Recording Engineer. Recording tips. Mixing Tips.

With Waves Audio plugins again! Plugins from Mercury bundle are the most used in my studio and that’s why most used in my examples , but naturally you could use any plugs you like.

This trick based on Mid-Side (MS) processing. Why ‘”intelligent”? Because it provides unlimited tweaking capabilities such as EQing, dynamic processing of stereo image of the complex mix or anything you need.

OK. Let’s assume you have decided that your final mix has not enough high frequencies on reverbs, stereo image is too narrow and that’s why your mix seems too small.

1. Import mixed track into your sequencer (pro tools, cubase, etc.)
2. Create 3 group channels (or Aux channels in Pro tools). Name it “Mid”, “Side” and “SUM”
3. Send signal from first channel (original mix) to “Mid” and “Side” - left channel to the “Mid” and right channel to the “Side” (use “send routing” mode). Pan “Mid” 100% left and “Side” - 100% right.
4. Route “Mid” and “Side” outputs to “SUM”.

5. Switch to “pre-fader” in the sends section and pull down channel fader to inf. (or disable channel output in Pro tools). Insert Waves S1-MS Matrix into first insert slot.
6. Insert Waves S1-MS Matrix into first insert slot of the “SUM” channel.

Ok. Now you can play your mix and move “Mid” and “Side” faders. By moving “Side” fader down you will narrow stereo image and by moving “Mid” fader down you will wide a stereo image. You can use an high-shelf EQ in “Side” insert slot to make the reverbs brighter.
Actually, you can manipulate this channels as you like - add EQs, compressors or any other processing.
Now the stereo image of your track will be fully controlled