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Old 4th April 2009   #7
Cellotron
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Most stereo width processing that happens as noted is via gain changes in the Mid and Side channels. There's a few other processors that do stereo width modification that do "something else" in their processing besides just Mid and Side channel gain changes that have been used as mastering processors as well. These include SPL Vitalizers, Digital Domain K-Stereo (whose algorithm is also included in the Weiss DNA), the Bedini B.A.S.E., and (modded) Behringer Edisons.

Currently the one high quality off the shelf analog M/S matrix I can think of is the Dangerous Music S/M. M/S matrixes are also included in the Dangerous Music Master, Manley Backbone, and Crookwood mastering consoles. Other options you might find on the used market are vintage Telefunken, Neumann and Lawo "Panorama" modules, the discontinued AEA MS38, and the discontinued ADR Propak Audiomate.

As far as M/S plugins some options are:
Voxengo MSED
Brainworx' various plugins
Waves S-1
Sonoris M/S Codec

There's a number of other stereo image modification plugins out there that might have some use such as the Algorithmix K-Stereo and Flux Stereo Tool as well.

I definitely mirror other posters cautions regarding tracks sound "wider" as you very often lose impact by weakening the middle when doing so - although got to say my modded SPL SX2 (original version of the Vitalizer) has really helped once in a blue moon to rescue tracks that were mono-ish to the point of being cluttered.

Best regards,
Steve Berson
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