“Width” parameter in Utility device (Ableton)

[losangeles]

Can anyone explain the mechanism by which the Width parameter in the Utility device works from settings between 0 and 400%? To me it just seems to increase the level in each channel for signals not present in the opposite channel. Is this all it does? If so, that doesn’t seem it would influence stereo width much- but perhaps more so depth (making the panned sounds appear ‘closer’).

[BertKoor]

It seems it does mid-side processing.
0%: only mid on both channels
100%: pass through
Over the top: mono signal has one channel with inverted phase.

Maybe do some experiments with specially crafted audio tracks.

NB: have you read the manual?
https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/live- ... 43-utility

[losangeles]

It seems it does mid-side processing.
0%: only mid on both channels
100%: pass through
Over the top: mono signal has one channel with inverted phase.

Maybe do some experiments with specially crafted audio tracks.

NB: have you read the manual?
https://www.ableton.com/en/manual/live- ... 43-utility

Thanks for your reply. I have read the manual, but it’s extremely vague here. Also, by context-clicking the Width parameter, a M/S mode option appears on the menu, so it seems redundant (albeit, possible) that both knobs perform the same functions. Also, from the experiments I’ve conducted so far, above 100% likely does invert the phase of one channel, but the “sides” signals definitely do become amplified as well. Thoughts?

[DJ Warmonger]

Also, from the experiments I’ve conducted so far, above 100% likely does invert the phase of one channel, but the “sides” signals definitely do become amplified as well. Thoughts?

Mathematically it's all the same:

Code: Select all

mid = left + right (mono sum)
side = left - right

mid + side = 2 * left
mid - side = 2 * right

thus

Code: Select all

left = (mid + side) / 2
right = (mid - side) / 2

https://majormixing.com/what-is-mid-side-encoding/

[losangeles]

Also, from the experiments I’ve conducted so far, above 100% likely does invert the phase of one channel, but the “sides” signals definitely do become amplified as well. Thoughts?

Mathematically it's all the same:

Code: Select all

mid = left + right (mono sum)
side = left - right

mid + side = 2 * left
mid - side = 2 * right

thus

Code: Select all

left = (mid + side) / 2
right = (mid - side) / 2

https://majormixing.com/what-is-mid-side-encoding/

Yes, those are the M/S encoding/decoding equations.. but what does that have to do with the “Width” paremeter? They’re not identical