Spazial: Mastering Stereo Field and Mid/Side Processing
In today’s music production world, controlling the stereo image and working with the Mid/Side signal are key elements of professional mixing and creative sound design. The Spazial plugin from Synthblitz Audio is a powerful and versatile tool designed specifically for these purposes. It allows both encoding and decoding the stereo signal in M/S format, as well as expanding the stereo base, opening up new possibilities for your mixes.
Spazial is designed for in-depth work with the stereo signal. It can accept a standard stereo input or a ready-made Mid/Side signal and provide full control over its components. Whether you need to isolate the central part (Mid) or the side elements (Side) of the mix, create an impressively wide stereo field, or decode the M/S signal back to stereo, Spazial will provide you with the necessary tools.
Key Operation Modes of Spazial
The plugin offers five diverse operating modes, making it a flexible solution for various tasks:
- INTERNAL: In this mode, the plugin encodes the incoming stereo signal into M/S format. You get the ability to edit the Mid and Side components separately using the control panel, and the processed stereo signal at the output. Ideal for fine-tuning the stereo image of the mix.
- ENC MID: Encodes the stereo signal and sends only the Mid (center) part to the output. Useful, for example, for checking mono compatibility or for processing only the central elements (vocals, bass, kick).
- ENC SIDE: Encodes the stereo signal and sends only the Side (side) part to the output. Allows you to work exclusively with the elements that create “width” (cymbals, backing vocals, reverberation).
- DECODER: Designed to decode the M/S signal back to stereo. The incoming left channel is perceived as Mid, and the right channel as Side. Necessary if you have processed the M/S signal separately and now want to return it to the standard stereo format.
- SPAZIAL: This special mode is designed to create a very wide stereo signal. Great for instruments that need to occupy a lot of space in the stereo field, or for creating surround sound effects.
Control Elements
Spazial is equipped with a set of intuitive controls that allow for precise processing adjustments:
- Adjust Phase: Phase adjustment, which can be critically important when working with stereo and M/S signals to avoid phase problems and improve mono compatibility.
- Mid – Side: A control that allows you to adjust the balance or level of the Mid and Side components of the signal.
- Spazial: A special regulator that controls the intensity of the stereo base expansion effect in SPAZIAL mode.
- Vibrato: A unique control to add a special vibrato effect, which can be used for creative movement in the stereo field.
- Hi-Pass: A built-in high-frequency filter, useful for cleaning low frequencies from unwanted “width” or for shaping the sound of M/S components.
- Volume: Overall master volume control at the output of the plugin.
Conclusion
Spazial from Synthblitz Audio is a valuable addition to the arsenal of any musician or sound engineer who seeks to gain full control over the stereo field of their tracks. Thanks to the M/S encoding/decoding capability, diverse operating modes, and intuitive controls, it allows not only to solve typical mixing tasks, but also to experiment with the stereo image, creating unique soundscapes. The plugin is available in VST format for Windows operating systems (32 and 64 bit) and is distributed as free donationware, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
