Dear fellow musicians and sound engineers!
In the world of sound, where every nuance matters, the ability to work subtly with the stereo image is extremely important. It is for this purpose that a powerful and flexible tool has been created – the MSLR plugin from HASound. It’s not just another effect, but a specialized Mid-Side processor that opens up new horizons for shaping the spatial sound of your tracks.
Mid-Side (MS) processing is a method that allows you to decompose a stereo signal into two components: “Mid”, which contains information common to the left and right channels (mono-component), and “Side”, which contains the difference between the channels (stereo-component). By manipulating these components independently, you get unprecedented control over the width, focus, and spatial placement of the sound.
MSLR: Your Key to Perfect Stereo
MSLR is designed as a comprehensive solution for working with Mid-Side. It is based on high-quality MS encoders and decoders, as well as three audio mixers. By combining these elements, the plugin offers three main operating modes that cover all the necessary scenarios for using MS processing.
MSLR Operating Modes
The MSLR plugin is extremely flexible thanks to its three operating modes, which are switched using the main controller:
- Encoder: In this mode, MSLR takes a standard stereo signal (Left/Right) and converts it to a Mid-Side signal. This is the first step if you want to apply specific effects or processing separately to the Mid or Side components using other plugins. You get two channels at the output, where one is the mono sum and the other is the stereo difference.
- Decoder: This mode works in the opposite direction. If you already have a signal in Mid-Side format (for example, after processing with other plugins or if you recorded it that way), the Decoder will convert it back to the usual stereo signal (Left/Right), which you hear in your monitors or headphones.
- Inline: The most convenient mode for direct work. Inline Mode allows you to process the Mid and Side components of the stereo signal without having to convert it back and forth. The plugin internally encodes the signal in MS, allows you to change levels, pan or apply internal mixers to Mid and Side, and then decodes it back to stereo LR. This is ideal for quick adjustment of width, focus or balance between central and side elements of the mix.
Each of these modes integrates internal components (encoder, decoder, mixers) in different ways, giving you exactly the functionality you need for a specific task.
Why Should You Use MSLR?
Using Mid-Side processing with a tool like MSLR offers many advantages:
- Width Control: Easily widen or narrow the stereo image by changing the level of the Side component. Make your mix more voluminous or, conversely, focus it.
- Improve Mono Compatibility: By adjusting the Mid component, you directly affect how your track will sound in mono. This is critical for radio, television and many other playback formats.
- Point EQ and Compression: In Inline mode, you can equalize or compress only the central elements (e.g. vocals, bass) or only the side elements (e.g. cymbals, guitar riffs), without affecting the rest of the spectrum. This avoids “dirt” in the middle or makes the side elements more airy.
- Creative Effects: Experiment by applying different effects (reverb, delay, modulation) only to the Mid or only to the Side channel, creating unique spatial effects.
MSLR from HASound is a reliable and effective tool for any studio. It is easy to use, but provides deep control over one of the most important aspects of mixing – stereo space. If you want to make your mixes more professional, voluminous and controlled, MSLR will be an indispensable addition to your VST effects arsenal.
Try MSLR and discover a new level of working with sound!
The plugin is available in VST format for 64-bit Windows systems.
Author: HASound
Website: https://hasound.com
Formats: VST
OS: Windows (Win64)
May your music sound bright and spatial!
