Sideral: Precise Control of Your Stereo Field with Mid/Side
The stereo image is an integral part of modern sound production, allowing instruments to occupy their space and adding depth to mixes. One of the most effective techniques for managing stereo is Mid/Side processing, which separates the audio signal into Center (Mid) — monophonic, and Sides — stereophonic components. The Sideral plugin from Ourafilmes offers a simple and transparent way to work with this concept.
Core Principles and Functionality
Sideral is designed with a clear goal: to split your stereo signal into Center and Sides and provide full control over the volume level of the latter.
- Sides Level Adjustment: The ability to change the volume of the Sides portion of the signal in the range from -6 dB (virtually mono) to +6 dB (significant stereo expansion).
- Transparency: Sideral provides 100% transparent processing, with minimal impact on phase and frequency, apart from direct control of the Sides level.
- Visualization: The meter displays the levels of both components (Center and Sides), but volume control is only implemented for the Sides part (red color).
Practical Application of Sideral
Due to its simplicity and effectiveness, Sideral is a versatile tool for a variety of audio processing tasks:
- Space Management: Easily add or reduce the amount of ambience, reverb, and presence in your recordings by influencing the spatial component.
- Stereo Charm Manipulation: Making a mix wider or narrower becomes easy. Use it to expand instruments or focus on central elements.
- Sound Design: Experiment to create unusual spatial effects.
- Noise Reduction and Restoration: Carefully reducing the Sides level can help clean up a recording from noise or artifacts in the Side channel.
- Finalization (Mastering): Fine adjustment of stereo width can significantly improve the overall perception of the mix at the mastering stage.
- Phase Correction on Tracks: In cases of minor phase problems on individual tracks, a slight change in the Sides level (1-2 dB) can help, while preserving the main timbre.
Technical Requirements
The Ourafilmes Sideral plugin is available in VST format and is compatible with the Windows (32-bit) operating system.
Sideral is an effective and intuitive tool for anyone who wants to gain precise control over the stereo image of their audio materials. It offers a simple solution for tasks related to spatial sound processing, making it a valuable addition to the arsenal of any musician or sound engineer.
