime(yPos, audioCtx.currentTime);
    panner.positionZ.setValueAtTime(zPos, audioCtx.currentTime);
  } else {
    panner.setPosition(xPos,yPos,zPos);
  }
  pannerData.innerHTML = 'Panner data: X ' + xPos + ' Y ' + yPos + ' Z ' + zPos;
}

Note: In terms of working out what position values to apply to the listener and panner, to make the sound appropriate to what the visuals are doing on screen, there is quite a bit of math involved, but you will soon get used to it with a bit of experimentation.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Web Audio API
The definition of 'PannerNode' in that specification.
Working Draft

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
PannerNodeChrome Full support 14Edge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
PannerNode() constructorChrome Full support 55
Notes
Full support 55
Notes
Notes Before Chrome 59, the default values were not supported.
Edge Full support ≤79Firefox Full support 53IE No support NoOpera Full support 42Safari ? WebView Android Full support 55
Notes
Full support 55
Notes
Notes Before version 59, the default values were not supported.
Chrome Android Full support 55
Notes
Full support 55
Notes
Notes Before Chrome 59, the default values were not supported.
Firefox Android Full support 53Opera Android Full support 42Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0
Notes
Full support 6.0
Notes
Notes Before Samsung Internet 7.0, the default values were not supported.
coneInnerAngleChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
coneOuterAngleChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
coneOuterGainChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
distanceModelChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
maxDistanceChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
orientationXChrome Full support YesEdge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 50IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 50Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
orientationYChrome Full support YesEdge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 50IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 50Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
orientationZChrome Full support YesEdge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 50IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 50Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
panningModelChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
positionXChrome Full support YesEdge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 50IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 50Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
positionYChrome Full support YesEdge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 50IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 50Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
positionZChrome Full support YesEdge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 50IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 50Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
refDistanceChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
rolloffFactorChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
setOrientationChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
setPositionChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
setVelocity
Deprecated
Chrome No support 14 — 56Edge No support 12 — 79Firefox No support 25 — 63IE No support NoOpera No support 15 — 43Safari Full support 6WebView Android No support ? — 56Chrome Android No support 18 — 56Firefox Android No support 26 — 63Opera Android No support 14 — 43Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android No support 1.0 — 6.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Compatibility unknown
Compatibility unknown
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also