Heavy energy in the center of a mix, where the kick, snare, bass sit, can cause a compressor to kick in, which actually squashes the wider, more ambient and spatial elements in the mix. If the mastering compressor is struggling to reduce dynamic range without a perceived narrowing or squashing of the signal, use a Mid/Side compressor to apply less compression to the side channel than the mid channel. This might be useful, for instance, to surgically EQ the mud out of hard-panned guitars while preserving the vocal and kick drum in the center of the mix. If a mix sounds muddy, try reducing low frequencies in the side channel with a low shelf filter. This helps to add clarity to a reverb, without muddying up the signal too much. A Baxandall filter or a high shelf filter work best. On any particular instrument recorded in stereo, a high frequency EQ boost on just the side channel makes the ‘wider’ elements sound brighter. Likewise, a slight volume boost to the side channel on drum overheads can enhance the room sound, or a slight boost to the mid channel might enhance the snare drum and rack toms. This makes the guitars sound bigger without adjusting panning, and as a result the section sounds more impactful. Automate the Mid/Side tool to boost the volume of the side channel during a chorus, or other section of the track. If a track has multiple guitar parts, route them through a bus, using Mid/Side processing on the guitar bus. Here are a few tips and tricks for using Mid/Side audio processing effectively. Very gentle Mid-Side processing is generally favorable, making it possible to avoid extreme settings that can cause phase shifts or imbalance issues. It's important to be aware of the effect settings are having on the mix by listening closely. Mid/Side can be a very seductive sound but does not always translate to a better result for a mix. Any processing that is applied would affect the entire mono / stereo signal of the audio track, as seen below. Tonal or dynamic adjustments, such as Equalization (EQ), Dynamics, Reverb, etc., are traditionally done in mono or stereo. When the Side channel is boosted, the listener perceives a more spacious (wider) sound to the audio. The Side channel is the edges of a stereo image. When the Mid channel is boosted, the listener perceives a more centered (mono) sound to the audio.
The Mid channel is the center of a stereo image.
Mid/Side is a highly effective way of making adjustments to the spacialization of a mix or master. Creating a mix that sounds more present but with a more sonically interesting texture can add interest to the different sections of a song or enhance the arrangement of a track.Ī wide sounding mix can be achieved through a variety of panning and stereo imaging techniques, including one secret weapon of the accomplished Engineer: Mid/Side processing. A mix that is perceivably fuller and wider will sound “better” to the listener. There are many reasons to want to achieve a full, wide sounding mix. This blog has been edited from its original format some references have been changed to reflect Ozone 8.