value = slider.get_value()
		
		# clear any existing status bar messages
		if self.statusbarMsgID is not None:
			print "removed id: %s" % self.statusbarMsgID
			self.mainview.ClearStatusBar(self.statusbarMsgID)
		
		# set the statusbar message depending on the current pan value
		if value < 0:
			print "-"
			self.statusbarMsgID = self.mainview.SetStatusBar(_("Current balance is %d%% left") % value*100)
		elif value == 0:
			print "="
			self.statusbarMsgID = self.mainview.SetStatusBar(_("Current balance is centered"))
		else:
			print "+"
			self.statusbarMsgID = self.mainview.SetStatusBar(_("Current balance is %d%% right") % value*100)
		
		self.instrument.pan = value
		self.instrument.panElement.set_property("panorama", value)