WHAT DO THE SIDEMINDER PLUGINS ACTUALLY DO? In   the   same way   that   compressors   and   limiters   enhance   and   control   the AMPLITUDE   of   audio   signals   the   SideMinder   plugins   enhance   and   control   the WIDTH   of   stereo   signals.      For example,   pushing   up   the   Width   control   on   the   SideMinder   plugins   is   like   pushing   up   the   drive   control   into   a   limiter.      And   in   the   same   way   that   a   peak   limiter   prevents   amplitude "overs" the SideMinder plugins prevent WIDTH "overs" where mono compatibility becomes reduced. This   is   not   the   same   thing   as   mid/side   compression   which   works   on   the   absolute   AMPLITUDES   of   the   mid/side   signals.      SideMinder   works   on   the   relative   RATIOs   of   the   mid/side signals while leaving the amplitude of the stereo signal relatively untouched. WHY IS MONO COMPATIBILITY IMPORTANT? #1   -   Many   large   venues   use   mono   sound   systems   so   that   every   seat   in   the   house   hears   the   same   mix.      If   an   “over   wide”   stereo   track   is   played   on   one   of   these   sound   systems elements   in   the   mix   that   are   out   of   phase   between   left   and   right   channels   will   be   reduced   in   level   due   to   phase   cancelation   -   thereby   changing   the   balance   of   the   mix.      Worst   case, any elements in the mix that are completely out of phase on left/right channels may disappear completely when mixed to mono. #2   -   Many   consumer   audio   products   -   such   as   “boom   boxes”,   stereo   TVs,   stereo   radios,   etc.,   use   crossfed   polarity   inversion   techniques   to   generate   a   wider   stereo   image   than   the actual   physical   width   of   their   speakers.     An   “over   wide”   stereo   track   played   on   one   these   devices   can   actually   sound   narrower   due   to   the   phase   inversion,   again   ruining   the   intended mix. We have heard many examples of these problems in commerically released recordings.  Maybe you have too!  The SideMinder plugins can help prevent this. Read what Larry Crane, Chief Editor of Tape Op Magazine, has to say about the SideMinder plugins: https://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/136/sideminder-stereo-width-plug-in/
SideMinder Series Dynamics Width Maximizer Plugins (44.1k-192k Sample Rates) VST2, VST3 and AAX - 64-bit Windows 7+ with OpenGL2 or higher graphics   VST2,VST3, AU and AAX - Mac OS 10.11+ on Intel & Apple Silicon Please try the 14 day free demos before purchasing.
VST and VST3 are trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Audio Unit is a trademark of Apple, Inc. AAX, Avid, the Avid logo, and Pro Tools are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Special thanks to the folks at Tracktion for their awesome Pluginval tool!  Check out Tracktion’s latest DAW here: https://www.tracktion.com/
SideMinder ME2 - 2nd Generation Dynamic Stereo Width Maximizer - Mastering Edition Widen your stereo image to the max while staying MONO compatible SideMinder   ME2   provides   the   ultimate   in   MONO   COMPATIBLE   stereo   image   enhancement   and   control.      SideMinder   ME2   is   an   advanced   and   feature-packed version   of   the   original SideMinder   with   up   to   three   independent   bands   of   stereo   width   control   plus   extended   range   Bass   Narrow   control.      Additional   features   include   selectable   input/output   correlation metering,   stereo/mono   and   normal/delta   outputs   for   quickly   auditioning   SideMinder   ME2’s   action.      Also   included   is   an   “Advanced”   control   section   for   those   who   want   to   fine   tune SideMinder ME2’s Width Limiter section. SideMinder   ME2   can   be   used   to   enhance   and   control   the   stereo   width   of   mixed   program   material   and   can   add   a   “3D”   quality   that   has   to   be   heard!      As   in   the   original   SideMinder, SideMinder   ME2   is   not   a   compressor   and   does   not   affect   the   dynamics   of   your   mix,   only   the   stereo   width.      SideMinder   ME2   does   not   add   ambience   but,   instead,   brings   out   the width in the original source material. Fit It In The Mix WIDTHWISE ! SideMinder   ME2   now   features   an   external   sidechain   input   for   a very   unique way   of   “fitting   a   signal   in   the   mix”   -   WIDTHWISE !      In   the   same way   that   a   compressor   can   be   sidechained to   duck   the   level   of   the   source   signal   in   response   to   increases   in   sidechain   level   SideMinder   ME2   can   reduce   the   stereo   width    of   the   source   signal   in   response   to   increasing   width    of the sidechain signal.  Cool! (External sidechain must be supplied a stereo signal which is not supported in some DAWs.)
