Expand Your Stereo Field with Six Band Spreader
As a professional copywriter and musician, I know how crucial spatial feeling is in a mix. The Six Band Spreader plugin from CIS DSP Factory is a powerful tool for achieving a full and wide sound that will help your tracks “breathe.”
What is Six Band Spreader?
Six Band Spreader is an advanced stereo widener from CIS DSP Factory, designed for maximum control over the spatial positioning of your sound. Its main feature is the ability to split the audio signal into six separate frequency bands, which allows you to manipulate the stereo width of each band independently. This approach provides unprecedented precision and flexibility, unlike standard stereo wideners that apply the effect to the entire signal at once. You can make the high frequencies sparkling and wide while leaving the bass monophonic and dense, or add volume to the mid-range frequencies, where the main instruments are often located. This opens the door to more complex and professional sound stage formation.
Key Features and Benefits
- Six-band X-Over filter: Precise separation of audio into six independent frequency ranges for individual processing.
- Customizable frequency ranges: Full control over which frequencies are included in each band, allowing you to adapt the plugin to any material.
- Correlation meter for each band: Visual feedback for monitoring phase relationships in each band, helping to avoid problems with mono compatibility and artifacts.
- Stereo width range from 0% to 400%: From full mono (0%) to extremely wide (400%), providing ample space for creativity and experimentation.
Creative Use of Six Band Spreader in Your Mix and Mastering
This plugin is an extremely versatile tool for both mixing and mastering. In the mix, you can apply it to individual tracks that need more space. For example, acoustic guitars often benefit from a slight widening in the upper mids and highs to fill the stereo field without conflicting with the vocals or other central elements. Synthesizer pads or atmospheric sounds can be made extremely wide to create a sense of space. On the backing vocals, Six Band Spreader can help push them back a bit in the mix, freeing up space for the main vocal.
At the mastering stage, careful use of the plugin can add a final “opening” to the track. You can gently widen the higher frequencies to add “air” and sparkle, or slightly widen the mid-range frequencies for an overall sense of space. It is important to remember about mono compatibility, especially when working with bass and low mids; these frequencies are usually best left more centralized.
The correlation meter for each band is your best friend when working with Six Band Spreader. It helps visualize the phase relationships in each band. A value near +1 indicates full mono compatibility, while a value closer to -1 signals potential phase problems that can lead to frequency dropouts or “blurred” sound when played in mono or on different audio systems. This is especially critical for broadcasting on radio, TV, or streaming services where your mix can be converted to mono. The ability to control the width from 0% (mono) to 400% (ultra-wide) gives you full creative control, but always use your ears and correlation meters to make informed decisions. Experiment, but listen carefully!
Compatibility
The plugin is available in VST and AU formats, compatible with Windows (32 and 64 bit) and MacOS operating systems.
Six Band Spreader from CIS DSP Factory is not just a stereo widener, it is a multi-band space sculptor that gives you unprecedented control over the stereo image of your audio. With independent control over six frequency bands, visual phase monitoring, and a wide range of settings, this plugin will become an indispensable tool in your arsenal for creating deep, wide, and dynamic mixes that will sound great on any playback system. Available in VST and AU formats for Windows and MacOS, it easily integrates into your workflow. Try Six Band Spreader and hear the difference!
