KVR Audio

Blue Cat Audio · Post by **Blue Cat Audio** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 7:46 am

Here is some documentation about how to use mid/side processing (possibly with our plugins

) in order to manipulate the stereo image of your tracks.

Mid / Side Processing for Enhanced Stereo Effects

I hope this will help you to enhance your creativity!

Kraku · Post by **Kraku** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 7:59 am

Is there such a plugin which you could apply to any audio channel and it would either pass through the mid or side channels? (you could choose it with a switch or so...)

If there would be such a plugin, it would be terribly easy to route the same signal on two different mixer channels and then process those signals with any plugins and after that just mix the signals together. Hmm. Cool

Paulie Phonick · Post by **Paulie Phonick** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:13 am

Not sure if that's what you're after, but you can try Voxengo's free MSED (Mid Side Encoder Decoder). Instant MS processing, just add water

Kraku · Post by **Kraku** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:56 am

I don't get it. The result is obviously only stereo output, but mid + side signals should give you 3 audio channels, right? So... How am I supposed to achieve this with MSED?

IIRs · Post by **IIRs** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:39 pm

Kraku wrote: but mid + side signals should give you 3 audio channels, right?

Wrong, just two: mid (sum) and side (difference).

The mid channel is obtained by adding the left and right channels, while the side is left - right. Going the other way, the left channel will be mid + side, and the right channel mid - side.

You can make an effective mid-side matrix inside a Tracktion rack btw, using only native Tracktion filters.. just thought I'd mention it!

Kraku · Post by **Kraku** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:30 pm

OK. I'll start experimenting with mid/side effecting/mixing. Thanks

bmanic · Post by **bmanic** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:40 pm

Energy XT + Voxengo MSED = the ultimate combo. It is killer for all mid/side experimentation. Try inserting a chorus plugin on only the side signal, or a phasor, or delay it a bit etc. Fantastic fun.

- bManic

Kraku · Post by **Kraku** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:20 pm

I'll try that

Thanks for the ideas

Kraku · Post by **Kraku** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:42 pm

Holy shit!

I just tried it and this REALLY opens up new possibilities. It's so easy to get that wide and clean stereo image this way

The center just stays extremely clear and crisp if you process the sides. Whoa! I thought that there would still be quite alot of interference, but... none!

I also noticed another thing: I could process the sides with a chorus and if I switched monitoring to mono, the side signal disappeared. Maybe this is how certain dancefloor music producers get their clean sound for dancefloors and the full sound for home stereo systems (all in one mix)?

I always wondered how their stuff sounds so full of reverb etc. and on dance floor it doesn't sound like there's much of that reverb at all...

bmanic · Post by **bmanic** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:04 pm

Indeed.. wellcome to the world of M/S processing.

- bManic

IIRs · Post by **IIRs** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:24 pm

Kraku wrote:Holy shit!

That was my first reaction too! Its a seriously powerful tool to add to your armoury (which is why I included an M/S matrix in IQ4)

Yes you are right by the way: the side channel always cancels out in mono, so this type of processing has no effect on mono compatibility.

M'Snah · Post by **M'Snah** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:46 pm

bluecatonline wrote:Here is some documentation about how to use mid/side processing (possibly with our plugins ) in order to manipulate the stereo image of your tracks.

Thanks. Even for those with a basic understanding of M/S , your article offers inspiration for things to do and to try

. And it's a clear explanation as well... Finally I understand why I need your plugins

Kraku · Post by **Kraku** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 2:28 pm

IIRs wrote:
Kraku wrote:Holy shit!
That was my first reaction too! Its a seriously powerful tool to add to your armoury (which is why I included an M/S matrix in IQ4)

Yes you are right by the way: the side channel always cancels out in mono, so this type of processing has no effect on mono compatibility.

This is really interesting. I've always tried to follow the rule "if something goes missing when listening in mono, there's something wrong with the mix". Well, ofcourse it still applies with M/S, but in a different way. Now it's much more easy to create a great mix in the center and just add some extra sparkle & space to the sides without having to worry about the mix getting muddy on a club PA

Nice!

EDIT: I just went through a bunch of modern pop music and this kind of processing seems to be fairly common these days. A bit older stuff (at least 4 years old) don't seem to make heavy use of M/S techniques, though...

Blue Cat Audio · Post by **Blue Cat Audio** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 4:48 pm

the side channel always cancels out in mono, so this type of processing has no effect on mono compatibility

Except when using the virtual center capability. It also works on mono tracks!

Kraku · Post by **Kraku** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 5:42 pm

bluecatonline wrote:
the side channel always cancels out in mono, so this type of processing has no effect on mono compatibility
Except when using the virtual center capability. It also works on mono tracks!

How do you do that virtual center thing? Or how can I do that?