SideMinder 2 - 2nd Generation Dynamic Stereo Width Maximizer Big,   wide,   stereo   mixes   are   impressive   but   can   fall   apart   when   mixed   to   mono and   played   back   on   a   single   speaker.   This   can   happen   when   the   left   and   right channels   contain   out   of   phase   signals   that   partially   (or   maybe   even   completely) cancel   when   mixed   to   mono.   Many   stereo   image   enhancers   can   cause   this   -   or make   it   worse   -   by   pushing   the   left   and   right   channels   further   out   of   phase. This out   of   phase   condition   shows   up   as   negative   correlation   on   correlation   meters. If   your   stereo   mix   shows   up   in   the   negative   range   on   a   correlation   meter   it means that parts of the signal will cancel when mixed to mono. NOT GOOD! SideMinder 2 can help control this stereo imaging problem! SideMinder   2   is   the   2nd   generation   of   our   dynamic   stereo   width   enhancer plugin   that   can   increase   the   width   of   a   stereo   track,   bus   and/or   master   mix WITHOUT    risking    polarity    inversion.    SideMinder    2    "listens"    to    the    stereo material   using   lookahead   FIR   correlation   detectors   and   dynamically   narrows   the stereo   image   precisely   if/when   negative   correlation   begins   to   occur.   Since   the stereo   width   is   only   narrowed   when   it   needs   to   be   an   overall   increase   in   stereo width can be applied that remains MONO COMPATIBLE. This   effect   cannot   be   obtained   using   typical   "mid/side"   compression   techniques nor does SideMinder alter the overall dynamics of the signal (SideMinder 2 is a "differential limiter" not a dynamic range limiter). Additionally,   by   seeing   and   hearing   what   SideMinder   is   doing   to   the   signal   one   can   make   better   choices   when   mixing   and   mastering   to   produce   the   best   sounding   result   when played on any system. SideMinder   2's width   enhancer   section   includes   a   "Bass   Mono"   control   that   narrows   the   stereo   image   below   the   selected   cutoff   frequency. This   control   helps   to   center   the   bass   and provides a more solid feel to the sound. This is a very important feature when mastering for vinyl. When SideMinder 2’s processing is bypassed the Output Correlation meter remains active for visual indication of the effect of the plugin before/after processing.
Is it “Snake Oil”?  Wytse says NO!
SideMinder ZL2 - Dynamic Stereo Width Maximizer - Zero Latency - 2nd Generation SideMinder   ZL2   is   a   reduced   feature   set,   zero   latency    version   of   the   3-band   SideMinder   ME2   that   has   been   optimized   for   live   sound   applications   such   as   club   audio/EDM   where   a wide   but   solid   sound   is   desired.      SideMinder   ZL2   can   be   used   to   enhance   and   control   the   stereo   width   of   mixed   program   material   and   can   add   a   “3D”   quality   that   has   to   be   heard!     As with all versions of SideMinder, SideMinder ZL2 is not a compressor and does not affect the dynamics of your mix, only the stereo width in the original source material.  NOTE:     As   SideMinder   ZL2   works   in   real   time   (zero   latency)   it   cannot   anticipate   the   audio   the   same   way   the   SideMinder2   and   SideMinder   ME2   studio   versions   do.      However   it   still works very well and may be the ideal solution if you need to record with processing.  If you are unsure which version you need please try the free demos.
©2024 RAISING JAKE STUDIOS
VST and VST3 are trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Audio Unit is a trademark of Apple, Inc. AAX, Avid, the Avid logo, and Pro Tools are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Special thanks to the folks at Tracktion for their awesome Pluginval tool!  Check out Tracktion’s latest DAW here: https://www.tracktion.com/
©2024 RAISING JAKE STUDIOS
SideMinder ME2 Dynamic Stereo Width Maximizer - Mastering Edition Widen   your   stereo   image   to   the   max   while   staying MONO compatible SideMinder    ME2    provides    the    ultimate    in    MONO COMPATIBLE      stereo      image      enhancement      and control.        SideMinder    ME2    is    an    advanced    and feature-packed    version    of    the    original    SideMinder with   up   to   three   independent   bands   of   stereo   width control    plus    extended    range    Bass    Narrow    control.      Additional   features   include   selectable   input/output correlation   metering,   stereo/mono   and   normal/delta outputs    for    quickly    auditioning    SideMinder    ME2’s action.        Also    included    is    an    “Advanced”    control section   for   those   who   want   to   fine   tune   SideMinder ME2’s Width Limiter section. SideMinder   ME2   can   be   used   to   enhance   and   control the   stereo   width   of   mixed   program   material   and   can add   a   “3D”   quality   that   has   to   be   heard!      As   in   the original     SideMinder,     SideMinder     ME2     is     not     a compressor    and    does    not    affect    the    dynamics    of your   mix,   only   the   stereo   width.      SideMinder   ME2 does   not   add   ambience   but,   instead,   brings   out   the width in the original source material. Fit It In The Mix WIDTHWISE ! SideMinder   ME2   now   features   an   external   sidechain input   for   a   very   unique   way   of   “fitting   a   signal   in   the mix”    -    WIDTHWISE !        In    the    same    way    that    a compressor   can   be   sidechained   to   duck   the   level   of the     source     signal     in     response     to     increases     in sidechain    level    SideMinder    ME2    can    reduce    the stereo    width     of    the    source    signal    in    response    to increasing width  of the sidechain signal.  Cool! (External   sidechain   must   be   supplied   a   stereo   signal which is not supported in some DAWs.)
