RAZ Audio M/S Controller: Full Control Over Your Mix’s Stereo Field
In the world of audio recording and mixing, masterful control over the stereo field is a key element in creating a professional and deep sound. RAZ Audio presents the M/S Controller plugin – a tool that gives you easy and intuitive control over the Mid (phantom center) and Sides (side components) components of your audio material.
The principle of M/S processing is based on converting a regular stereo signal (Left/Right) into Mid/Sides. The Mid component is the common part of the left and right channels, which usually contains mono information, such as bass, kick, snare, lead vocals or solo instruments – everything that is located in the center of the stereo panorama. The Sides component is the difference between the left and right channels, which is responsible for the width of the stereo image, reverberation, choruses, panned instruments and other elements that create volume.
RAZ Audio’s M/S Controller is designed with a focus on simplicity and efficiency. Its intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) contains only what you really need – clear and convenient controls and precise numerical values. The plugin is also equipped with precision level indicators for each channel (L/R and M/S), which allows you to visually control the impact of your changes.
Thanks to the use of floating-point calculations, the M/S Controller provides high processing accuracy and full compliance with the original material. You can be sure – you won’t hear any extraneous artifacts, only clean and controlled sound.
RAZ Audio M/S Controller Usage Scenarios
This plugin will become an indispensable assistant in many typical mixing and sound processing situations. Here are a few examples of how the M/S Controller can improve your workflow and result:
- Adding density and punch: Amplifying the central component (Mid) can add the necessary weight and punch to the drums (especially the kick and snare), which is especially important for dance music and club formats.
- Highlighting central elements: Easily bring the lead vocal or solo instrument to the forefront of the mix by weakening the side components, which is ideal for DJ sets or live performances (PA systems).
- “Karaoke” effect: By weakening or completely removing the central component (where the lead vocal is often located), you can create an effect similar to the karaoke version of the track.
- Spatial reverberation: Use the M/S Controller as a send FX effect by placing it before the reverb. Weaken the central component (or amplify the sides) before the signal enters the reverb to get a wider, lush and spatial reverb sound that will remain clean and not “muddy” the mix.
Advanced processing capabilities thanks to M/S separation
The M/S Controller allows for full separation of the Mid and Sides components. You can export each of these tracks for further, deeper and more specialized processing in your DAW:
- Precise equalization: For example, you can filter out low frequencies on the side component (Sides) to avoid “mud” or phase problems in the low-frequency range and make the mix denser and more focused in the center.
- Targeted compression and equalization: Apply different compression or equalization settings to the side component (Sides) before sending the signal to spatial effects such as reverb. This will result in a clean and controlled result, where the reverb will not conflict with the main elements of the mix.
- Individual vocal processing: If the lead and backing vocals are on the same stereo track, but the lead vocal is mostly in the center and the backing vocals are panned, you can apply different processing (compression, equalization, effects) to the central and side components, effectively separating the impact on the lead and backing vocals.
RAZ Audio M/S Controller is a powerful but easy-to-use tool that opens up new possibilities for manipulating the stereo field. It will help you achieve greater clarity, depth and control in your mixes, whether it’s fine-tuning or creative sound processing.
Add RAZ Audio M/S Controller to your plugin arsenal and feel the difference in the spatial sound of your tracks.
