Decrease default AudioStreamPlayer2D/3D panning strength

The default panning strength is now more in line with how other
engines play positional sound.

4 files changed, 12 insertions, 10 deletions

diff --git a/core/config/project_settings.cpp b/core/config/project_settings.cpp
index 5c4bcc687a..f1ccabf8d1 100644
--- a/core/config/project_settings.cpp
+++ b/core/config/project_settings.cpp
@@ -1203,10 +1203,10 @@ ProjectSettings::ProjectSettings() {
 
 	GLOBAL_DEF_BASIC("audio/buses/default_bus_layout", "res://default_bus_layout.tres");
 	custom_prop_info["audio/buses/default_bus_layout"] = PropertyInfo(Variant::STRING, "audio/buses/default_bus_layout", PROPERTY_HINT_FILE, "*.tres");
-	GLOBAL_DEF_RST("audio/general/2d_panning_strength", 1.0f);
-	custom_prop_info["audio/general/2d_panning_strength"] = PropertyInfo(Variant::FLOAT, "audio/general/2d_panning_strength", PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE, "0,4,0.01");
-	GLOBAL_DEF_RST("audio/general/3d_panning_strength", 1.0f);
-	custom_prop_info["audio/general/3d_panning_strength"] = PropertyInfo(Variant::FLOAT, "audio/general/3d_panning_strength", PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE, "0,4,0.01");
+	GLOBAL_DEF_RST("audio/general/2d_panning_strength", 0.5f);
+	custom_prop_info["audio/general/2d_panning_strength"] = PropertyInfo(Variant::FLOAT, "audio/general/2d_panning_strength", PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE, "0,2,0.01");
+	GLOBAL_DEF_RST("audio/general/3d_panning_strength", 0.5f);
+	custom_prop_info["audio/general/3d_panning_strength"] = PropertyInfo(Variant::FLOAT, "audio/general/3d_panning_strength", PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE, "0,2,0.01");
 
 	PackedStringArray extensions = PackedStringArray();
 	extensions.push_back("gd");
diff --git a/doc/classes/ProjectSettings.xml b/doc/classes/ProjectSettings.xml
index a6c18bbe2f..1c1c1eb84f 100644
--- a/doc/classes/ProjectSettings.xml
+++ b/doc/classes/ProjectSettings.xml
@@ -310,11 +310,13 @@
 		<member name="audio/driver/output_latency.web" type="int" setter="" getter="" default="50">
 			Safer override for [member audio/driver/output_latency] in the Web platform, to avoid audio issues especially on mobile devices.
 		</member>
-		<member name="audio/general/2d_panning_strength" type="float" setter="" getter="" default="1.0">
-			The base strength of the panning effect for all AudioStreamPlayer2D nodes. The panning strength can be further scaled on each Node using [member AudioStreamPlayer2D.panning_strength].
+		<member name="audio/general/2d_panning_strength" type="float" setter="" getter="" default="0.5">
+			The base strength of the panning effect for all [AudioStreamPlayer2D] nodes. The panning strength can be further scaled on each Node using [member AudioStreamPlayer2D.panning_strength]. A value of [code]0.0[/code] disables stereo panning entirely, leaving only volume attenuation in place. A value of [code]1.0[/code] completely mutes one of the channels if the sound is located exactly to the left (or right) of the listener.
+			The default value of [code]0.5[/code] is tuned for headphones. When using speakers, you may find lower values to sound better as speakers have a lower stereo separation compared to headphones.
 		</member>
-		<member name="audio/general/3d_panning_strength" type="float" setter="" getter="" default="1.0">
-			The base strength of the panning effect for all AudioStreamPlayer3D nodes. The panning strength can be further scaled on each Node using [member AudioStreamPlayer3D.panning_strength].
+		<member name="audio/general/3d_panning_strength" type="float" setter="" getter="" default="0.5">
+			The base strength of the panning effect for all [AudioStreamPlayer3D] nodes. The panning strength can be further scaled on each Node using [member AudioStreamPlayer3D.panning_strength]. A value of [code]0.0[/code] disables stereo panning entirely, leaving only volume attenuation in place. A value of [code]1.0[/code] completely mutes one of the channels if the sound is located exactly to the left (or right) of the listener.
+			The default value of [code]0.5[/code] is tuned for headphones. When using speakers, you may find lower values to sound better as speakers have a lower stereo separation compared to headphones.
 		</member>
 		<member name="audio/video/video_delay_compensation_ms" type="int" setter="" getter="" default="0">
 			Setting to hardcode audio delay when playing video. Best to leave this untouched unless you know what you are doing.
diff --git a/scene/2d/audio_stream_player_2d.h b/scene/2d/audio_stream_player_2d.h
index d1c4dc4fdf..c771bb6d5f 100644
--- a/scene/2d/audio_stream_player_2d.h
+++ b/scene/2d/audio_stream_player_2d.h
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ private:
 	float attenuation = 1.0;
 
 	float panning_strength = 1.0f;
-	float cached_global_panning_strength = 1.0f;
+	float cached_global_panning_strength = 0.5f;
 
 protected:
 	void _validate_property(PropertyInfo &property) const override;
diff --git a/scene/3d/audio_stream_player_3d.h b/scene/3d/audio_stream_player_3d.h
index 647b18a4a7..144b647127 100644
--- a/scene/3d/audio_stream_player_3d.h
+++ b/scene/3d/audio_stream_player_3d.h
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ private:
 	float _get_attenuation_db(float p_distance) const;
 
 	float panning_strength = 1.0f;
-	float cached_global_panning_strength = 1.0f;
+	float cached_global_panning_strength = 0.5f;
 
 protected:
 	void _validate_property(PropertyInfo &property) const override;