SideMinder Series Plugins (44.1k-192k Sample Rates) VST2, VST3 and AAX -  64-bit Windows 7+ with OpenGL2 or higher graphics     VST2,VST3, AU and AAX - Mac OS 10.11+ Intel & Silicon Please try the demos before purchasing.
WHAT     DO     THE     SIDEMINDER     PLUGINS ACTUALLY DO? In    the    same    way    that    compressors    and    limiters enhance    and    control    the    AMPLITUDE    of    audio signals   the   SideMinder   plugins   enhance   and   control the   WIDTH   of   stereo   signals.      For   example,   pushing up   the   Width   control   on   the   SideMinder   plugins   is like   pushing   up   the   drive   control   into   a   limiter.      And in    the    same    way    that    a    peak    limiter    prevents amplitude    "overs"    the    SideMinder    plugins    prevent WIDTH   "overs"   where   mono   compatibility   becomes reduced. This   is   not   the   same   thing   as   mid/side   compression which   works   on   the   absolute   AMPLITUDES   of   the mid/side   signals.      SideMinder   works   on   the   relative RATIOs    of    the    mid/side    signals    while    leaving    the amplitude of the stereo signal relatively untouched. Pretty cool, huh?  Read    what    Larry    Crane,    Chief    Editor    of    Tape    Op Magazine,   has   to   say   about   the   SideMinder   plugins: / / r / r / r - stereo-width-plug-in/
SideMinder 2 2nd Generation Dynamic Stereo Width Maximizer Big,   wide,   stereo   mixes   are   impressive   but   can   fall apart   when   mixed   to   mono   and   played   back   on   a single   speaker.   This   can   happen   when   the   left   and right    channels    contain    out    of    phase    signals    that partially    (or    maybe    even    completely)    cancel    when mixed   to   mono.   Many   stereo   image   enhancers   can cause   this   -   or   make   it   worse   -   by   pushing   the   left and   right   channels   further   out   of   phase.   This   out   of phase   condition   shows   up   as   negative   correlation   on correlation   meters.   If   your   stereo   mix   shows   up   in the   negative   range   on   a   correlation   meter   it   means that   parts   of   the   signal   will   cancel   when   mixed   to mono. NOT GOOD! SideMinder   2   can   help   control   this   stereo   imaging problem! SideMinder   2   is   the   2nd   generation   of   our   dynamic stereo   width   enhancer   plugin   that   can   increase   the width    of    a    stereo    track,    bus    and/or    master    mix WITHOUT   risking   polarity   inversion.   SideMinder   2 "listens"   to   the   stereo   material   using   lookahead   FIR correlation    detectors    and    dynamically    narrows    the stereo   image   precisely   if/when   negative   correlation begins    to    occur.    Since    the    stereo    width    is    only narrowed   when   it   needs   to   be   an   overall   increase   in stereo   width    can    be    applied    that    remains    MONO COMPATIBLE. This     effect     cannot     be     obtained     using     typical "mid/side"      compression      techniques      nor      does SideMinder   alter   the   overall   dynamics   of   the   signal (SideMinder   2   is   a   "differential   limiter"   not   a   dynamic range limiter). Additionally,   by   seeing   and   hearing   what   SideMinder is   doing   to   the   signal   one   can   make   better   choices when    mixing    and    mastering    to    produce    the    best sounding result when played on any system. SideMinder    2's    width    enhancer    section    includes    a "Bass   Mono"   control   that   narrows   the   stereo   image below    the    selected    cutoff    frequency.    This    control helps   to   center   the   bass   and   provides   a   more   solid feel   to   the   sound.   This   is   a   very   important   feature when mastering for vinyl. When    SideMinder    2’s    processing    is    bypassed    the Output   Correlation   meter   remains   active   for   visual indication    of    the    effect    of    the    plugin    before/after processing.
SideMinder ZL2 Dynamic Stereo Width Maximizer - Zero Latency - 2nd Generation SideMinder    ZL2    is    a    reduced    feature    set,    zero latency    version   of   the   3-band   SideMinder   ME2   that has   been   optimized   for   live   sound   applications   such as   club   audio/EDM   where   a   wide   but   solid   sound   is desired.      SideMinder   ZL2   can   be   used   to   enhance and    control    the    stereo    width    of    mixed    program material   and   can   add   a   “3D”   quality   that   has   to   be heard!          As     with     all     versions     of     SideMinder, SideMinder   ZL2   is   not   a   compressor   and   does   not affect    the    dynamics    of    your    mix,    only    the    stereo width in the original source material.  NOTE:      As   SideMinder   ZL2   works   in   real   time   (zero latency)   it   cannot   anticipate   the   audio   the   same   way the     SideMinder2     and     SideMinder     ME2     studio versions   do.      However   it   still   works   very   well   and may   be   the   ideal   solution   if   you   need   to   record   with processing.        If    you    are    unsure    which    version    you need please try the free demos!

RAISING JAKE STUDIOS