MSF StereoExpander & StereoSpread
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- KVRist
- 438 posts since 17 Nov, 2020
So recently I discovered StereoExpander & StereoSpread modules and it got me thinking, is it possible to achieve such great stereo widening manually while preserving mono compatibility as they do? What is the secret behind these tools? Any clues, any help will be appreciated.
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- KVRAF
- 1759 posts since 11 Nov, 2009 from Northern CA
As for MStereoSpread, just read the opening paragraphs of the Spectral generator panel section and the Delay-based generator panel section in the manual. It's fully explained there.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 438 posts since 17 Nov, 2020
Thanks, I went ahead and read it. Turns out it's a complex algorithm that can't be easily mimicked. I'll quote the most important part for whoever might be interested.
" It is a very complicated IIR filter, whose only is a phase alteration.
The basic idea behind spectral stereo expansion is to remove some frequencies from the left channel and others from the right channel
in such a way, that the mono output will give the original signal again. The main difficulty is to make this approach sound natural and to
avoid moving the stereo position out of the center. The plugin implements a unique algorithm which provides very high transparency,
very natural sound and it keeps the stereo location in the center as much as possible.
The main problem with spectral stereo generation is that since some frequencies are kept in one ear and the rest of them in the other
one, the fundamental frequency of monophonic (or even polyphonic) instruments may be heard only in one ear making it appear to be
on the left or right side. The plugin fights with this by spreading the harmonics differently, which psycho-acoustically keeps the stereo
image in the center as much as possible."
" It is a very complicated IIR filter, whose only is a phase alteration.
The basic idea behind spectral stereo expansion is to remove some frequencies from the left channel and others from the right channel
in such a way, that the mono output will give the original signal again. The main difficulty is to make this approach sound natural and to
avoid moving the stereo position out of the center. The plugin implements a unique algorithm which provides very high transparency,
very natural sound and it keeps the stereo location in the center as much as possible.
The main problem with spectral stereo generation is that since some frequencies are kept in one ear and the rest of them in the other
one, the fundamental frequency of monophonic (or even polyphonic) instruments may be heard only in one ear making it appear to be
on the left or right side. The plugin fights with this by spreading the harmonics differently, which psycho-acoustically keeps the stereo
image in the center as much as possible."